Brownwood ISD Superintendent Reece Blincoe held a press conference Friday morning to outline the accomplishments made during his term with BISD, July 2008 through January 2015. Blincoe resigned as superintendent Thursday night and will be put in administrative leave starting February 1st.
With friends and supporters present, a teary-eyed Blincoe stood while BISD Public Relations Coordinator Charles Musgrove read a statement provided by Blincoe.
Blincoe briefly spoke after the gathering stating that, “I just want to say thanks to everybody. It’s been a great seven years,” said Blincoe. “My life will be good, I give you my word, but y’all’s will be better, great things are still to come. Keep your head high, work hard and continue to strive for these kids that you see on these posters around the room.” (Blincoe was referring to the pictures of the billboards that line the walls of the BISD Board room that highlight some of the above accomplishments of the district and the students of the district.)
The Brownwood ISD School Board has scheduled a special meeting Monday to name an interim superintendent.
Blincoe outlined the following highlights and accomplishments since he has been with the district in his statement, including the following:
- Completed $30 million bond package
- Added $1 million wing and renovations to East Elementary to address needs not included in bond package.
- Total renovation of Ag facility – 4 new animal barns, Gerald Thomas Pavilion
- New softball facility
- 1 to 1 laptop initiative, new tech infrastructure
- Implemented Community Relations department and PR Committee
- New webpage design
- Added presence on Facebook, Twitter
- Award winning mobile app
- Published back to school guide the past 4 years
- Added instructional technologist position
- Implemented First Move Chess Program to elementary schools
- Moved in-house bus program to All Aboard Transportation
- Implemented TEKS Resource system
- Moved to new 3rd party benefits provider – First Financial
- Created Health Science Program and HOSA program taught by Ann Tew and Annalyn Deen
- Reduced tax rate
- Raises across the board for district employees
- Dual credit program with Ranger College, Howard Payne University and Texas State Technical College
- Workforce committee: Built relationships with Brownwood Regional Medical Center and Loadcraft
- Enlisted services of grant writer – received $2.7 in technology grants and $1 million in US Department of Education Counseling Grant
- New Maintenance facility
- Superior rating in school F.I.R.S.T. – Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas – past 7 years.
- Expanded UIL down to lower grade levels
- Reorganization of Brownwood Accelerated High School
- HEB Excellence in Education Awards – Top 3 Small District in Texas, back-to-back, 2013 and 2014
The statement also included staff hired and promotions within the district during Blincoe’s term.