Board draws 7 candidates for 2 seats

Seven candidates, includ- ing one incumbent, are vying for two Hays school district board seats.

The at-large seat, being vacated by Trustee Holly Raymond, drew three candidates.

Incumbent Bert A. Bronaugh Jr. is being challenged by three candidates for the District 3 seat, which represents the northeastern part of the school district.

While grappling with its increasing student popula- tion, the 19,860-student district has faced its own grow- ing pains in the past year: Just after voters in May approved a $250 million bond to build new s chools a nd make upgrades and expansions, the Hays superintendent abruptly resigned with two months left on his contract.

An American-Statesman investi g a t ion showed a monthslong district inves- tigation into complaints of a hostile work environment at an elementary campus caused divisions between administrators and the school board and played a role in his departure.

In August, two of its ele- mentary schools failed to meet state standards, following unacceptable marks of D’s and F’s in certain catego- ries under the state’s preliminary ratings for a new A-F system. And in December, trustees hired Eric Wright, the former Fredericksburg superintendent, to lead the district.

A seventh candidate, Alejandro Correa, officially withdrew from the school board race in March, but his name still will appear on the ballot because his withdrawal occurred after the deadline. If Correa wins, he still would be eligible to take office.