BRENHAM ISD OFFICIALS SAY MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH ARE READY FOR CLASSES AFTER SUMMER REPAIRS

  

Brenham ISD says the middle school and junior high school are ready for the start of school next week.

The two campuses suffered major roof and interior water damage this spring, due to a hailstorm and continuous rainfall.  Representatives from Belfor Property Restoration and Parsons Roofing have been performing repairs at the campuses throughout the summer.  Questions have circulated regarding whether work at the facilities would be done in time to welcome students on August 13^th.

In an interview this (Wednesday) morning with KWHI, Superintendent Clay Gillentine said work at the campuses was completed this past weekend, teachers have been allowed to come back, and staff members from Belfor have given the okay to return.  Additionally, the district recently received the results of an air quality test from a third-party company, DCG Environmental, which collected multiple samples across the various facilities impacted.  He said the test results came back clear.

Chief Communications and Engagement Officer Brooke Trahan said the only piece that was still “in flux” was the gym floor at the junior high, but that is primarily due to the new floor boards needing to “acclimate” to the air cycles and humidity.  Gillentine expressed confidence that the gym will be good to go in time for when kids get there, but it is on his list of items to check on his walkthrough tomorrow (Thursday).

Brenham ISD carries approximately a $1 million insurance deductible, and while Gillentine is not certain if that will be exactly what the district owes, since the work done at the campuses is still being processed through insurance, he said it should be “in that ballpark.” 

Recent conversations of the Brenham School Board and the district’s strategic planning committee have raised the possibility of a bond election that would not impact the district’s interest and sinking tax rate.  Trahan said that given their age, addressing the roofs at the middle school and junior high campuses was already part of the district’s long-term facilities plan before the events of this summer.  Gillentine said Brenham ISD’s bond counsel recently informed the district that it could retroactively cover costs of the middle school and junior high school repairs, using proceeds from a bond.  Otherwise, the district would have to pull from its fund balance.

Given the extent of the damage, teachers were only recently able to come back to their classrooms, though Gillentine said that teachers are encouraged not to spend much time on campus during the summers anyway, due to the amount of cleaning, moving of furniture and other preparatory work taking place.  He did say that Belfor put the district in touch with a nonprofit organization called Teachers Need Us, who works to alleviate financial burdens on teachers.

Back-to-school events at the campuses also saw a change, with drive-thru schedule pick-ups taking the place of on-campus open house events that will be held later.  Brenham Middle School’s open house will take place on August 11^th, while the open house at Brenham Junior High School is scheduled for September 10^th.  Trahan said the decision was made to help reduce stress for the teachers during this time, but also, particularly in the case of the junior high, students can go through class releveling and schedule changes during the first few weeks of school, like with high school students, which can greatly change the makeup of their school day. 

To help acquaint students coming into a new environment, Trahan said the district hosted a transition day where sixth grade students visited the junior high prior to class letting out for the summer, and other student groups with recent experience at the junior high have assisted with helping the new students feel comfortable.  Campus leadership has been in contact with families during the process, sending out particulars on bell schedules, school maps and other need-to-know details.  Districtwide, she said information has been and will continue to be relayed when appropriate through ParentSquare, newsletters, the district’s website and social media, and during school board and strategic planning meetings. 

Trahan commended the flexibility of all stakeholders, both within and outside of Brenham ISD, in moving quickly to ensure as smooth of a transition back to school as possible. 

The school board’s next meeting on August 12^th will include a full presentation from Belfor about the work done at the campuses.  It will also include a recommendation from the strategic planning committee about whether to pursue a bond election for facility improvements.  Gillentine said the district will thoroughly evaluate whatever the committee chooses to pitch to the board and whatever the board decides on.