The Hobbs Municipal Schools (HMS) district is asking voters to approve its “$50,000,000 Go Bond Election” proposal on Tuesday, November 7. Two major projects – the building of a fourth middle school and the replacement of Heizer Middle School with a “brand new facility” – will become realities with the passage of the bond. Any registered voter who resides in the HMS district may vote in the election.

Early voting started on October 10 and will end Saturday November 4, with Election Day following that Tuesday on November 7.

According to information provided on the HMS Facebook page, the approval of the two projects will not increase property taxes for those residing in the HMS district, and 44% of the two projects’ funding will be provided by the State of New Mexico.

Fourth Middle School and Replacement of Heizer Middle School

The building of a fourth middle school in Hobbs will solve the overcrowding problem that plagues HMS’s current three middle schools. Cost of the New middle school is estimated at $50,800,000. The State of New Mexico will fund $22.3 million, and HMS, through the passage of the bond, will fund $28.5 million.

The second major project is the replacement of Heizer Middle School. The goal here, according to HMS superintendent Gene Strickland and school board members, is to better meet enrollment needs. Cost is estimated at $52,800,000, with $29.5 million funded by the state and $23.5 million funded by the school district.

The school district with the assistance of its Facilities Assessment Community Team has been evaluating the overcrowding problem in its three existing middle schools for some time. After extensive analysis the conclusion was made that a fourth middle school is needed to solve the problem. According to superintendent Strickland, before the pandemic Houston and Highland middle schools each had a student body of approximately 1000 students. This number was much higher than full capacity for either school. Heizer Middle School was at capacity. Predictions are that enrollment will soon surpass pre-COVID19 levels and grow at the annual rate of 1.5 – 2.0%. The solution is the addition of a fourth middle school.

Important Points

• The New Mexico Public Schools Facility Authority (PSFA) is on record as confirming that all HMS middle schools are at capacity or “close to exceeding capacity”.
• HMS has received a generous donation of land to construct the fourth middle school.
• PSFA has ranked Heizer Middle School among the “150 campuses in the state for exceeding the life expectancy of the building”. The facility was built in 1952, 71 years ago. The goal is to replace the aging Heizer Middle School with a new facility to be constructed next to the current facility “to meet future needs of students”.

The fourth middle school and the replacement of Heizer Middle School only happen with the passage of the “Go Bond”. Each and every vote counts. Tuesday, November 7 is voting day.