BISD BOARD AGREES TO BUY OUT BELL’S CONTRACT
The Brenham ISD school board met Monday evening to discuss a broad agenda of topics, the main one was the resignation of Superintendent Sam Bell.
The board, after a 45 minute executive session, decided to buy out the rest of Bell’s contract, which, at $155, 424, was less than the contract was worth if he had decided to continue with the district. Bell's resignation would be effective January 31, 2015, The payout amounts to one year's salary and benefits.
Four speakers were approved to speak in front of the board concerning the resignation of Bell.
One of the speakers, former board member Carey Council, expressed his appreciation to Sam Bell for his service to the children of the district, while also chastising the school board for, what Council deemed as “discord on the school board.”
Lance Weatherby, also a former board member, expressed his sincere appreciation for everything that Sam Bell had done for the district, and expressed his disappointment in the school board, and the way he felt they had treated Bell.
Two other speakers, Finney Clay and Malisa Hampton also thanked Bell for his service and wished him well.
Bell has been with the school district since 2009, and his contract runs through July 1, 2016.
In other news, one of the main topics discussed were the new State of Texas TEKS math cirriculum. Many of the math subjects currently taught in the eighth grade are now being moved into the sixth grade level. The teachers in the district were praised for their willingness to take on these new requirements, and it was hoped that this would be what was best for the children of the district.
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Let’s just look at the facts regarding Sam Bell and the school board. It is no coincidence so many people have left while under his watch. Some of these have been very good people who cared about the students but feared for their reputations and how they might not be able to provide for their families if there were used as scape goats. But lets be fair, some were probably also just there to collect a check and didn’t really care about the students.
It is well known there is nepotism flowing freely in the Brenham School District. Check it out.
It is also well known that high school students frequently get out of jail free cards when they are caught doing something they are not supposed to be doing (drugs, sex, targeted bullying). You want to know what their response is after they get caught? They say: “Do you know what my last name is?” or “My uncle, aunt, my grandfather or whoever is on the school board and there is nothing you can do to me!” What follows that incident is you getting called to the Superintendent’s building or worse, you begin to see calculated harassing actions taking place to make your life miserable or find something that they think they can use to force you to resign. To put it simply, they will find a way to entrap you and force you to resign. Following that, somebody’s (on the school board or related to the superintendent or his cronies’) relative or best buddy’s kid or wife fills YOUR spot. That’s what happens in Brenham. The good ‘ol boy network is very much alive and well in the school district. Check it out for yourself. All you have to do is look around and see who is employed in the school district and who they are related to-you will soon see this in action.
Another thing you will find is that if you are not a “yes” man or woman, you are not on board with the school district. They may say they want educated, caring men and women to teach their students but as soon as you suggest something different you are seen as difficult or contrary and you are certainly not on board. The question that comes to mind is, why doesn’t the school board make that a requirement when they hire people? You just have to agree to everything the school district says and then do it period. It appears as if they don’t want humans, they want robots. Ask around, you WILL find people to corroborate this statement.
What I find most disheartening is that you will never get the full story of what has really happened under the watch of Sam Bell because those people with the information live in Brenham and have to face their fellow citizens everyday who will say they are a troublemaker and a liar or may fear losing their job. I have seen first hand how judge-mental and critical people can be in this community. It is horrible when you go through something like that especially if you love your job and strive to truly help the students of this community.
I would challenge the school board to hire an independent organization to find out what has happened by taking an anonymous poll or investigation from all of those that have left to find out what they experienced and may have to say about what the things they saw. But of course, this would only take place if they REALLY want the taxpayers of Brenham to know everything. Large corporations do this all the time to get a better picture of the morale of its employees.
The results will be very interesting to say the least. Lets just hope and pray the truth comes out and justice prevails once and for all. Tread cautiously, it is not uncommon for those in authority to portray things they way they want them to be seen, especially when there are things that need to remain hidden.
Is it time to start cleaning house by starting at the top?
You have stated clearly the problem with many places of employment. You have people in charge who are more worried about their reputations than the good of the company, school, facility. And to keep employees in line, they want you to conform to their way of thinking-NO thinking out side the box! Brenham is not the only place where coverups take place and the unknowns in the community are called out when the “knowns” are protected. Is it fair? No, but it happens all the time. But I have to ask, would YOU be able to stand up and state your flaws or indescretions?
