BRENHAM ISD MAY HAVE TO EDUCATE BLUEBONNET HAVEN STUDENTS

  

The Brenham Independent School District may be put in the position of having to provide instruction for students at the soon to be open Bluebonnet Haven Youth Treatment Facility.

Although the Texas Education Agency approved the application of Trinity Charter School in April to operate a charter school at Bluebonnet Haven, the facility has yet to open.

Dr. Walter Jackson, Superintendent of Brenham I.S.D., says he has heard that Trinity Charter is no longer in partnership with the Youth Treatment Facility just south of Brenham on State Highway 36.

Jackson says Bluebonnet Haven had no students on the last Friday of October, when the TEA takes a “snap shot” of a school district’s enrollment to determine state funding for the next year.  Because of that, Jackson has heard that Trinity Charter no longer has a recognized school district here, and has backed out of educating the residents of Bluebonnet Haven.

While he hasn’t received any official letter or word from the TEA, Jackson says he is expecting to be notified that Brenham ISD will be responsible for educating those students.

The Brenham School Board has gone on record with a resolution opposing the opening of Bluebonnet Haven because of the negative economic impact it could have on the school district.  The Youth Treatment Facility will substantially increase the student special education population and services required for students in that program.  Both the Brenham City Council and the Washington County Commissioners Court have also passed resolutions in opposition to Bluebonnet Haven.

KWHI News has attempted to contact both Randall Bryant, the operator of Bluebonnet Haven, and administrators for Trinity Charter Schools, to confirm this information.  So far, there has been no response from either party.

Washington County Judge John Brieden has scheduled a town hall meeting about Bluebonnet Haven next Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Washington County Fairgrounds Events Center.