The Brownwood ISD (BISD) Board of Trustees met for a regular session meeting on Monday, March 16, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Board President Michael Cloy called the session to order and gave the invocation. Coggin sixth-grade students Ellie Lacy, Rodrigo Buitron, Ahnali Rodriguez and Lorena Roberts led the Pledge of Allegiance.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE
Coggin sixth-grade choir students performed the songs Sunflowers and Bee, I’m expecting you, led by choir teacher Ashley Foust.
INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS
BISD Deputy Superintendent Liesa Land provided an update on the district’s math curriculum, detailing a strategic shift toward mathematics recovery and curriculum alignment. She noted that K-5 teachers have successfully transitioned to the Bluebonnet math curriculum under a previously board-adopted plan, which aims to build students’ confidence, problem-solving skills, and grit for real-world applications. In addition, the board will consider expanding this curriculum into sixth grade through Algebra 1 next year to ensure better coherence across grade levels. Land also announced upcoming state-mandated math academies for K-3 teachers, administrators, and instructional coaches. While the district will not participate in the state’s initial summer pilot, BISD will begin the training process next year to ensure all required staff complete the academies by the 2030-2031 deadline.
RECOGNITIONS
BISD SPOTLIGHT
The BISD Spotlight recognizes members of the faculty and staff who go the extra mile to ensure excellence in education for all BISD students. Spotlight recipients are chosen from peer nominations and awards are provided through a sponsorship by Jacobs Family Pharmacy and Brownwood Education Foundation. March 2026 honorees were East Elementary fourth-grade RLA teacher Amanda Davis and Brownwood High School (BHS) Behavior Teacher Aide Shawna Washington. Spotlight honorees are pictured with (top) BISD Trustee Tim Wilson and East Elementary Principal Christi Burks, and (bottom) BISD Trustee Justin Posey and BHS Principal Lindsay Smith.
SHELBY VARA
Northwest Elementary’s Assistant Principal Shelby Vara was recognized for being named the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association’s (TEPSA) 2026 Region 15 Assistant Principal of the Year. Pictured below are BISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Young, Northwest Elementary Assistant Principal Shelby Vara, BISD Trustee Michael Cloy, and Northwest Elementary Principal Amy Morris.
CHRISTI BURKS
East Elementary’s Principal Christi Burks was recognized for being named TEPSA’s 2026 Region 15 TEPSAN of the Year. Pictured below are BISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Young, East Elementary Principal Christi Burks, and Trustee Cloy.
BISD COMMUNICATIONS
BISD earned three Star Awards for distinguished achievement at the TSPRA conference: Silver STAR Awards included “The Beating Heart of The Friday Night Lights” a published news article written by Sara Musgrove, and a Brownwood High School A/V & Photography promo video filmed by BHS Media Crew students and edited by BISD Community Relations Coordinator Charles Musgrove. A Gold STAR Award was received for the Multi-Purpose Activity Center large banner designs featuring Brownwood Lion and Lady Lion athletes. Pictured below are Trustee Cloy, BISD Community Relations Coordinator Charles Musgrove, Author Sara Musgrove, and BISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Young.
BHS MEDIA CREW
Several BHS photography students received recognition for awards earned at the Association of Texas Photography Conference. In the Environmental Self Portrait contest, Zara Matson-Sledge and Krysta Franks earned honorable mentions and Caleb Fell was awarded Superior. For the School Portrait contest, a submission by Adyson Duke, Brenely Duncan, Kirsten Fijer, and Janiva Fuentes earned second place. Honorees are pictured below with BISD Trustee Codie Smith, BHS Photography Teacher Heather Nix, and BHS Principal Lindsay Smith.
DISCUSSION & ACTION ITEMS
PUBLIC HEARING ON TEXAS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REPORT
(TAPR) BISD Trustee Roderick Jones made a motion for the Board to enter a public hearing for the TAPR report. Trustee Smith seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously and the Board entered the public hearing at 6:53 p.m. The TAPR pulls together a wide range of information on the performance of students in each school and district in Texas every year. Performance is shown disaggregated by student groups, including ethnicity and socioeconomic status. The reports also provided extensive information on school and district staff, programs, discipline, and student demographics. The TAPR report will be available on each campus and on the district’s website. A motion to adjourn from the public hearing was made by Trustee Smith. Trustee Wilson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The Board resumed the regular meeting session at 7:05 p.m.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
- BISD Community Relations Report: Dr. Young presented a summary of the communicationsrelated data provided by BISD Community Relations Coordinator Charles Musgrove. The communications report contained updates and data on several completed, ongoing, and upcoming projects including print ads, website updates, billboard campaigns, and various other digital communications. Since March 2025, 70 press releases and 37 ParentSquare Smart Alert communications, and a total of 112,360 direct messages have been sent. The report also contained examples of recent visual communications, and a summary of website and social media statistics which indicate continued growth on all social media platforms with Instagram showing the largest reach increase. It was noted that the implementation of ParentSquare has been a welcome change with the website and teacher/district messaging combined into one unified platform.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following items were listed for consideration on the Consent Agenda.
- Consider Approval of Library Materials
- Consider Approval of ADSY (Additional Day School Year) Dates
- Consider Approval of Instructional Materials Annual Certification
- Consider Approval of Adult Meal Prices for the 26-27 school year
- Minutes from February 9, 2026 Meeting
Trustee Posey moved that the Consent Agenda be approved as presented, with Trustee Jones seconding the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.