Gatesville ISD board approves baseball backstop bid, adult meal price changes, new insurer, interlocal agreement and several policies

The Gatesville ISD Board of Trustees approved several routine but budget- and operations-related items during the meeting, including a bid adjustment for baseball facilities, adult meal price increases, a new property-and-casualty insurance contract, an interlocal maintenance agreement for the cross-country track, adoption of artificial-intelligence policies, and a resolution classifying 4-H staff as adjunct faculty for attendance purposes.

Baseball backstop and netting: The board accepted a revised bid to install a new backstop wall and a taller netting-and-pole system for the baseball field, omitting previously bid dugout work so the project would fit the available $100,000 donation. The presenter said the trimmed scope came in at about $53,000 and would start on Sept. 1 if approved. A motion to accept the revised bid passed (moved by Linda; seconded by Cheyenne). Outcome: approved.

Adult meal prices: Trustees approved a required federal consumer-price-index adjustment to adult meal rates. The approved rates are $3.40 for adult breakfast and $5.25 for adult lunch; the presenter described the adjustments as the minimum required by updated federal CPI guidance. A motion to adopt the rate changes passed. Outcome: approved.

Property and casualty insurance: The district solicited bids and received two offers. PCAT (bid figure referenced) submitted a lower-than-expected offer, but the district recommended switching to TPS (brokerage through RHSV) for one-year coverage at $476,000 with coverage the presenter described as improved. Trustees approved the district recommendation to select TPS/RHSV for the coming policy year (moved by Calvin; seconded by Linda). Outcome: approved.

Interlocal agreement for cross-country track maintenance: The board approved renewing an interlocal maintenance agreement with Coryell County (transcript spelled "Corio County"; corrected to the official county name) to allow county road-and-bridge crews to continue upkeep of the community cross-country track. The presenter noted county crews have performed this work without charge but the renewed agreement allows possible future reimbursement for materials. A motion to approve the interlocal agreement passed (moved by Mary Anne; seconded by [Linda/Lidlberg as recorded]). Outcome: approved.

Board policies and extracurricular classification: Trustees adopted two TASB-drafted local policies related to artificial intelligence (referenced in the transcript as policies "CQ (local)" and "EIA (local)" regarding student use of AI) and approved a resolution classifying three extension staff (Robert Ferguson, Becky Coward and Donna Schwash) as adjunct faculty so 4-H participation off campus can count toward attendance. Motions to adopt the policies and the 4-H adjunct-faculty resolution passed. Outcome: approved.

Consent agenda: The board approved minutes, financial statements and routine consent items after a motion (moved by Mary; seconded by Cheyenne). Outcome: approved.

Candidate filing: The presenter announced that candidate filing for the board election closed at 5:00 p.m. with three people signed up for two seats. The transcript named Emily Winchell and Catherine Oser and referenced a candidate named Cheyenne in the filing announcement. The presenter noted this will produce an election because more than two candidates filed.

No detailed roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript for these items; each motion passed after the chair called "All in favor?" and received assent. The district did not indicate any items failed or were tabled during this meeting.