BRENHAM ISD TRUSTEES ANSWER PUBLIC’S QUESTIONS AT TOWN HALL

  

Representatives from Brenham ISD met with the public on Tuesday to answer a series of questions at a community-led town hall. 

A crowd of just under 150 people filled Abiding Word Lutheran Church to hear from school board trustees Natalie Lange, Jared Krenek and Kyle Hafner as they addressed a multitude of topics like transparency, school finances, safety and security, student discipline, testing and the soon-to-begin search for a new superintendent.

When asked about where the process stands to obtain new school resource officers (SROs) through the City of Brenham to staff each campus, Krenek said the board hopes to commit to a timeframe of 1-3 years so it can research alternatives like the Guardian program or Marshal program.  Hafner said right now, creating a school police department or using one of the aforementioned programs is not viable, but the shorter SRO timeline would allow the district to further research those options.

Discussion was also had about the budget deficit facing the district as it concludes the current fiscal year and how it may affect the upcoming budget, as well as what can be done to provide pay raises for teachers.  Lange said several items that were included as part of recent bond proposals had to be funded through the regular budget after the bonds did not pass, including field house improvements to resolve Title IX issues and safety and security upgrades.  Other contributing factors were the startup of the school district transportation department and the purchase of new weight room equipment.

The trustees said the state is not doing school districts any favors when it comes to what is being asked of them and the little funding they receive to do it.  Krenek said thus far, legislators have not given them the help they need.

The three were also asked about what the school board does to ensure it is doing the best it can for students and staff.  Lange said board members do that by maintaining accountability and a strong working relationship with the superintendent.

The town hall was set up by the Let Our Teachers Teach political action committee and Texas Church Leaders.  Calvary Baptist Church Pastor Billy Sutherland, a member of Texas Church Leaders, said organizers were pleased with the turnout and how the evening went, adding that they hope to hold more events like this in the future.