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Brenham ISD adopts policy update reflecting 89th Texas Legislature, including new limits on DEI duties
Summary
The Brenham ISD Board unanimously adopted local policy update 01/26 to implement changes from the 89th Texas Legislature, including increased parental‑rights and transparency measures, tightened standards on instructional and library materials and new employee-conduct language related to diversity, equity and inclusion duties.
The Brenham Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved the addition, revision and deletion of local policies in "Update 01/26," a package administrators said reflects requirements from the 89th Texas legislative session.
Superintendent Guillentine and cabinet staff reviewed the changes with trustees, telling the board the updates emphasize parental rights, transparency for instructional materials and new provisions in employee standards of conduct. "It translates [the legislature's] conservative directives into district level governance by tightening parental control, consent requirements, limiting student organizations and programming tied to gender identity," a cabinet presenter said. The superintendent added: "We've been implementing a lot of this since the start of the year," and asked trustees to raise questions before a vote.
Trustees pressed staff for definitions and operational details; staff said the revised grievance timeline lengthens filing windows for parents who attempt informal resolution (from a prior 15 days to a window of 60–90 days) and extends response times for the district (from 10 days to 20). On employee conduct, staff noted the updated language prohibits district employees from performing or assigning "diversity, equity, and inclusion duties" and bars assisting a student with "social transitioning" as defined in law. "If a complaint or grievance is filed against an employee, that employee is made aware and has an opportunity to provide a written response," staff explained as part of the grievance changes.
The board approved the policy package by motion. The update will be posted and incorporated into local handbooks and new‑hire orientation materials as staff implements the changes.
The board did not identify a specific effective date in the discussion; staff said many of the changes have already been put into practice and will be formally adopted into the local policy manual.
