District seeking bids on first bond projects

By Jeff Berger

Anvil Herald Publisher

The Hondo Independent School District Board of Trustees continued the process of bringing the 2026 bond election to life at its meeting on Monday.

The board voted to proceed  with the first $20 million of the $30 million project through the guidance of architectural and design firm LPA. The first loan will carry 4.657% interest.

The first bid deadline is Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 2 p.m. At that time the district will read the bid proposals for Construction Manager At-Risk and for HVAC improvements throughout the district. The board will consider the bids at its Sept. 21 meeting.

Funds should be available by the second week of September.

With bid approval, replacement of all district HVAC systems more than 15 years old will begin.

“Because heating and air conditioning are generally out of the way of students and staff, we can proceed with that during the school year more easily than some projects,” said HISD Superintendent Rose Mary Mares. “Repaving of parking lots may also fall into that category as well.

“Projects that will take place within school facilities – restroom upgrades, entrance vestibules at Woolls and the high school, improvements at the baseball and softball fields, etc. – will probably have to take place during the summer.”

• The Hondo ISD, in partnership with Velocity Squared Aviation Academy and through funding from the Hondo Economic Development Corporation, has begun an aviation course for the fall semester.

Two senior students are taking a one-semester course with the goal of obtaining private pilot’s licenses. The cost for each student is $15,000, with the full amount of $30,000 financed by HEDC.

• The district purchased a 77-passenger school bus from Longhorn Bus Sales, LLC at a cost of $156,882.

• The district has also purchased two 60-inch riding lawn mowers from Tuttle Outdoor Power at a cost of $28,743.98.

• The annual adjunct faculty agreement between the HISD and and the Medina County Extension Office was approved.

• Assistant Superintendent Robert Knight reported on work performed at the district auxiliary building. District staff completed the project over the summer, repairing flooring, painting walls, etc. The district paid only the cost of materials.

• Hondo band director Clint Marchese reported to the board that the Mighty Owl Band program is continuing to grow. The HHS band, which is currently preparing its contest show “Dreamscape” in search of its 38th conseuctive Division 1 rating, has 141 members, which places it among the largest in Conference 3A. Additionally, 10 eighth graders are performing with the band for contest season. Again this year, HHS will host two marching contests. The invitational God’s Country Marching Festival is Saturday, Oct. 10, and the UIL Region XI Contest is the following Saturday, Oct. 17.

He also said the the McDowell bands have 226 members, which represents 56% of the campus student body.

• In action at the July board meeting, the board approved the district’s property, auto, school liability and cyber insurance policy at a cost of $361,939. That marks an increase of $10,522 from last school year.

• The board also approved the district’s workers’ compensation coverage policy for the 2026-27 school year, at $66, 658. That is an increase of $3,212 from last year.

• Approval was given at the July meeting for removal of an underground storage tank located at the site of the old bus barn on Avenue I. The excavation was completed in the past month, and the district is awaiting soil reports. Cost for the removal was $32,300.

• The district also approved contracted services through the Save The Children grant program, which provides for tutors and a program coordinator. The grant is valued at $45,000.

• Standard board meeting dates fall on the third Monday of the month. Upcoming meetings have been changed for five months during the current school year, because of conflicts with holidays. New dates are Dec. 14, Jan. 11, Feb. 22, March 22 and June 21.