TRUSTEES RECEIVE UPDATE ON BLUEBONNET HAVEN RESIDENTIAL FACILITY

  

There are still a lot of ifs and unknowns involving Brenham ISD’s possible involvement in the Bluebonnet Haven Residential Facility.  Brenham School trustees received and update today (Monday) from administrators regarding the possible staffing requirements for educators at the facility if Brenham ISD were to become the District of record for it.  The facility is under construction on Highway 36 South, across from the Brenham State Supported Living Center entrance.  It is designed for 32 residents and if the state completes the licensing this summer, it could begin housing students as early as August.

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction Jamey Johnson talked about what effect the facility would have on the accountability ratings by the state.  She said that the district currently serves 4 residential facilities; the Brenham State School, and 3 residential homes.  She noted that Brenham has 13 percent of its students listed as special education, the highest of any district in the area.  Director of Business and Finance Kim Weatherby said that if the facility had 30 students, it would require at least 12 teachers and specialists from the district to meet the state requirements.  That would cost the district between $590,000 and $1.1 million per year, depending on if full time staff or contract employees were utilized.  She estimated that if all of the students were categorized as special education, the state would cover only $525,000 of the costs.  She said that the district served the educational needs for the Five Oaks facility in New Ulm from 2003 to 2011.  She said that during that time the number of students would fluctuate between a hand full to a high of 26, making staffing difficult.

Board Vice-President Melvin Ehlert commented that his primary responsibility was with the current students enrolled with Brenham ISD.  Board Secretary Susan Jenkins said there were too many “ifs” involved from a taxpayer’s point of view.

Bluebonnet Haven’s principal owner Randall Bryant attended the meeting and said afterwards that the district's staffing numbers were exaggerated.  He said that the facility will open with only a few students and grow slowly.  He expects that only 2 teachers and a principal would likely be required, and that he has never seen a facility with the number of specialists that the district is suggesting.

Information presented by Brenham ISD: Residential Facility