Board members are elected by the taxpayers. Maybe the answer is for voters to make more educated and wise
choices at the polls.
instead of trying to pick out who is at fault here. . why doesn’t every one remember who voted on the current school board members and then who choose Mr. Bell. . all starts with the voters of this town/county. . instead of voting for your friends or family members why don’t you vote on the person(s) who is actually capable of doing the job without a personal interest in it. . . .take an honest look at the person who is running then maybe vote on that one person(s) for the position(s)…. Mr Bell didn’t just get this job because he had a name in this town, (all know we need that) but on his prior experience . . trying to find fault in one or the other is not helping the issue. .sounds like we need a clean slate all together here. I am so thankful my children are no longer in school at this level of education. And I agree the pay for teacher is very low and sad since we try to brag on our system!
The voters of this town overwhelmingly voted for the new crop of board members because of the direction Sam Bell was taking our district. They were given a mandate to stop rubber-stamping every bad policy Bell was putting into place. His policies were running off experienced teachers, dropping the morale of those who were left, and causing our academic performance to crater. Bell was hired because he had a reputation of putting budget before education. That was what the previous school board members wanted. The majority of the new school board actually values education and this put them at conflict with Bell.
If you really agree that low teacher pay in Brenham is a problem, then you must understand that something needed to change and Bell wasn’t going to allow that to happen. Any time a teacher brings up the subject of low pay compared to the surrounding districts, we have been told “we are just lucky to work in Brenham.” I guess if all the teachers got paid $155k to stop doing our job, we all would be lucky to have worked in Brenham.
and You wonder why our taxes are so high!
I wish people would shut up about Sam Bell if u want the salary then apply for the job. Some teachers go out of their way and some do the bare minimum. David Yeager was worse but because he let everyone have their way everyone was happy. y’all don’t know what Sam bell had to deal with so zip it.
Really people……the school board has chosen to not get along with Mr. Bell…..they are the ones who want him gone……so he’s leaving…….so they should be happy…….so he also has a contract for another two years……..you don’t expect someone to leave without fulfilling a contract you signed with him…….last time I checked contracts are binding agreements……..the school district actually got off cheap………the school board has made their bed and now they can sleep in it! We need some good qualified people to run…….who are not on the board for their own agenda and to continue with the “good old buddy” system!!
And all this time I thought Sam Bell was really concerned about wasteful spending in BISD. I can’t think of anything more wasteful than getting paid to not work anymore.
It looks like you just replaced a bunch of self centered idiots with more self centered idiots. Bisd must have loads of money new schools and they are throwing away 150,000.
I would imagine that some of the characteristics that the Board will look for when choosing the next Superintendent include experience, background, evidence of strong moral character, integrity and effective leadership skills. What is unfortunate is that there is a Board member who can’t be trusted to judge these characteristics because of the lack of character, integrity, and honesty he has shown in his own personal and professional life. This individual has no business making decisions that effect the lives of other people’s children. The problems between the Board and the Administration will not be solved until this toxic, vindictive bully no longer has a position on the Board.
According to the TEA Website, Mr. Bell’s salary is 150K per year. His current contract was through July 2016, so the buy out covers the entire length of his contract’s tenure.
I really hope I am reading this wrong. You are buying out his contract for the remaining term at $155,000 which would mean he probably makes over $250,000. Yet here are the teachers that work the long hours, work with the students, and now this year have to buy our own paper to make copies because we only get a limited amount, are working 15 plus years and have still not reached the $45,000 salary mark. Are you kidding me. Then you want to know why over 70 teachers leave the district. Come on people, do you not see the problem here.
Wow, how can you justify a salary like that when Brenham is one of the lowest paying school districts. The teachers are the ones that go in early, stay late and go the extra mile to educate the kids. Yet, the teachers are the ones not getting the pay they deserve. There are schools that need more aides but there isn’t funding for it, there are shortage of subs but there isn’t another orientation. Looks like other priorities need to be reevaluated in the school district.
According to the TEA website, Mr. Bell’s salary is 150K per year. His current contract was supposed to go through July 2016, therefore the buy out covers the full length of his contract.
This is a poor excuse of a district and IF ONLY Brenham knew what the teachers actually all have to do. They do their jobs plus everyone above them. I’ve been telling my wife to leave and now after multiple years, she will be moving districts.