The Brownfield ISD Board of Trustees had their last meeting of the 2022-2023 school year and their last meeting in the current BISD Administration Building on Monday morning May 8, 2023. The agenda was short, however, a big hire was made during the meeting. After the call to order by Board President Geoff Cooper, the invocation, and pledges the Trustees went began the rest of the agenda.
The Board jumped to Item 10 on the agenda which the subject was to offer employment contract(s) to certified and/or non-certified professional administrator employment applicants(s) for initial assignment by Superintendent to one or more of the following positions: central office administrator; campus principal; assistant principal; Athletic Director and Head Football Coach; and other professional administrative support positions. Jeff Lofton was hired as the BISD Athletic Director/Head Football Coach on April 21, 2023, and last Thursday, May 2023 Lofton decided he would not take the job. This left the AD/HFC position open at BISD. Superintendent Chris Smith told the public, “Our focus will shift to hiring a new Head Coach and Athletic Director. We had some really strong candidates and we look forward to re-engaging them about our open position.”
Fast forward, the BISD Board of Trustees during agenda Item 10 hired a new AD/HFC which is Taheric Brantley. Coach Brantley has spent time here at BISD. From 2018-2019: he was Co-Defensive Coordinator for the Cubs, from 2018-2021: Head Boys & Girls Track Coach, 2020-2021: Defensive Coordinator, and in the 2021 season Brantley was still Defensive Coordinator and he was added the Special Teams Coordinator. Brantley left BISD in 2021 to take the Co-Defensive Coordinator and Head Boys Track Coach for Lubbock Coronado High School.
Smith stated, “We’re recommending Coach Brantley to be our Athletic Director/Head Football Coach… the kids love him, the kids know him and that’s crucial.” Smith went on to say, “We are happy to have him here. When I called him last week, he didn’t skip a beat… he’s always been that kinda man you want to be in front of your kids and I’ve always respected that about him.” Trustee Cat Gonzales made the motion to hire Brantley with Cody Churchwell making the 2nd. All six trustees were in favor. Coach Brantley said, “This has been like a second family to me, Brownfield. Growing up right down the road this is like my new home… so with my family here, my wife’s family this is just a dream come true and it’s like a perfect fit for me.”
The Board moved on to the rest of the agenda. First, they reorganized the Board since there were two positions that had come open, however, there was not an election for the two seats because nobody opposed Geoff Cooper or Tim Swaringen. Trustee Randy Anthony nominated Cooper to be president of the board. No other nominations were given, all members voted in favor of Cooper being president. Trustee Matt Valdonado nominated Swaringen as Vice President to the Board, no other nominations were given and all members voted in favor. Trusty Anthony then nominated Gonzales as secretary. No other names were nominated and all board members voted in favor.
Smith moved on to discuss the enrollment of BISD. According to Smith, there are 1673 students enrolled in BISD. That is 21 more than last year. High School has 423, middle school has 364, Oak Grove Elementary has 689, Colonial Heights has 148, and Brownfield Education Center (BEC) has 49.
The Board moved on to the financials. CFO Paul Coronado stated that 85% of the revenue has come in and 67% of the budget has been expended. There is currently $9.983 million in the fund balance and $3.5 million in investments.
