BRENHAM ISD FINALIZING PLANS FOR BOND ELECTION
Brenham ISD appears poised to call a bond election.
On Thursday, the Brenham School Board held a workshop to iron out the details of a single-proposition bond proposal worth $153.9 million. The biggest projects included would be a new junior high school for grades 6-8 and repurposing Brenham Middle School for grades Pre-K-5. All other elementary schools would also accommodate Pre-K through 5th grades.
Kyle Merten, a member of the Bond Planning Committee, said the scope of the bond was reduced to focus on the district’s most important and immediate needs.
The bond project would also call for several upgrades at the high school, including an expanded Career and Technical Education (CTE) building and CTE renovations, upgrades to the field house locker rooms and cafeteria and a band marching pad. In addition, the proposal would fund districtwide accessibility and security improvements and fiber internet enhancements. Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin said a best-case scenario would have the new junior high open in August 2024.
Taxpayers in Brenham ISD would see an estimated tax rate increase of 24.8 cents per $100 valuation from the current rate of 98.84 cents per $100. Taxes for homeowners with a property value of $200,000 would go up $497 per year, or $41.39 per month.
Merten stressed the need to properly educate voters about what is included with the bond.
Some questions asked during the workshop were what would happen to the Early Childhood Learning Center and if anyone would lose their jobs with the repurposing of the middle school. Dr. Chaplin said the Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) would no longer function as a campus for Pre-K students, but it “will still be part of BISD” and “will be a utilized building.” He also confirmed that no one would lose their employment as part of the middle school conversion and redefined use of the ECLC, but staff would be restructured.
Brenham ISD last passed a bond in 2012 for $25.9 million to build Alton Elementary School and renovate the middle school. Prior to that, the district passed a $10 million bond in 2004 to build Brenham Elementary School and a $23.6 million bond in 1994 to build a new high school and auditorium.
The board will consider the bond recommendation at a noon meeting on Monday at the Brenham ISD Central Office.
Also on Thursday, the board approved the 2020-21 district financial audit performed by Belt Harris Pechacek. Robert Belt, Managing Partner for the firm, said the district received an unmodified opinion, the highest level of assurance that can be provided to the board, with all financial statements materially correct.