BRENHAM ISD STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE BEGINS NEXT PHASE OF WORK

  

Brenham ISD has officially launched the second round of strategic planning committee discussions. 

District leaders, school stakeholders and community members gathered for a kickoff meeting on October 28^th to start working on long-range master plan recommendations.  The strategic planning committee will build on the work done during the first round of strategic planning discussions, which led to recommendations for last year’s bond election and Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE).  

The committee is tasked with studying and ranking Brenham ISD’s long-term needs, taking into account facility conditions, capital projects, costs, demographic trends, financial considerations, and community perspectives.  It will work toward broad consensus as it examines and develops options for the board of trustees to consider.

Committee members are still in the information-gathering stage and have not made any decisions on future construction projects or funding proposals.

The committee will meet next on Wednesday, November 18^th and will soon begin looking into how educational facilities support student learning, including opportunities to visit Brenham Junior High School and Career and Technical Education learning spaces.  Meetings are scheduled through May 2027.

A Brenham ISD press release with additional details about the strategic planning process can be read below:

Brenham ISD is continuing its commitment to responsible facility planning and community involvement as the district moves forward with projects approved by voters in November 2025 while also examining long-term needs through its Strategic Planning Committee (SPC).

The district officially kicked off Round 2 of its Strategic Planning Committee on Wednesday, October 28, bringing together community members, parents, students, and other stakeholders to begin developing recommendations for a long-range master plan. The committee's work builds on the first round of strategic planning, which resulted in recommendations for the successful 2025 Bond and Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE).

Following those elections, the Brenham ISD Board of Trustees charged the committee with continuing its work to study additional facility needs, with particular attention to Brenham Junior High School, Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, and the district's long-term educational priorities.

The new phase of planning is taking place alongside implementation of the voter-approved $39 million Bond 2025 program, with both efforts being coordinated to ensure district resources are used thoughtfully and responsibly.

Bond 2025: Moving From Planning to Implementation

In November 2025, Brenham ISD voters approved two important measures supporting the district's future. The VATRE provided additional operating revenue to support competitive employee compensation, while the $39 million bond authorized improvements to aging district facilities and infrastructure.

The district remains grateful for the community's support and is committed to following through on those investments.

Following voter approval, the district completed the bond sale in March 2026 and worked through the necessary steps to prepare projects for implementation, including professional services agreements, facility assessments, engineering evaluations, and project prioritization.

At its October meeting, the Brenham ISD Board of Trustees approved Phase One of Bond 2025 with a not-to-exceed budget of approximately $5.58 million. This initial phase includes 21 projects across seven district facilities, with approximately 66 percent of the investment focused on roofing improvements. Additional work addresses aging mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and other facility systems.

While many of these improvements are less visible than new construction, they are essential to maintaining safe, functional, and reliable learning environments for students and staff.

The district has continued providing monthly bond updates to the Board of Trustees and sharing progress with the community through its website and communication channels.

Coordinating Today's Improvements With Tomorrow's Needs

An important part of Brenham ISD's approach is ensuring that current bond projects and long-range strategic planning are not taking place independently.

District administrators, bond program managers, architects, and strategic planning facilitators are working collaboratively to consider how immediate facility investments align with potential long-term needs.

This coordination is especially important when evaluating major improvements at older facilities that may also be part of the district's long-range planning discussions.

Brenham Junior High School provides one example of this coordinated approach. As the district evaluates the campus's long-term future, an important question must be considered: What if the strategic planning process ultimately leads to a recommendation for a new junior high school? Even if that recommendation were approved by voters, planning, design, and construction would take several years. In the meantime, the existing facility must continue serving students and staff. With this potential scenario in mind, the district has prioritized partial roof replacement work for spring 2027 to address ongoing leaks in key areas of the campus, including the administration area, auditorium, main gym, and rubber-floor gym, along with associated roofing and drainage components.

The decision reflects both the immediate responsibility to maintain the existing facility and the importance of considering its long-term future. Even if a new junior high were recommended and ultimately approved by voters, planning, design, and construction would take several years. In the meantime, the current campus must continue serving students and staff.

By addressing ongoing maintenance needs while evaluating longer-term options, Brenham ISD can make necessary improvements without committing millions of additional dollars to a full roof replacement before the district's future facility plans are determined.

"Our community placed its trust in us when voters approved Bond 2025, and we take that responsibility seriously," said Superintendent Clay Gillentine. "We're moving forward with the improvements our schools need today while also doing the work to understand what our district will need in the future. These efforts have to work together so we're making thoughtful decisions and being responsible with the resources our community has entrusted to us."

Strategic Planning Committee Begins Round 2

During the October 28 kickoff meeting, Superintendent Gillentine and Board President Jared Krenek welcomed committee members and thanked them for their willingness to help shape the future of Brenham ISD.

The committee, facilitated by edVANTAGE, is charged with studying and prioritizing long-range district needs, including facility conditions, capital projects, costs, demographic trends, financial considerations, and community perspectives.

Committee members began their work by reviewing an overview of Brenham ISD's current operations, educational opportunities, enrollment trends, and school finance.

Presentations also addressed the changing educational landscape in Texas, including the importance of student experiences, enrollment, attendance, and facilities in supporting the district's long-term success.

Throughout the evening, committee members participated in small-group discussions to identify key takeaways and considerations for future planning. Student representatives also contributed perspectives on how campus environments, programs, and school experiences influence student engagement.

The committee will work toward broad consensus as it studies options and develops recommendations for the Board of Trustees.

No facility recommendations were made during the October 28 meeting. The committee remains in the information-gathering phase, and no decisions regarding future construction projects or funding proposals have been made.

Looking Ahead

The committee's next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2026. Members will begin examining how educational facilities support student learning, including opportunities to visit Brenham Junior High School and Career and Technical Education learning spaces.

These firsthand observations will help committee members better understand existing facility conditions, instructional needs, and opportunities to support students in the years ahead.

The strategic planning process is expected to continue through the 2026–2027 school year, with meetings scheduled through May 2027. The committee's work will ultimately help inform recommendations presented to the Brenham ISD Board of Trustees for consideration.

Keeping the Community Informed

Brenham ISD remains committed to keeping the community informed as both Bond 2025 implementation and long-range strategic planning continue.

Residents can follow the progress of voter-approved bond projects through regular updates presented at Board meetings and published on the district's website and social media channels.

The district's Strategic Planning Committee webpage also provides meeting dates, committee information, presentations, and meeting summaries. Community members interested in observing the planning process are welcome to attend meetings, with designated gallery seating available.

Both resources can be accessed directly from the Brenham ISD homepage at www.brenhamisd.net, using the Bond and Strategic Planning Committee links.

"We have a lot to be proud of in Brenham ISD, and we also recognize that there is more work ahead," Gillentine said. "Our goal is to continue building a district that serves students well today while preparing responsibly for the generations who will follow. That takes thoughtful planning, good information, and continued involvement from our community."

Brenham ISD extends its appreciation to the community members serving on the Strategic Planning Committee and to the voters, families, employees, and stakeholders who continue to support the district's work.