BRENHAM ISD CUSTODIAL EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE $1,000 COVID-19 STIPEND
Brenham ISD custodial employees will receive a $1,000 COVID-19 stipend.
The Brenham School Board on Monday unanimously voted to grant the $1,000 incentive payment to all custodial employees who were actively employed with the district as of May 2nd. The stipend is the same payment given to other district employees in February, using federal ESSER III funds through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin said the district could not compensate custodial employees at the time of the first stipend because they were employed by ABM, not by Brenham ISD, but can be done now because custodial services are in-house.
At the time the board approved a separation agreement with ABM, 43 employees were planned to transition into Brenham ISD.
The board room at Brenham High School was filled with applause upon the stipend’s approval. Dr. Chaplin joked that Director of Facilities and Maintenance Paul Aschenbeck “gets to play Santa Claus” once the checks go out.
Also on Monday, the board:
- Met in executive session to discuss and later accept the offer of resignation of Position 1 Trustee Mark Schneider and review the board’s options moving forward. Trustees can choose to appoint a member to fill the vacancy or wait until the next board election next year.
- Took no action on a proposal from Athletic Director Danny Youngs to purchase new weight equipment. Trustees agreed on the need for new equipment for students, but said there are many other priorities to consider with the bond not passing, and want to get more information before committing.
- Approved revisions to the Child Nutrition Department’s charge policy and delinquent debt policy. Child Nutrition Director Kasandra Davis said the change to the charge policy will implement a “value meal”, allowing students who do not have enough account balance to keep their entrée and milk on their lunch tray instead of it being substituted for a cheese sandwich. She said the revision to the delinquent debt policy will keep student debt for one year instead of two years, so students do not start a new school year with negative balance on their account.
- Elected Natalie Lange as board president, Tommie Sullivan as vice president and Susan Jenkins as secretary.
- Approved teacher contracts.
- Canvassed the results of the May 7th bond election.
