Bryan ISD trustees unanimously approved a $2.2 million employee compensation package for the 2026-27 school year at its June 1 meeting while the district continued to warn of ongoing financial pressures tied to declining enrollment and limited state funding growth.

The framework: 

• One-time $500 stipend for all full-time employees
• $50-per-week bus driver attendance incentive
• Teacher step increases
• $1,000 increase to starting teacher salaries

During the summer months, schools in College Station ISD will be offering children 18 and younger free breakfasts and lunches, no questions asked.

What you need to know: All meals will be offered with no registration or identification requirements. All meals must be consumed on-site.

• South Knoll Elementary School: Meals will be served Monday through Friday until June 25.
• Lincoln Center: Meals will be served Monday through Friday until July 24.
• Creek View Elementary School: Meals will be served Monday through Thursday until June 25.

The Premiere Cinema, one of Bryan’s locally owned megaplexes, celebrated 20 years of operation on May 29 with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

What you need to know: The BCS Chamber of Commerce hosted the anniversary ribbon cutting, joined by members of the community, to congratulate the team on the anniversary.

Theatre Director Andrea Fletcher said she was thankful for the support and the community’s love of film.

Before you go: The cinema, which has the only iMAX screen in the Bryan-College Station area, features a wide variety of new releases, throwback films and different camps dedicated to family friendly films.

• 950 North Earl Rudder Fwy., Bryan

Nearly $8.4 billion in new state funding was not enough to save Texas public school districts from budget shortfalls and campus closures, school administrators said June 1.

What happened: During a 10-hour public hearing at the state Capitol, school district leaders spoke of efforts to stretch their budgets amid high inflationary costs as teachers explained their decisions to leave the classroom due to pay cuts and large class sizes.

The big picture: Last year, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 2, a $8.4 billion school finance bill designed to increase educator salaries, create a new pot of money for fixed costs, provide more training for teachers and boost special education resources.

Roughly one year later, districts across Community Impact’s coverage areas are cutting staff and closing campuses, citing enrollment declines and budget shortfalls. 

Quote of note: "This funding deficit is the final straw for me, and it will be for countless other educators across the state who must leave or who lose their jobs," Austin ISD French teacher Rachel Preston told lawmakers June 1.