Gatesville ISD board approves consent items, renewals and agreements in voice votes

Gatesville ISD board members approved the consent agenda and a series of agreements during their regular meeting, adopting routine financial items and renewing or approving contracts that affect student services and district operations.

The board approved minutes, financial statements, bills and payrolls, budget amendments, investment and other routine reports via voice vote. The board also voted to renew a shared agreement with the Temple Regional Day School for the Deaf, approve the district's Instructional Materials Allotment (IMA) certification form for submission to the Texas Education Agency, join a fuel-price cooperative for a capped diesel and unleaded rate, extend a memorandum of understanding with Almond Counseling for three years, extend an interlocal agreement allowing Department of Public Safety staff to use primary campus office space through 2029, and authorize a fundraising concert coordinated with a local messenger to benefit school booster groups.

Why it matters: the approvals keep an established outplacement contract available for students with auditory impairments, secure flexible instructional-material funding rules and allow the district to lock a capped fuel price that staff estimate will keep next year’s fuel expense near $125,000. The agreements also formalize local counseling support at no cost to the district and preserve a law-enforcement presence on a campus, which district leaders said provides added security.

Most important actions

- Consent agenda: The board approved routine items including minutes of the February regular meeting; financial statements as of Feb. 28; bills and payroll for February; year-to-date budget amendments; quarterly investment report; and several routine service and report items. The motion was approved by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.

- Temple Regional Day School for the Deaf contract (renewal): The board approved renewal of the shared agreement that provides an outplacement for students with auditory impairments. Staff said the district currently has one student who would qualify; the parents have chosen to keep that student in-district but the agreement remains necessary to hold placement options. The motion passed by voice vote.

- Instructional Materials Allotment (IMA) TEA certification form: The board approved submission of the IMA certification form required by the Texas Education Agency that documents the district’s instructional-material purchases and coverage of the TEKS. Staff noted the state opens IMA funding windows mid-April to mid-May and that Bluebonnet (the state's supplemental materials program) has separate funding. The form approval was passed by voice vote.

- Fuel cooperative commitment (TASB): The board authorized rejoining the TASB fuel cooperative, locking a cap that staff described as $2.79 per gallon for diesel and $2.59 per gallon for unleaded for the coming year. Using the district’s projected fuel use, staff estimated the fuel cost under the cooperative would be about $125,000. The board approved the commitment by voice vote.

- Almond Counseling memorandum of understanding: The board authorized a three-year MOU with Almond Counseling to continue a local, no-cost counseling partnership that provides after-hours and additional counseling services by referral from campus counselors and principals. The MOU was approved by voice vote; staff said the agreement can be canceled at any time.

- Interlocal agreement for primary campus office space (DPS): The board authorized an extension of the agreement allowing Department of Public Safety personnel to use office space at the primary campus through 2029. District staff said the arrangement has been mutually beneficial and provides added campus security. The motion passed by voice vote.

- Fundraising event with local messenger: The board approved a proposed fundraiser in which a Messenger-led event featuring a Johnny Cash tribute performer would sell tickets and return proceeds to school booster groups; organizers estimated a fundraising goal of $10,000–$15,000. The board approved moving forward by voice vote.

Meeting process and next steps: Most approvals were made by voice vote; the transcript records general “all in favor” confirmations without individual roll-call tallies. Several items were presented as renewals or routine compliance actions and did not include substantive debate. District staff said they will submit the IMA certification to the Texas Education Agency and finalize cooperative and MOU paperwork as approved.

The board moved into executive session at 6 p.m. for matters recorded separately.