LOCAL EDUCATION LEADERS DISCUSS FUTURE OF LEARNING AT FORUM

Josh Blaschke August 4, 2021

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Burton ISD Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy reviews the facility upgrades that are included as part of a bond proposal planned for this fall at Wednesday's Leaders in Education Forum.

Growth and innovation were the two main topics of today’s (Wednesday) Leaders in Education Forum at Blinn College in Brenham.

Brenham ISD Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin, Burton ISD Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy and Blinn College Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley celebrated student accomplishments and reported on the current state of their respective districts, while also discussing upcoming projects.

Dr. Kennedy said increasing enrollment and aging facilities have made the need for new and upgraded spaces much more apparent. On Monday, the Burton School Board plans to call for an estimated $43.8 million bond election to fund a long list of improvements.

Brenham ISD Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin goes over the facilities that the school district could consider upgrades for as part of a future bond measure.

Like Dr. Kennedy, Dr. Chaplin discussed the prospect of a bond measure to address several Brenham ISD facilities, although he admitted the district is in the “infant stages” of the process. Last month, the district created a committee made up of nearly 50 teachers and community members who will help the district decide whether a bond is necessary.

Blinn Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley discusses the College's facilities master plan, which sets a path for new facilities, upgrades and programs across the district.

Dr. Hensley reviewed Blinn College’s district-wide facilities master plan, which outlines improvement projects throughout the district over the next 20 years. The plan recommends a series of long-term updates and new programs. For the Brenham Campus, Dr. Hensley said those include:

The forum was hosted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, and was the first event held at the Blinn College Student Center since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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