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Board approves CTE course, contracts, safety grants and policies; several routine items accepted
Summary
Trustees approved an array of motions including a new innovative CTE course, a one-year food-service contract renewal, a new audit firm, counseling MOU, a grant resolution for rifle-resistant body armor, fencing projects for student safety, an employee leave-donation policy and a low-attendance waiver submission.
Gatesville ISD trustees took votes on multiple action items during the meeting. Key motions approved by the board included academic, contracting, safety and personnel-policy items. The meeting recorded motions and informal "all in favor" confirmations but did not record formal roll-call tallies in the posted transcript excerpts.
Approved items (summary):
- CTE sports-entertainment-marketing (innovative course) for 20252026 school year: Motion by K. Calvin; board "all in favor" and approved. The district described the course as "innovative" because the state does not supply a curriculum; staff will use backward design from the certification test to develop materials.
- Substance-abuse policy language updates: Board approved clarification edits (changing "drugs or alcohol" language to "drugs, alcohol, or prohibited substances") intended to broaden covered items; staff described changes as clarifications, not substantive changes to consequences. Motion and "all in favor" recorded.
- Food-service contract renewal with Southwest Foods (SFE): Trustees approved a one-year contract renewal option; per the contract the per-meal mill rate will be adjusted by the Bureau of LaborStatistics consumer price index from 2.02% to 2.10% for the new year.
- Audit firm selection: Trustees approved switching auditors to Singleton & Clark (one-year contract) after soliciting bids; staff said the selected firm specializes in school audits and is regionally recommended and cheaper than the incumbent.
- MOU with Freedom Reins for counseling services: Trustees approved continuing the memorandum of understanding; monthly billing will not exceed $1,200 and insurance typically covers most individual costs.
- Resolution to pursue grant funding for rifle-resistant body armor for officers: Trustees approved moving forward with grant paperwork and a board resolution so the district can apply.
- Fencing projects to improve safety (primary and junior-high areas): Trustees approved immediate fencing projects to increase perimeter security and address a recent incident involving a child scaling a fence; staff said the project will cost about $85,000 and be paid from fund balance. The board approved a motion and staff said work could begin soon after school year end.
- Employee leave donation program: Trustees approved a policy allowing employees to anonymously donate up to five days of leave per donor into a pool to assist employees with catastrophic medical leave; district staff and TASB guidance shaped the policy and anonymity and limits were emphasized.
- Low-attendance waiver submission: Trustees authorized staff to submit a low-attendance waiver for Feb. 19 (the district reported a campus attendance rate of 81.03% that day) to the state to avoid penalty in attendance calculations.
Consent agenda: Trustees accepted the consent agenda that included minutes, March financial statements, bills and payroll, budget amendments and other routine reports.
Most motions were recorded as moved and seconded by trustees (where indicated) and confirmed by "all in favor"; the transcript did not include a line-by-line roll-call vote or counts for each motion in the posted excerpts. Staff said details of contracts and grant paperwork will be completed as part of implementation.
