BRENHAM & BURTON STUDENTS HEADING BACK TO SCHOOL
Students across Washington County return to the classroom today (Wednesday).
Campuses in Brenham and Burton ISDs are kicking off their new school years, following busy summers of preparation for both school districts.
This year is particularly special for Brenham ISD in that the school district is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Brenham ISD Superintendent Clay Gillentine said there are parallels between today’s leaders of the district and the ones who first established it in 1875.
Brenham ISD is engaged in strategic planning discussions about how to best support employees and take of major infrastructure needs. Gillentine said the district’s service to students is driven by its connection to the community.
Those community partnerships are also greatly valued by Burton ISD Superintendent Vikki Curry, who said she is amazed by the level of investment shown from the public and district staff members. She said the ongoing construction is something that takes continued flexibility, but the challenges will not last forever, and meaningful progress is being made.
Curry stressed that with the sustained enrollment growth seen in Burton ISD, the district is not building new buildings for the sake of expansion, but for ensuring that the students currently in the district are in an environment that is most conducive for learning.
New this year for Brenham ISD is its participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, allowing students to have free school breakfasts and lunches. Additionally, the high school campus has completed construction of a new service line in the cafeteria, using dedicated food service funding from the Child Nutrition Department. In the fall, the district will team up with Brenham GameChangers for The Big Event, a day of community service projects across Brenham ISD campuses on Saturday, October 4th.
As for Burton ISD, students will experience temporary changes with their school meals as they did near the end of the last school year, as construction in the cafeteria is not expected to be complete until mid-September. The district will utilize the concession stand and serve meals out of the auditorium. Information recently went out on a new car line route in the mornings and evenings, and details will be shared soon regarding navigation and payment for sporting events at the football stadium and gym.
Brenham and Burton ISDs, along with schools across Texas, will look different when it comes to cell phones and other personal communication devices, as new state law prohibits students from using them during the school day. The ban includes cell phones, personal laptops, ear buds, smart watches, smart glasses, tablets and gaming devices.