Research Valley Partnership Announces New President/CEO

Bryan ISD School Board Approves Hiring A New Principal At Collegiate High School

The Bryan ISD school board fills one principal vacancy and creates a new opening. Board members unanimously approved the superintendent’s recommendation to move Jane Long intermediate principal Desiree Caperton to Bryan Collegiate High School. Caperton, who is a former assistant principal at Collegiate, was in her third year as Long’s principal. Before that, she was the principal at Fannin elementary for three years. The only board member to make a comment, Ruthie Waller, cheered the recommendation then said Caperton “will begin her reign as only the third principal of Bryan Collegiate High School since it opened in 2007. So it’s a good gig.” Who will take Caperton’s place at Long was not mentioned at the meeting and a Bryan ISD news release stated only that “there is a plan for her (Caperton’s) departure”. Click below to hear comments from the November 18, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting:   News release from Bryan ISD: At the November 18 Bryan ISD School Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved experienced educator Dr. Desiree Caperton to lead Bryan Collegiate High School (BCHS) as its principal. This marks a return to Bryan’s early college high school as Dr. Caperton previously served as the school’s associate principal. Bryan ISD Superintendent Ginger Carrabine said the transition will be seamless because of Dr. Caperton’s experience at Bryan Collegiate as associate principal. There is also a plan for her departure from Jane Long Intermediate School. “We are excited for our school community,” Ms. Carrabine said. With over 21 years of experience in the district and 26 years in education, Dr. Caperton has served in a variety of leadership roles at multiple levels including as principal, associate principal, teacher, coach, high school counselor and compliance coordinator. Prior to this post, Dr. Caperton has led as principal at Fannin Elementary School and Jane Long Intermediate School. Dr. Caperton earned her Doctor of Educational Leadership degree from Prairie View A&M University, a Master’s degree in Secondary Education, and a second Master of Arts in Counseling from Sam Houston State University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas, where she also ran Division 1 Cross Country and Track. Dr. Caperton currently holds principal, counselor, and teacher certifications.

Bryan City Council Joins Local Partnership With A California Based Economic Development Recruiting Company

The Bryan city council joins the Texas A&M system and the local economic development corporation to hire a business that recruits technology start up companies in the defense and aerospace industries. The council at Tuesday’s meeting (November 12), unanimously agreed to give $350,000 dollars each of the next three years to a company called Plug and Play. Mayor Bobby Gutierrez said Plug and Play “will be able to go around the world and bring in different companies to potentially locate here, develop here, and grow here”. Gutierrez said they learned about Plug and Play during an economic development trip to California, where they “looked at some of their success stories that they’ve had.”, adding “They were the start up with Google. They were the start up with PayPal. They were the start up with truly some incredible stuff that these guys have done.” What used to be called the Brazos Valley economic development corporation, which has changed its name to Greater Brazos Partnership, will also give $350,000 dollars. And a Texas A&M system division will spend $800,000 each of the next three years. Plug and Play will relocate its corporate office to Bryan, hire four fulltime employees, and create a four member advisory committee of which two members will be appointed by the council. Click HERE to read and download background information from the city of Bryan. Click HERE to read and download the agreement that was approved at the November 12, 2024 Bryan city council meeting. Click HERE to read and download the agreement between Plug And Play and the Greater Brazos Partnership that was provided by the city of Bryan. Click below to hear comments from Bobby Gutierrez during the November 12, 2024 Bryan city council meeting.  

Bryan And College Station Councils Approve Interlocal Agreement On Sewer Services In Both Cities

Action at last week’s Bryan and College Station city council meetings included approving an interlocal agreement (ILA) on sewer services in both cities. The origin of the ILA began with homeowner opposition in south Bryan neighborhoods to the construction of a College Station sewer trunkline. The ILA means instead of building a gravity sewer line in Bryan along Rosemary Drive, the trunkline, necessitating a lift station, will be built along College Station’s Chimney Hill Drive and Cooner Street. The city of College Station estimates an additional cost of between $5 million and $10 million dollars. What will be College Station’s fourth phase of their northeast trunkline project will expand sewer capacity in College Station’s northern service areas, including Northgate, with upgrades to the Hensel Park Lift Station, the force main, and a large-diameter trunkline. A statement on the city of College Station’s blog says “The agreement ensures College Station has the approval to proceed with the infrastructure in those areas. The ILA also outlines the cities’ willingness to decommission College Station’s Valley Park Lift Station near FM 2818 and FM 60.” The College Station blog post also says “Under the agreement, the City of Bryan will contribute up to $200,000 toward a future project to redirect sanitary sewer flow and transfer the affected service area to the City of Bryan. It also includes provisions for Bryan to potentially provide sewer service to areas north of Highway 30 between Elmo Weedon Road and Cole Lane after its proposed eastside wastewater treatment plant is completed.” The College Station council unanimously approved the ILA, then without opposition approved paying another $1 million dollars to make design changes to the trunkline associated with the relocation. Comments before last Thursday’s (November 14) College Station council unanimous vote came from mayor John Nichols and city manager Bryan Woods. There were no public comments by Bryan council members at last Tuesday’s meeting (November 12) prior to their unanimous vote. Click HERE to read and download the College Station version of the interlocal agreement approved by the College Station council on November 14, 2024 and the Bryan city council on November 12, 2024. Click HERE to read and download the amendment to the northeast sewer trunkline design contract that was approved during the November 14, 2024 College Station council meeting. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials seen during the November 14, 2024 College Station council meeting. Click below to hear some comments from the November 14, 2024 College Station city council meeting.