The Brownwood ISD Board of Trustees gathered for their October meeting Monday night, where topics of discussion included the Autism Grant Team report.

Brownwood ISD acquired a 2-year grant for a total amount of $799,500 to support students with autism, and 38 out of 78 applications were awarded. The grant is usable for all students with autism, whether or not identified under the sped umbrella.

“This grant will train our staff, our staff members who are teachers assistants or employees who are teachers or administration to work with students with autism a little bit better,” said Brownwood ISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Young. “This will also allow us to hire several part-time counselors to work directly with the students. We’re fortunate to have Ms. Howard and Ms. Parker lead up that effort for us in the training, but also identify how we can get counselors on to our campuses to work with those kids.”

Autism Team Members within BISD include Grant Director Danielle Howard, Grant Co-Director Leah Parker, Skills Trainer Brittiny Kelley, Family Support Specialist Sheila Senkirik, Teacher Trainer Kim Horton, and School Counselor Supports Sharon Watson and Kerri Jacobson.

Howard, who is in charge of implementing grant as written and leading the team, told the board members, “Sharon Watson and Kerri Jacobson, their whole job is to assist students with autism into integrating into the general education population, so that the culture of the general education population can embrace working with students with autism. We have 54 students that identified as having autism under the sped umbrella and a fourth of them had extreme behavior and half of them had above average behavior. Being able to identify how to reach that is a healthy and appropriate manner can affect everyone around them.”

BISD provided 80 teachers assistants with over 22 hours of training before the beginning of school. Technology including iPads, Snap-Core, Boardmaker, and several professional screeners will be utilized to assist with communication and track progress through the grant.

Teacher assistants will receive training outside of school hours and will be paid time and a half for their time in doing so.

To acquire services, students do not have to be identified through Special Education. They need only to contact any a team member, come to a parent meeting, or talk to their school administration or counselor about how to connect.

As of Sept. 22, BISD had 30 referrals and over 22 consents signed to start to receive support for their students. A meeting with parents has already been held, which featured 26 participants.

Also during Monday’s meeting the Nursing & Wellness Report was provided.

During the 2021-22 school, there were a total of 24,233 student visits, 6,190 medication administrations and 483 special procedures.

Flu vaccines will be offered on campus for employees again this year with the assistance of Jacobs Pharmacy.

Other reports presented included the Student Health Advisory Council, English as a Second Language, and Mental Health.

The following members were also appointed to the Student Health Advisory Council for the 2022-23 school year – Danielle Howard (Mental Health Coordinator/AU Grant Director), Leesa Stephens (Community / Good Samaritan), Dr. Joe Young – Superintendent (Liesa Land – Deputy Superintendent), Mitch Moore (Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance), Helen Lacy (Director of Nurses), Doug Bonsal (HR Director), Wendy Hamilton (Community/Agrilife Extention Agent), Jessica Benson (Coggin), Robyn McDonald (Coggin), Michelle Welch (Coggin), Ginger Alford (BHS), Lindsay Smith (BHS), Kim Ellis (BHS), Terri Stephens (BHS), Kim Van Huss (BHS), Dawna Fulton (East), Kim Harvey (East), Christian Lewis (East), Holly Bush (East), Jacob Stephenson (Woodland Heights), Sandra Skrhak (Woodland Heights Nurse), Kassie Russell (Administrator), Leah Lee (Teacher), Brittany Click (BMS), Johna Elliott (BMS), Angie Bertrand (BMS), and Tonya Kinzler (BMS).

Also during the meeting, it was announced that Thursday, April 6, 2023 will now be an early release day on all campus. The following day is Good Friday and a holiday for the district.

The board also met in Executive Session, but no action was taken.