Board approves consent agenda including one‑time staff stipend; communication protocol adopted

GADSDEN — The Gadsden Independent School District Board of Education on Feb. 27 approved a package of procedural and policy items, including a consent agenda that reallocates unused employee‑benefit budget dollars for schoolwide student recognition and a one‑time staff stipend, and adopted a district communications protocol.

Board members voted unanimously to accept the consent agenda and to approve a communications protocol that staff said will standardize messaging across campuses and make it easier for families and board members to follow school events.

Why it matters: The consent package shifts dollars the district had set aside to cover a projected 17% increase in employee benefits (a projection later reduced by state allocations) into campus discretionary funds for student recognition and a one‑time stipend to employees. Superintendent Dempsey framed the reallocation as a recognition of the district’s strong annual testing results and a way to return funds to campuses and staff.