BRENHAM MAY GET NEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
As expected, Brenham may get a new Junior High School, but will also see grades 6 through 8 move into it. At last (Tuesday) nights Brenham School Board meeting the Bond Planning Committee gave their report to the Trustees. They recommended that 13 major projects be completed in the district, with the big one being a new Junior High being built between the current Junior High and Cub Stadium. They also recommended that it house grades 6 through 8, with the current Middle School being converted to a 4th Elementary School. Each of the 4 Elementary Schools will house pre-K through 5th grades. The bond for all this work is expected to total nearly $154 million dollars. That would add 24.8 cents to the current tax rate of 98 cents per $100 valuation. In other words, if you had property worth $100,000 then your taxes would increase $248 per year. Kyle Merten with the Planning Committee explained why now is the time to build:
A board workshop is planned for February 3rd so the board can meet with associates with the LAN architectural and engineering design firm, to go over plans for the new building. The regular board meeting will then be February 7th were it is expected they will call the Bond.
In other action, the board met in Executive Session and renewed the contract of Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin for another year. His contract now goes through June of 2025.
They also approved the 2022-2023 District Instructional Calendar. The calendar is the same as this year’s as the responses to the questionnaire remained the same.
District Director of Health & Safety, Jamie Woodall, presented the board with the current COVID update. She said there are currently 87 students out with COVID. She also noted that they have transitioned to car side testing at the Community Education Building in good weather.
