Notice of Emergency Called Board Meeting:

An Emergency Called Board Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Brownsville ISD will be held today at 1 p.m. in the Administration Building. View the meeting online here at https://bit.ly/34LPDXq. BISD Board Members will be receiving an update on district operations, curriculum, and instruction. They will also be reviewing recommendations on monthly stipends for teachers providing online learning to students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay tuned for more details.

Human Resources Department: Transfer Application Information

Please find below information regarding the 2020-2021 Transfer Application and Guidelines. The employee transfer period will begin on Monday, April 20, 2020. The deadline to submit a transfer application will be Friday, May 1, before 5 p.m. It is imperative that ALL personnel be advised of the Transfer Application and Guidelines, including personnel who may be out on any type of leave. All employees are eligible to apply for a transfer. Any employee wishing to be considered for a transfer must use this time to do so. Certified and Classified employees must submit an on-line transfer application before 5 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2020. It is the employee’s responsibility to meet the deadline.

View the 2020-2021 Transfer Information Guidelines: English | Spanish

Please click on the link and complete the application.

BISD to Host Live Virtual Conference Call with State and Local Education Leaders

BISD announces that they will host a LIVE Virtual Conference Call with a Q and A at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 13, to discuss the recent education and health updates regarding the novel COVID-19 pandemic. Community members can submit questions to the following link https://t2m.io/bisd prior to the conference call and listen live on Spectrum Cable Channel 1301, BISD’s KBSD ITV YouTube Channel, Website, and Facebook page. This event will allow BISD students, parents, employees, and community members to learn about the changes in BISD's operation, and to ask questions of state and local educational leaders.

BISD’s Response to the Mayor’s Amended Order:

The Mayor’s Amended Order which states that “School campuses shall be closed to students for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year” should be considered void and unenforceable as the Mayor has no jurisdiction over the Brownsville Independent School District. Only the Governor of the State of Texas or the Commissioner of Education has jurisdiction over the BISD. Earlier this week the BISD reminded the Mayor of his lack of jurisdiction over BISD to no avail.

Any order or declaration by any local official cannot contradict, supersede, restrict, or conflict with the Governor's GA-19 Executive Order and should be considered void and unenforceable as to the BISD. Further, The President of the United States has declared a national emergency and is following the recommendations of the CDC and The White House Coronavirus Task Force in the identification of these essential workers. Again, I write this memorandum to clarify the BISD's position that the Mayor has no jurisdiction over the BISD or BISD Employees as BISD employees are identified as Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce under the Governor’s and President’s Orders.

The Texas Governor on March 31, 2020, issued an Executive Order for schools to be remained closed until May 4, 2020, and also under GA-14, under Tex.Govt.Code §418.014 relating to the statewide continuity of essential services and activities during the COVID-19 disaster. The Order specifically follows the "Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce (ECIW), Version 2.0, which provides an advisory list of critical-infrastructure sectors, workers, and functions which should continue during the COVID-19 disaster." 

In reviewing the ECIW it specifically defines essential workers as "FOOD AND AGRICULTURE-Government, private, and non-governmental organizations' workers essential for food assistance programs (including school lunch programs) and governmental programs." Thus, all BISD employees and support personnel providing school lunch to our students are categorized as Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce under the CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency).

View and download the BISD’s Response to the Mayor’s Amended Order.

Early Notification of Voluntary Resignation Incentive Program: Re-opened

On April 7, 2020, the BISD Board of Trustees voted to re-open the period for the Early Notification of Voluntary Resignation Incentive. This incentive applies to non-retired/rehired employees who have served BISD at least 15 years at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. To qualify for the supplemental payment, employees with 15 or more years of service must hand-deliver a Letter of Resignation, signed by the employee and supervisor, to the BISD Human Resources Department starting on April 8, 2020, at 8 a.m. and ending May 8, 2020, at 5 p.m.

The Early Resignation Incentive Payment specified shall be calculated as follows:

Employee with 15 - 19 Years of Service	$ 2,000
Employee with 20 - 24 Years of Service	$ 3,000
Employee with 25 - 29 Years of Service	$ 4,000
Employee with 30 - 34 Years of Service	$ 5,000
Employee with 35 - 39 Years of Service	$ 7,500
Employees with 40 or more Years of Service	$ 10,000

View and download the 2019-2020 Early Resignation Separation Notification Packet.

Deputy Superintendents’ Report: Update Regarding COVID-19 4/7/2020

Brownsville ISD Board of Trustees received administrative updates for Curriculum and Instruction as well as Business and Operations.

View each presentation here:
-COVID-19 Update: Curriculum and Instruction
-COVID-19 Update: Business and Operations

BISD Superintendent Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates: April 3, 2020

Brownsville Independent School District is collaborating closely with local, state, and national agencies as we monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19):

• President Donald Trump mandated social distancing until April 30, 2020.
• Governor Greg Abbott extended School Closures until May 4, 2020.
• County Judge Eddie Treviño issued mandatory “ Shelter-in-Place" until April 8, 2020.

Based on updated information, the following further adjustments will go into effect:

A. Schools will remain closed until further notice.

B. Faculty and Staff will continue to be committed to providing instructional support to ALL students.
• Documentation of weekly contact with students must be submitted to the campus principal.
• Continuity of Instructional Support is delivered by distance learning and instructional packets.
• Differentiation of Instruction is required for all special populations.

C. Distribution of Instructional packets will only continue via mail-out and upon parent request.

D. The Child Nutrition Meal Program will be postponed effective Wednesday, April 8, 2020, until further notice.

E. Campus staff will work remotely from home effective Monday, April 6, 2020.
Please Note: Essential staff may be called to report to the campus as needed.

F. Teachers need to continue to prepare for the long-term online learning by ensuring either usage and/or certification of recommended instructional platforms.

G. All staff members must be available remotely from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.

H. Additional pay only applies to hourly employees who are requested to report to the worksite.

I. Departments will continue to provide campus support.

J. Please note that these are the latest updates. Continue to refer to the previous BISD Superintendent’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates dated March 22, 2020, March 24, 2020, and March 29, 2020, as well.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding of this new updated plan. We will continue adjusting as needed based on new developments. Please continue to take precautionary measures and stay safe.

Dr. René Gutiérrez
Superintendent of Schools