Historical Markers in Navasota — The Chinski House, Etc.

Texas A&M University Update on WTAW

Dr. Susan Ballabina, Chief of Staff for Texas A&M’s President, visits with WTAW’s Chelsea Reber about the end of the semester, spring commencement, the capacity and student experience studies, administrative updates, lay offs in the athletic department, upcoming events, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Listen to “Texas A&M University Update on The Infomaniacs” on Spreaker.

Bryan ISD Employees And Parents Are Notified Cost Cutting Will Take Place For The 2024-25 School Year

Bryan ISD’s superintendent sent an e-mail to employees and parents after school last Friday (April 26) announcing cost cutting measures for the 2024-25 school year. Ginger Carrabine’s statement says every student program will continue to be offered and every returning employee will have a job. She also says some current and upcoming central office vacancies will not be filled. The e-mail does not quantify how many vacancies in and outside BISD’s central office will not be filled. Responding to a WTAW News request, Carrabine said ” Among the vacancies not filled at this time are Carol Cune (29 years in Bryan ISD), overseeing Human Resources since 2017, Janice Williamson (43 years in Bryan ISD), overseeing Athletics since 2019, and Paul Buckner (10 years in Bryan ISD), overseeing Construction and Energy Management since 2020. We will continue to monitor and evaluate these vacancies, as well as future vacancies and determine when, or if, they should be filled.” Carrabine also told WTAW News that “In addition to personnel adjustments, budget reductions include, but are not limited to, energy conservation, updating school nutrition cost sharing, reducing travel for staff to conferences, adjustments to class ratios, etc. It’s premature to quantify cost savings as we are still processing information. We look forward to sharing more particulars at the May 6th and May 20th board meetings. Bryan ISD is poised for these adjustments and will continue to offer every student program for the upcoming school year. At this point in time, it’s too early to identify cost savings on personnel alone, as we continue to monitor vacancies due to employee departures.” Click HERE to read and download Ginger Carrabine’s response to WTAW News request for more information. Carrabine’s e-mail to parents and employees follows budget updates to BISD school board members during the last two years. During the BISD board’s April 15th meeting, associate superintendent Barbara Ybarra said “campus feedback has been tremendous. They (BISD employees) are equally frustrated with the state of Texas school financing of public schools. They (BISD employees) do understand that we’re doing with them rather than to them, and they appreciate the conversation. They also understand that the way we go about this, is we’re going to have to be more efficient and streamlined with our staffing model in every division.” BISD board members and administrators blame state lawmakers who have blocked the first increase since 2019 in the basic allotment per student until private school vouchers are approved. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the April 15, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting. Click below to hear comments from the April 15, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting.   E-mail sent by Bryan ISD superintendent Ginger Carrabine to parents and staff on April 26, 2024: In Texas, and across the nation, we are all experiencing record inflation. This, coupled with the ending of pandemic-relief grant funding, and the impact of no increase in state funding (basic allotment per student) since 2019, has resulted in a difficult budget situation for Texas public schools. I believe in the importance of transparency, hence my update today. As always, we are meticulously planning to ensure our school system is effective and efficient while developing the district budget for 2024-2025. Bryan ISD anticipated the state-wide public school funding shortages, and we’ve been purposefully planning since Spring 2022. Working together is critical in navigating these challenges. Through this process, we have collaborated, acquired feedback, and ensured that staff members had a voice at the table. For example, we partnered with campus and district administrators to gather their insight and feedback. Additionally, we visited each school and invited staff members to be involved in the conversation and provide much-needed input. As a result of these meetings, Bryan ISD will serve our students and maintain existing opportunities. Every student program in Bryan ISD will continue to be offered for the upcoming school year, and all returning staff members will have a position. Like any other year, we will balance staff allocations to match student enrollment and needs. To accomplish these budget goals, district administration is leading by example. I have already announced that we will not fill some current and upcoming central office vacancies. Instead, we are taking a team approach by restructuring, balancing responsibilities, and redefining roles. I am confident that existing staff and leadership are ready, willing, and able to step into these duties to best serve students and staff. We will continue to monitor and evaluate these vacancies and determine when, or if, they should be filled. Other budget reductions include, but are not limited to, energy conservation, reducing travel to staff conferences, and minor adjustments to class ratios. Thankfully, we are poised for this moment, and the adjustments will not be radical. Moving forward, Bryan ISD will continue to provide exceptional programs and opportunities that lead to student success. Undeniably, education is a people-oriented business. I assure you that the district is actively working to retain a high-quality workforce through competitive salaries in order to serve our students and community. We will continue to update the public at all upcoming Board meetings through the end of June, when the budget will be considered for adoption. As always, I appreciate your support of our school district.

College Station City Council Reviews Amazon’s Recent Drone Open House

The end of the last College Station city council meeting (April 25, 2024) was a discussion about the recent open house by Amazon’s drone delivery service.  Linda Harvell was one of at least two councilmembers who joined homeowners who live next or near Amazon’s drone-port. There was no opposition to her request for staff to research if the city could do anything to move the drone delivery operation to an industrial area. Councilman Dennis Maloney, who also attended the open house, said that he was told Amazon’s new drone vehicle will be 40 percent quieter. The council also heard from one public speaker, a homeowner who lives in the vicinity of the Amazon operation, who brought up the continued disruption due to noise levels generated by the drones. Listen to “College Station city council reviews Amazon's latest drone delivery open house” on Spreaker.