Concerned citizen reports on alarming literacy rates in local school district's finances

The Brazosport Independent School District (BISD) Board Meeting on February 17, 2025, highlighted significant concerns regarding student performance and district funding. A community member expressed frustration over a lack of communication from the district, stating they had reached out to various state offices, including the auditor's office and the attorney general, due to unresolved issues.

The speaker raised alarming statistics about student literacy and math proficiency, noting that 53% of third graders and 45% of eighth graders are not reading at grade level. Additionally, 59% of both third and eighth graders do not meet grade-level math standards. These figures were presented in the context of the district's ongoing requests for taxpayer funding, which the speaker found troubling.

The discussion also focused on the financial implications of recent and upcoming bond proposals. The speaker pointed out that the district had previously requested substantial bonds: $175 million in 2014, $267 million in 2019, and a proposed $167 million for 2025. This has resulted in a staggering debt of approximately $27,568 per student, with the new bond potentially increasing this debt by an additional $14,418 per student.

The speaker's inquiries into how these funds were utilized raised further concerns about accountability and transparency within the district. The meeting underscored the urgent need for the BISD to address both academic performance and financial management as it seeks continued support from the community.