BRENHAM ISD WALKS BACK PROPOSED CSI PROGRAM CUTS

  

Brenham ISD has revised its plan for the Challenging Scientific Investigations (CSI) program for Gifted and Talented (GT) students.

The district said in a press release Thursday that after exploring further options following feedback from Monday’s school board meeting, instructional times will not be impacted and will remain the same from years prior.  According to the district, students in grades 2-4 will receive 3.5 hours of instructional time weekly, while students in grades 5 and 6 will receive 3 hours of instruction.

In addition, the number of teachers will remain the same, as will student groups.  The district says there will be two GT teachers instructing students in CSI, including one CSI teacher and one Gateway GT teacher.  Students will be served in CSI by grade level, and will be able to collaborate with other students in groups of 11 to 21 per grade.

CSI will be provided at Alton Elementary School and Brenham Middle School.  Brenham ISD will provide transportation either to or from Alton for grades 2-4, while 5^th and 6^th graders will not have any changes to transportation.

This change in course comes after school district officials shared details with school board members on potential changes to the CSI program.  Those changes included a proposed reduction to two hours of enrichment lessons per week with one CSI teacher, who would travel to all elementary schools and have a home campus at Brenham Middle School.  The adjustments proved unpopular with some trustees, as Susan Jenkins and Dr. Michael Altman both voiced concerns about reductions to the amount of time students spend in the program.