Hereford Independent School District’s school board has advanced a $150 million bond proposal that would fund a sweeping set of campus improvements, including a full replacement of the district’s high school, construction of safe rooms at every campus, and demolition of a former school site to make way for expanded athletic facilities.
The proposal was developed through a Facility Planning Committee made up of a broad cross-section of the community, including local residents, city leaders, school board members, teachers, and parents. The committee evaluated long-term facility needs across the district and helped shape the final package presented to voters.
A central component of the bond is the construction of a new high school to replace the current facility, which was originally built in 1954. District officials say the existing building no longer meets modern educational and safety expectations. Among the concerns cited are classroom sizes that fall below current Texas Education Agency standards, as well as an aging HVAC system that does not meet current ventilation and air circulation requirements.
Of the total bond package, approximately $127 million is allocated for the new high school project. The plan calls for a complete replacement of the existing campus rather than renovation. In addition to academic spaces, the project would incorporate updated career and technical education facilities designed to better support workforce training programs.
The campus redesign also includes major athletic and infrastructure changes. Plans call for relocating tennis courts, constructing a new softball field, and improving overall campus security through the addition of safe rooms at each school site. A former school building would be demolished to provide space for expanded athletic facilities and improved site layout.
District leadership has emphasized that the project is intended as a long-term investment in future students. According to Superintendent Ralph Carter, students across grade levels have been actively encouraging community awareness about the bond, recognizing that construction would span multiple years. He noted that while some current freshmen could experience a transition into the new high school as seniors if the bond passes, many of the benefits will primarily be realized by future generations of students.
If approved by voters in the upcoming May election, the bond would result in an estimated property tax rate increase of 35 cents per $100 of taxable property value. For a home valued at approximately $170,000, this would translate to an estimated monthly increase of about $9.83.
Early voting for the bond referendum is scheduled to begin Monday, April 20, and will continue through April 28. Election Day is set for May 2. District officials are encouraging residents to review the proposal details as they consider the long-term impact of the planned improvements on school facilities, safety, and academic programming.
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