Brookesmith ISD Superintendent Guy Birdwell resigned Thursday evening during the regular meeting of the board which was held after a public discussion on the school district’s future.
Birdwell had few comments Thursday afternoon regarding this news but confirmed that his resignation would be effective this Friday, October 21, 2016.
“We mutually decided that I would pursue other opportunities,” stated Birdwell.
Birdwell has been the superintendent of Brookesmith ISD since July 2015, taking this position as the district continued to struggled academically and financially.
The district has faced financial struggles since July of 2011 when the district’s had a negative fund balance which created a sub-standard accountability rating with TEA. Brookesmith held an “Accredited-Probation” with the Texas Education Agency in 2015, under former superintendent Jay Smith’s tenure, and TEA closing down the school was a possibility at that time if this status did not improve, and the district worked and had success in improving this status with TEA.Brookesmith ISD’s student population has ranged from 50-70% transfers the past few years, according to Birdwell and Smith in past statements. In February 2015 the student population was 195, currently the school has approximately 135 students in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grades.
During Thursday night’s meeting, board members and Birdwell explained the dire situation and that the school has enough funds to operate through the 2016-2017 school year, but that 2017-2018 is in question. As this financial struggle continues, Brookesmith ISD Board members are faced with finding a way to fund the district’s budget or close down the school.
