HUTTO, Texas — Hutto ISD has secured land for a future school site in Hutto with the purchase of a 114-acre tract along State Hwy 130 and adjacent to the Kerley Elementary and Gus Almquist Middle school sites.

District leaders finalized the purchase of the property this week. The land acquisition was made possible through the voter-approved 2023 Hutto ISD Bond.

Bordered by SH 130 and the SH 130 frontage road to the east and Haybarn Lane to the west, the 114.883-acre property will become the site of Hutto’s third comprehensive high school, when needed, to accommodate the District’s growing student population. All three sites will likely also be accessed in the future as the Old Settler’s Parkway is further developed east of CR 110 as a thru-way to SH 130.

“Planning for the future of our school district and addressing overcrowding are essential and paramount to the vitality of our growing community as a leader in state-of-the-art facilities and innovative initiatives for education,” said Hutto ISD Superintendent Dr. Celina Estrada Thomas. “The District is now positioned to receive new students and create educational environments aligned to futuristic learning needs.”

As the cost of land in Hutto continues to increase, the District is also aware of constraints to development with respect to infrastructure capacities. Nevertheless, Hutto ISD is seeking to identify properties suitable for the development of future campuses. As voter-authorized Bond funding is made available, District leadership has worked to position Hutto ISD to proactively respond to the growing needs of the community while maintaining its vision to provide excellent schools and a premier educational experience.

“After completing extensive due diligence studies, we have determined the 114-acre site satisfies and addresses the suitability, accessibility, feasibility, and build-ability parameters we seek in school site selection,” said Assistant Superintendent of Operations Henry Gideon.

In May 2023, voters approved all three propositions encompassing a $522 million bond package that included funding for land acquisition. The District would need to pass a future bond measure to design and construct a third high school for Hutto ISD.

“It is important for us to be forward thinkers and planners, just as previous boards have been when considering and preparing for future site selections. Our current FM 1660 site which houses our bus barn, maintenance facility, and Hutto 9th Grade Center was such a purchase in the mid-2000s.That particular tract was purchased to also house the full build-out of our second high school, as well as Elementary No. 8, along with a future middle school and a future stand-alone performing arts center. The site for a future High School No. 3 creates great opportunities for Hippo Nation,” said Billie Logiudice, president of Hutto ISD’s Board of Trustees.

For more information about Hutto ISD’s 2023 bond projects, visit www.hipponation.org/bond.