Gatesville ISD board approves audit, hires football coach, renews Tarleton MOU and adopts calendar and policy updates

Gatesville ISD trustees accepted the district's financial audit, approved the consent agenda and several administrative items, and appointed Jose Aguirre as the district's head football coach and assistant athletic director at their regular meeting.

The board voted to accept the auditor's report, approve minutes and routine financial items on the consent agenda, renew a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tarleton State University, adopt the proposed 2025'26 school calendar (Option A), accept TASB-recommended policy updates, and approve updated employee contract forms from the district's legal counsel. Trustees also voted to hire Jose Aguirre as head football coach and assistant athletic director following an internal search to replace Aaron Hunter, who resigned.

The audit acceptance and consent items The district's financial audit for the previous fiscal year was presented to the board and posted on the district website. The board was told the audit found Gatesville ISD in compliance and found no instances of material noncompliance for grants, contracts or laws related to local, state and federal funds. Trustees moved and seconded a motion to accept the audit as presented and approved it during the meeting.

Consent items approved included the minutes of the Jan. 27 regular meeting, financial statements as of Jan. 31, bills and payrolls for January, year-to-date budget amendments to fund balance, the district's vital signs report and the food service report.

Hiring of head football coach Trustees appointed Jose Aguirre as the district's head football coach and assistant athletic director after an internal and external search. Board members were told the position was posted Jan. 15 after the resignation of Aaron Hunter and that Aguirre, an internal candidate, has served as defensive coordinator and is active in district events. Aguirre told the board his priorities would remain student-centered.

"Number one, it's always been about the kids. Always," Jose Aguirre said during his remarks to the board. "We'll take care of kids first and do what's right by them."

Tarleton MOU renewal The board approved renewal of an existing memorandum of understanding with Tarleton State University that continued automatic-admission benefits for Gatesville students who rank in the top half (top 50%) of their class and described additional Tarleton scholarships for eligible students. The board was told Tarleton's enrollment is about 17,000 and that the institution seeks to grow enrollment through partnerships with public schools. The board voted to renew the same MOU it has had for several years.

2025'26 school calendar Trustees adopted the recommended 2025'26 school calendar labeled Option A after a district DEIC process. The board was told Option A received 88% support in the DEIC vote and shifts the start date slightly later in August and adds seven in-service days at the beginning of the year, intended to give teachers, especially new teachers, more preparation time. The board approved the calendar by motion.

TASB policy updates and contract form changes The board approved routine policy revisions recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) as part of Update 01/24 and resource manual Update 70. Trustees were told the changes were standard and noncontroversial.

The board also approved updated contract forms provided by the district's legal counsel (referred to in the meeting as Eichelbaum Wardell). Those updated forms add explicit language that lesson planning (unit or weekly plans) is part of teacher duties, set a six-month time limit for an employee to bring certain legal claims against the district (measured from the date of the event), and implement an administrative signature process so contracts are populated and signed electronically.

Other notes There were student and staff recognitions for the Gatesville High School choir, including three students selected to the TMEA All-State Choir, but those recognitions were ceremonial and not part of the board's formal actions. No members of the public signed up to speak on nonagenda items.

Votes at a glance (actions approved) - Consent agenda: minutes, financial statements, bills and payrolls, budget amendments, vital signs and food service report — motion and second recorded; outcome approved. - Acceptance of financial audit (posted on district website): motion by a trustee; outcome approved. - Appointment of Jose Aguirre as head football coach and assistant athletic director: motion and second recorded; outcome approved. - Renewal of Tarleton State University MOU (automatic admission for top-50% students and scholarship provisions): motion and second recorded; outcome approved. - Adoption of 2025'26 school calendar (Option A): motion by a trustee; outcome approved. - Adoption of TASB policy updates (Update 01/24 and resource manual update 70): motion and second recorded; outcome approved. - Approval of updated employee contract forms from Eichelbaum Wardell (adds lesson-planning clause; six-month filing window for claims; electronic signature process): motion and second recorded; outcome approved.

Board actions described above were presented as routine and noncontroversial; no roll-call vote tallies were provided in the meeting transcript for these motions, and the meeting record shows motions made, seconds acknowledged and unanimous voice approval where recorded. The board adjourned after the actions were completed.