Special to El Rrun-Rrun
While a majority of the board of the Brownsville Independent School District continue to focus on expensive non-academic expenditures – for example, spending in excess of of $6 million on artificial turf – parents of students at the Brownsville Learning Academy say the district's priorities are "all messed up."
"BISD has money for new turf at high schools, but doesn’t have money to build new schools or supplies for students," wrote one.![]()
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Learning materials and supplies are reported to be so limited that copies need to be made of books and pamphlets for students.
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They are also receive course credit when the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills are mastered at a minimum of 70 percent and a student who has achieved grade level may choose to stay at the Academy or return to his/her home campus.
While a majority of the board of the Brownsville Independent School District continue to focus on expensive non-academic expenditures – for example, spending in excess of of $6 million on artificial turf – parents of students at the Brownsville Learning Academy say the district's priorities are "all messed up."
"BISD has money for new turf at high schools, but doesn’t have money to build new schools or supplies for students," wrote one.
In fact, not only is it skimping on the learning materials, but the campus has visible signs of needs of upkeep and lack of attention to basic. We have been sent pictures of a portable classroom that caught on fire last school year 2016-2017 (May 2017) due to an electrical issue.
Parents report that it was not reported and that the fire department never showed up. The previous year the same, but fire department showed up that it made local news.
Learning materials and supplies are reported to be so limited that copies need to be made of books and pamphlets for students. Additionally, the BLA has no No English as a Second Language teachers, or for English and Math but students are expected to pass state exams.
Under the academics section, the BLA states it will offer all required courses at both middle school and high school levels.
Students will be required to gain a specified number of credits each semester in order to remain at the Academy.
Students will be required to gain a specified number of credits each semester in order to remain at the Academy.
They are also receive course credit when the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills are mastered at a minimum of 70 percent and a student who has achieved grade level may choose to stay at the Academy or return to his/her home campus. The board's majority recently voted to increase property taxes by 11 1/4 cents on every $100 of appraised value. It is apparent that an increasing number of district residents are growing dissatisfied with the priorities of the board and the district's administration.
And while the district keeps spending millions on non-essential, non-academic after-school activities like football, the programs that needs their help like the BLA continue to be treated like the BISD's step-children.