Brookesmith Independent School District is weighing options for their future with ongoing financial struggles because of school enrollment and declining state and federal funding. Brookesmith ISD board members and Superintendent Guy L. Birdwell announced that the district is in a very dire situation and held a question and answer session with the public Wednesday night, addressing questions from taxpayers and parents. Although no decision was made regarding the future of the district at this meeting, district officials and the public discussed options and concerns.
In a statement during the meeting, Board President Mr. Terry Been stated that finances are the main issue troubling the district. He explained that the school has been seeing a decline in the number of students that attend the district, causing state and federal funding to drop drastically in the past three years. Been stated that the board cut their 2016-2017 budget by $400,000 to make up the difference in lost funding.
Average daily attendance at Brookesmith ISD is approximately 130 students; however, Pre-Kindergarten students aren’t considered in the school funding equation, making the school’s attendance totals 115 students after this adjustment, according to Been.Birdwell further explained that recent deficiencies in academics, the district lost about $50,000 in funding. Maintenance of the aging school campus buildings and infrastructure, such as the recently replaced cafeteria roof, has also been a huge expense that hurts the budget according to Birdwell.
Birdwell also stated that the district consulted with the Region 15 school finance expert Dr. Doug Carr and the Texas Education Agency, who analyzed the district’s finances and recommended options that may be best for the district. Both of these agencies, according to Birdwell, have suggested that Brookesmith ISD should consider consolidation with a neighboring school district. Birdwell stated that the district first approached Lohn ISD and Rochelle ISD to discuss the possibility of the three schools. Rochelle opted out while Lohn, Bangs and Brownwood ISDs have expressed interest in a possible consolidation, Birdwell stated.
In a brief timeline, Birdwell outlined the district’s recent financial and academic troubles, stating that in 2014-2015, a year before Birdwell accepted the position as superintendent, the district was $250,000 over budget. When Birdwell came on board, he stated that he put a freeze on any additional spending. He stated that things have not improved.
“We have funds to operate the rest of this school year, next year is the problem. We get paid for this year’s students next year,” said Birdwell, who explained the declining attendance will result in even less state and federal funding for the coming years. The district’s future is in question because “fewer students equal less funding,” he summed up.
Birdwell stated that this discussion was set up because employees and students needed to know that the district was still struggling to survive.
On October 3, 2016 TEA recommended that Brookesmith look into possible consolidation. Birdwell stated that the Region 15 Service Center serves 45 school districts from Del Rio, Texas to Brownwood, Texas and that all but 5 of their districts are seeing reductions in enrollment due to families moving to the metroplexes.
Parents and taxpayers asked questions about how the district could increase funding, whether it be selling off district assets or property, cut costs through combining classes, cutting the number of teachers, and more. Teachers voiced concern of job stability, that they need to know the district has a plan for next year. One parent stated that her child, who is a junior in high school, is trying to graduate early so that she can finish school at Brookesmith.
Grants were also discussed; however, board members explained that very few grants are available without matching from the district. These matching grants are not a possibility for the district due to the lack of operational funds resulting in no way to match the grant funding.
One woman directly asked the board members if they support keeping the school open or if they want to close the school. All stated that they would be for keeping the school open if they can find a way to do so. She also asked Birdwell his stance. “My job is to do what is best for the students, whether that is staying open or closing. This is something that is a hard decision to make,” he said.
Closing or fighting to keep the district open is going to be decided by the Brookesmith ISD School Board in the near future, but the board needed the public’s input to make this very difficult decision, according to Birdwell.
Pictured above a Brookesmith teacher addresses the board with concerns. Below board members during the meeting.
