During Monday’s meeting of the Brownwood ISD Board of Trustees, 5 teachers within the school district were recognized for achieving “Master” status within the Teacher Incentive Allotment program.

Those teachers are Stephanie Hilburn and Amy Hall from Woodland Heights Elementary, Jana Rone from Northwest Elementary, Natasha Brown from East Elementary, and Amber Evans from Brownwood Middle School.

The Teacher Incentive Allotment program is designed to elevate the education profession by providing districts with systems and funding to recruit promising new teachers, and retain their best teachers. A total 48 BISD teachers were eligible for a combined $479,000, an increase from 34 eligible for a combined $309,000 the year prior.

Later in the meeting, BISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Young stated currently there are 37 educators with an active designation in the TIA program and 23 are pending designation for a total of 60, which will increase the school district’s compensation allotment to more than $600,000. Young said the plan is, eventually, for all BISD teachers to be a part of the Teacher Allotment Incentive program.

Dr. Young also gave an update on the 2023 bond projects, stating both the Multipurpose Athletic Center and the Brownwood Middle School renovations will come in approximately $200,000 under budget, or $400,000 total.

Regarding the Gifted and Talented program report, Dr. Young stated 144 elementary students and 147 secondary students take part.

Connor Arrington took the oath of office as Place 6 trustee, as no one ran against him in the Nov. 4 election. Arrington was appointed to fill the vacancy on May 19, and his seat will be up for election again next year.

Dr. Young also informed the Board that Brownwood ISD technically has two high schools – Brownwood High School and the accelerated high school, which is accredited. Being the accelerated high school is a separate high school under TEA rules, there is a possibility of having two valedictorians and two salutatorians – one for each school – if they meet certain criteria. In order for an accelerated school student to be eligible for valedictorian or salutatorian honors, according to Young, a student must attend the accelerated school for at least four semesters.

Passed on the consent agenda were final approval of library materials for November purchase; consider approval for library material for the December purchase; and the meetings from the Oct. 6 Board meeting.

The next meeting of the BISD Board of Trustees is Monday, Dec. 8.