Alpine Independent School District has received a $650,000 investment from the Prentice Farrar Brown and Alline Ford Brown Foundation to support classroom upgrades, fine arts programs and expanded student learning opportunities across the district.
According to Alpine ISD, the funding will help modernize classroom furniture at Alpine Elementary School, expand K-12 fine arts programming, improve theatre facilities and provide professional learning opportunities for staff.
Superintendent Dr. B. Michelle Rinehart said the investment reflects confidence in the district’s educators and students.
“This investment is an incredible testament to the work our educators lead every day on behalf of the children of Alpine,” Rinehart said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in our district by the Brown Foundation and will use these funds to continue advancing student outcomes and wellbeing across our community.”
District officials said the gift builds on a 2024 partnership between the Brown Foundation and Alpine ISD that funded 17 projects throughout the district, including technology upgrades, classroom resources, teacher certification support and playground improvements.
Four district projects will be supported through the new donation. Alpine Elementary School will replace older classroom furniture with flexible, student-centered designs intended to encourage collaboration and active learning.
The district also plans to expand fine arts offerings with new music and visual arts equipment and supplies. Planned purchases include Orff instrument sets for elementary students, new band instruments for secondary students, updated performance risers and additional visual arts resources.
At Alpine High School, the theatre arts program will receive upgraded lighting and sound systems in the district’s historic auditorium, along with additional costumes and props intended to expand student opportunities and eventually extend theatre programming to younger grade levels.
The investment will also support nationally recognized professional learning programs, including Capturing Kids’ Hearts and Ron Clark Academy training.
Alpine ISD officials said the projects align with the district’s long-term strategic priorities and were made possible through partnerships with the Brown Foundation and the Permian Basin Area Foundation.
The Alpine ISD Board of Trustees formally accepted the first phase of the investment during its April 15 meeting. District leaders said implementation is expected to begin in early June, with many projects targeted for completion before the start of the 2026-27 school year on Aug. 11.
