Submitted Report

Portable buildings are being purchased to handle Hays CISD’s exploding  student population.

Trustees voted to purchase a two-classroom portable building for Tobias Elementary School, which has hit its capacity.

The overall HCISD population hit 18,619 students Monday, up from 18,558 students on Sept. 3. Hays CISD had projected an enrollment of 18,179 for the 2015-16 school year.

Last year’s student population was 17,903.

Deputy Superintendent Carter Scherff told the board Monday the new portable would be used for intervention classes at Tobias.

The new portable, considered a “dry” building because it does not have water connections for restrooms or other facilities, would be placed within the fenced area at the school for safety reasons.

Scherff said the district will probably have to purchase two more portables for Tobias next year and move the entire fifth grade level out to the portables because of the high growth in the area.

With student enrollment outpacing projections, the district is looking at building more schools in the near future. A committee will review current school zones. A new middle school, the sixth in the district, is expected to open in time for the 2016-17 school year. The new school is located on Dacy Lane.