Ask Dr. Brant Myers what the hot topics for 2007-08 were, and the Lampasas Independent School District superintendent will say, "Construction, construction and more construction."

Then ask the same question about the 2008-09 school year, and Myers' reply will be, "Construction, construction and more construction."

If there is a trend here, it comes as no surprise to area residents who, along with Myers, have anticipated the opening of two new campuses in the district in time for the start of the 2009-10 school year.

In looking back over 2008, Myers notes the top projects -- aside from the new high school and Taylor Creek Elementary -- include renovations to Kline Whitis Elementary and to the current high school campus to ready it for occupancy by middle school students (grades six through eight) for the next school term.

All that renovation culminates with the completion and opening of the gymnasium at Kline Whitis on Monday.

"Finishing all these projects allows a lot of folks to get back to concentrating on what's best for the kids -- education," said the superintendent.

Myers is pleased with the first half of the current school year, saying an increase in test scores has everyone's spirits on the rise.

But the focus continues to be on new facilities. "This is the biggest thing in Lampasas and will be for some time to come," said the superintendent. "It's something we deal with on a daily basis."

Recently completed is the structuring of three zones for elementary attendance. "We get calls on a daily basis from parents asking where their kids will go to school next year, and that's OK," said Myers. "We are glad to answer those questions. They can just call us if they are not sure where the boundaries are, and we will help them."

Myers hopes a Web program later on will help clarify the boundary lines for district residents.

For this year, the superintendent anticipates completion of the Kempnerarea elementary school in May, with move-in scheduled early in the summer.

The high school will be a more complicated move and will be done in stages, Myers said, because some por- tions of the new campus will be completed before others.

Moving LMS to the old high school campus will be the final hurdle because the Broad Street campus will have to be cleared out prior to its occupancy. "It's a pretty involved process," said the superintendent.

"It's exciting to see the work at both campuses," he continued. "And at the new high school, watching the track being readied and the outer buildings coming together is great. The south-side exterior of the building is completed, and everything is moving right on schedule."

A downside to the new year is a decrease in enrollment. The LISD finished the 2007-08 school year with 3,402 students, and the most current count shows the district is down about 100 students. Myers attributes some of that loss to the recent hike in gas prices which, he said, likely forced parents to move nearer to big cities as opposed to having to commute farther to schools.

"It's disconcerting. I know it's related to the economy, and we've lost kids because of it. Our enrollment is tied to our funding, and if we lose kids, we lose funding. We're going to have to really keep an eye on that."

Construction aside, Myers said big issues this year will be keeping teachers happy when readjustments take place after new campuses open and grade levels shift. "We want our teachers to be happy. Obviously, if the teachers are happy, they teach better. And we are going to do the best we can to make them happy."

Addressing the LISD's tax cap of $1.50 per $100 valuation is a topic taxpayers don't like to discuss, said Myers.

"This issue has hamstrung the district for a long time. No one likes to pay taxes. I understand. I am a taxpayer, too," he said. "But people have to realize what a few additional pennies of tax can do for this district. The tax cap limits us. It's been there since 1962. It was fine in that antiquated system, but it just doesn't work now.

"As much as people don't like it, we are going to have to address the issue."

On a personal note, the superintendent said he has neglected the students over the past year and a half to keep up with building projects. "I feel more like a building manager than a superintendent. I miss being in the classrooms and visiting with the kids and teachers. I can't wait until I can get back to doing that again."

His New Year's resolution: "To get the 2009-10 school year started walking on new floors."

But first he'll have to deal with several prior objectives: "Construction, construction and more construction."