Gatesville ISD trustees approve a slate of routine policy and procurement items; hear insurance, grant and vaping updates

At its June meeting, the Gatesville Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a series of routine fiscal, procurement and program items and heard staff reports on insurance cost increases, planned federal grant applications and student vaping discipline.

Board members unanimously approved changes to local purchasing and asset policies, accepted a contractor bid for baseball field netting, renewed memoranda of understanding for student services and dual‑credit coursework, and approved salary adjustments for staff who begin work in July. Trustees also discussed a planned application for a COPS School Violence Prevention Program grant and an increase in health insurance premiums passed through by the Teacher Retirement System plan.

The changes the board approved are intended to reduce administrative bottlenecks and update local policy to match new federal and state guidance. The board voted to:

- Increase the district—apitalization threshold from $5,000 to $10,000 in its CFB (local) policy, reducing the number of small items that must remain on the district—ooks.

- Set the district nnual micro‑purchase threshold at $25,000 (CBB local), allowing purchases under that amount to proceed without the three‑quote requirement now applied to purchases between $10,000 and $50,000.

- Accept Containment Systems—id of $53,000 to install 40 feet of netting and poles for the high‑school baseball field; the board directed staff to rebid the dugout and backstop work after receiving no bids on that portion.

- Renew a memorandum of understanding with Temple College to continue offering dual‑credit opportunities through the Texas Bioscience Institute (projected two students next academic year).

- Renew a memorandum of understanding with Central County Services (community mental health provider) so the agency may continue to offer school‑based mental health services on district campuses at no direct cost to the district.

- Approve a salary pay plan for district employees with July start dates (roughly an average 3% increase for that group) and to follow with additional salary actions in July/September as required by state timing and House Bill guidance.

- Approve routine items including the annual staff development minutes waiver and maintenance of UIL‑related academic eligibility standards for advanced courses (maintaining a 60 average as the passing threshold for eligibility in advanced courses).

During the meeting staff reported that the district will again file its annual public notice of intent to apply for common federal education grants: ESSA consolidated programs (commonly known as Title I and related subprograms), the Special Education Consolidated Grant, and Perkins V career and technical education funds. Separately, staff said they are preparing an application for the 2025 COPS (School Violence Prevention Program) federal grant to upgrade communication systems, including radios; that grant requires a 25% local match if awarded. Staff estimated the COPS request would be about $125,000–$150,000 with a district match of roughly $30,000–$40,000; staff said they would return to the board for approval of any required match amount if the award is offered.

On insurance, a district presenter reported that employee health insurance premiums administered through TRS increased by roughly 14% for the employee portion this year and described the impact to the district budget. The presenter said the district has historically paid the employee‑only share of the monthly premium and reported the premium change equates to an estimated $60 increase per employee and roughly $360,000 more than previously budgeted for the district—or that coverage line; the presenter added the district—udget for health insurance approaches several million dollars annually. Staff emphasized they plan to continue covering employee‑only premiums but warned this will reduce available discretionary funds in the budget.

Trustees also discussed student vaping and proposed disciplinary timelines. Staff described recent local enforcement actions against retail outlets that sold vaping products to minors and reviewed district discipline options under state law. The district described a recommended progressive discipline approach for vaping offenses: first offense 20 days (in‑school suspension/DAP), second offense 25 days, third and subsequent offenses up to 30 days, while coupling those disciplinary steps with addiction counseling and referral to community providers.

The board concluded the meeting by voting on the remaining routine agenda items and adjourning to executive session.