[dropcap]P[/dropcap]eople say a picture is worth a thousand words. A new mural gracing a cafeteria wall at Fuentes Elementary School in Kyle is worth a million.

The mural, which includes a likeness of Susie T. Fuentes, the namesake of the campus, was unveiled to the public Aug. 22, a week before the official start of the school year. According to the Fuentes Elementary website, the mural represents the school’s message of “family.”

Wiley Ross, a local Austin-area artist and avid volunteer in the Hays CISD school district, along with Jayme Salinas, Fuentes Elementary art teacher, proposed the original idea to create the mural on campus. 

When they approached Gina Butcher, Fuentes Elementary principal, regarding the project, she consulted with a committee of teachers who “were very excited about the prospect.”

The new mural honors the late Susie Fuentes, Hays CISD longtime volunteer and employee and school namesake. (Hays Free Press file photo)

In addition to Ross and Salinas, Ernelisi Hernandez and Diego Lara, two Fuentes Elementary 5th grade Star artists, assisted in the creation of the mural, beginning the week after school let out in June. The mural was completed during the first week of August.

Hays CISD Public Information Officer Tim Savoy said the artists sought input from students, staff and community members regarding the subject of the mural. As the concept evolved, the school decided to involve two additional kindergarteners to assist with the artwork.

Savoy said the mural was done on a volunteer basis, so there was no financial compensation for any of the artists involved. However, it gave students Hernandez and Lara, active members in the campus art club, another project to test their skills.

Savoy said the inspiration behind the mural was the Kyle community and the spirit of family in the town.

It also included the likeness of Fuentes, who for 27 years volunteered her time at Kyle Elementary School to help students from kindergarten to 6th grade.

Fuentes, whose maiden name was Tenorio, was born in Kyle on March 8, 1926. During her time at Kyle Elementary, Fuentes helped teachers by copying papers and making bulletin boards, while also assisting with playground duty and the lunchroom, according to Fuentes Elemetnary website.

For 16 years, Fuentes worked at Marbridge Ranch near Manchaca on the weekends. Fuentes passed away in 2008 at the age of 81. 

“The goal was to celebrate art, the campus, the community and the school’s namesake,” Savoy said. “It turned an empty wall in the school’s cafeteria into a point of pride for the campus.”

As for other Hays CISD campuses sporting unique murals, Savoy said there are currently no plans for any other murals at this time.

However, he said the possibility of local artwork at other campuses could be open.

“If a proposal is made, it would be considered,” Savoy said.