BRENHAM ISD AUDIT SHOWS $1 MILLION IN SAVINGS TO GO INTO FUND BALANCE

  

Brenham ISD will be able to put roughly $1 million back into its fund balance, according to the findings of an audit report presented to the Brenham School Board on Monday.

Paula Lowe of Pattillo, Brown and Hill LLP showed trustees that the district’s ending fund balance for the 2024-25 fiscal year was $5.96 million, up from $3.77 million, where the fund balance was to begin the fiscal year. 

Lowe noted that the net change of $2.18 million includes about $1.2 million in insurance proceeds that will be paid out as work continues with the district’s roof repair and replacement projects, stemming from severe weather last spring.  She said that would still give the district the ability to reinject about $1 million into its fund balance, based off of savings with operational expenses.

Board President Jared Krenek called the results from the report “outstanding” and commended the work done across the district to cut down on costs where possible, saying it is great to be able to have this kind of conversation now compared to where the district was a few years ago. 

Superintendent Clay Gillentine added that with the community’s passing of the Voter Approval Tax Rate Election in November, district officials “absolutely plan on continuing this trend in this direction.”

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board received a presentation from Jill Crossley of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), Brenham ISD’s provider for the implementation of grant funds received through the Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO) program.  The presentation illustrated NIET’s work with coaching teachers, training campus administrators and supporting sustainable education practices in Brenham ISD.