APRIL 21, 2021 NORMALCY?
HCISD CANDIDATES
Vaccinated adults ready for normal life, gatherings.
See what Hays CISD candidates have to say about their agendas.
– Page 5
– Page 2
© Barton Publications, Inc.
News-Dispatch
75¢
HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 41 • No. 29
Serving Hays County, TX
Student failing rates doubled during the pandemic BY SAHAR CHMAIS
The number of students failing at least one course in Hays CISD and Dripping Springs ISD doubled between the fall 2019 semester and the fall 2020 semester – the biggest culprit has been COVID-19. Comparing the Fall 2019 and 2020 semesters, HCISD went from an 11.3% failing rate to 23.4%, and DSISD went from 6.1% to 11.8% failing rate. Educators believe that the spring semester is beginning to shape out better than the fall, but that does not mean students
INCREASE OF FAILURE RATES DURING THE PANDEMIC
DSISD 2019 Fall Semester
331 out of 7,173 students
HCISD 2019 Fall Semester
2,346 out of 20,679 students
DSISD
2020 Fall Semester HCISD
2020 Fall Semester
+6.1% +11.34% +11.8%
668 out of 7,210 students
“...effects of the pandemic will linger in academic loss this year. Teachers will be working to fix it for at least the next school year, if not longer.” –Tim Savoy, HCISD Chief Communications Officer
+23.4%
4,744 out of 20,274 students
are out of the red. Students, educators and parents will have to work hand-inhand over the remaining school year, summer school and even into next
year to boost kids who are failing. “The light at the end of the tunnel is there for the crisis point of the pandemic,” said HCISD Chief
Communications Officer Tim Savoy, “but effects of the pandemic will linger in academic loss this year. Teachers will be working to fix it for at least the next
school year, if not longer.” Overall, schools are heading in the proper direction because more parents are getting vaccinated and the vaccine trials
BY SAHAR CHMAIS
BY SAHAR CHMAIS
MAY 1 MUD PROPS, 9
PANDEMIC EFFECT, 4
Surgical options growing in Hays County
Some Buda voters can choose in MUD No. 1 on May 1 The development of Municipal Utility District No. 1 (MUD) in Buda is on the May 2021 ballot, but only residents living within the confines of the proposed MUD can vote. If the MUD passes, it will assist in the construction and financing of utilities, which would serve the planned development of the Colony at Cole Springs. These additions are restricted only to those living in the MUD. Taxes levied by the MUD would only affect those living within that district. Without a MUD, the cost considerations for the developers would radically change, said Sean Abbott, general counsel for the MUD. This would in turn increase the price for the homebuyer. While the development will have its own district, Buda residents will gain some benefits, Abbott said. Some of the benefits that will be paid for by the developers include a new bridge to alleviate traffic,
for children are moving along. These conditions will help create a more normal upcoming school
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III/HAYS CISD Johnson High wrestler Breanna Salgado (top) placed Leander Glenn's Lexie Garcia in a textbook hold to gather the advantage during a quarterfinal match in the Region IV-5A meet in Austin. Salgado made Hays CISD history by becoming the first wrestler from the district to qualify for the state tournament. See more photos on page 5.
First Jag wrestler to go to state For the first time in Hays CISD history, an athlete from the district will compete against the best in Texas at the UIL state wrestling meet. On April 18, Johnson High sophomore Breanna Salgado claimed third place in her 215 pound weight class at the UIL Region IV-5A wrestling meet at
the Toney Burger Center in Austin, qualifying her for the UIL Girls 5A state meet to be held April 23-24 in Cypress. Salgado accomplished the feat by defeating Leander Glenn's Lexie Garcia in the third place match on April 18. Joining Salgado at the regional meet were eight Johnson High boys
and girls wrestlers who completed the team's inaugural season. That included freshman Ana Jakubauskas who finished fourth in her weight class, as well as Alyssa Escareno and Alivia Saenz who both finished in fifth place. Meanwhile, Lehman High junior wrestler Joey Mojica
completed his 2021 campaign by defeating Corpus Christi Miller's Abraham Aguirre to win fifth place overall in his weight class. Also competing at the Region IV meet were Johnson High wrestlers David Hamilton, Alan Cruz-Hernandez, Theron Hester-Payne, Evan Pugh and Chase Taylor.
Buda town hall open for bond project input BY SAHAR CHMAIS Buda city limit residents are invited to a virtual Town hall and share their input on possible projects for the November 2021 bond election. Residents will have until Sunday, April 25, to give feedback. A Buda Bond Advisory Committee (BBAC) was established by the city council to explore the option of calling a bond election to fund a variety of capital improvement projects. The committee will review potential bond projects and decide what to put on the
STATE NEWS
Projects being considered include: plans for the design and construction of capital projects such as facilities, transportation, parks, trails, drainage and more. ballot. “The Buda Bond Advisory Committee was put together by the City Council to provide input on projects for a potential bond election this November,” said Micah Grau, Deputy City Manager for the City of Buda. “To support their effort, we are asking residents to provide input to give feedback and help
Texas House passes bill to allow handgun carry without a license.
–Pages 5
prioritize projects for consideration.” The town hall will inform the community on trends in Buda, showcase potential bond projects and hear the public’s opinion through a community survey. The virtual town hall can be accessed at www.budabonds.com Projects being considered include: plans
for the design and construction of capital projects such as facilities, transportation, parks, trails, drainage and more. “With Buda’s rapid growth, we must proactively plan for mobility and other amenities to continue to build on our community’s success,” Grau said. After the public comment period, the BBAC will review resident feedback from the survey and evaluate the potential projects and budgets. Then the committee will make recommendations to the city council near the end of the summer.
The News-Dispatch Barton Publications, Inc. The News-Dispatch (USPS 011-401) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323
Hays County’s rapid growth continues to bring in more amenities for its residents, and this time the expansion is happening in operating rooms. Ascension Seton Hays will be adding two operating rooms to better serve residents undergoing complicated surgical procedures. “We are excited to expand our surgical services with the addition of two new ORs,” said Joan Ross, chief operating officer at Ascension Seton Hays. “We continue to add to
SURGICAL OPTIONS, 9
Cotton Gin Road construction date moves to May BY SAHAR CHMAIS Phase I of Cotton Gin Road construction in Kyle is complete and Phase II is slated to begin on or about May 10. This phase has been rescheduled from its original start date of April 19. Hays County Transportation Department will begin the second phase by paving the north side of the roadway and shift traffic over to the newly paved lane. The switch will stop traffic from traveling in the westbound direction. Traffic will start traveling eastbound on the new paved road. Vehicles will still use Bunton Lane, Shady Oaks and Dairy Road for circulation.
COTTON GIN ROAD, 4