BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSES PROJECTS TO PURSUE USING HURRICANE HARVEY FUNDS
The Brenham School Board met in workshop session this (Tuesday) afternoon to discuss ways to use the over half a million dollars the district recently received in Hurricane Harvey reimbursement.
The board, along with other school district officials, went over projects the district could look into using funds distributed from Senate Bill 500 in the 85th Legislative Session.
The school district currently has $555,940 to allocate as a result of the bill, which appropriated monies to school districts that experienced drops in property values due to Hurricane Harvey.
Assistant Superintendent of Operations Paul Aschenbeck went over facility management needs of the school district, including a new roof at the technology building and tax office, replacing the main gym floor and library carpet at the high school, and added safety and security measures across the district. He also discussed a master facility plan, which he said is something the district “really needs to look into”.
Aschenbeck also mentioned the need for new lab tables at the high school, new water fountains at Brenham Middle and Alton Elementary School, playground equipment at the middle school, new desks at the high school, and new chairs in the junior high school cafeteria.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Jamey Johnson discussed the curriculum and instructional needs of the school district. She said her focus with the extra funding would be to make sure all of the elementary school campuses had access to the same resources.
Business and Finance Director Kim Weatherby went over extracurricular needs, including a pair of oboes and new music stands for the band, and a new light board for the drama department.
The board also discussed other miscellaneous items that could be pursued, such as walk-in coolers and freezers for child nutrition, Chromebooks for all core classes, an auxiliary gym at the high school, and a rock gym.
Cost figures presented at the meeting were preliminary, but Aschenbeck said staff would work to refine those numbers for approval as soon as they can, possibly by the board’s next regular meeting on November 18th.