June 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM - Regular Meeting
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1. Call to Order
Presenter:
Board President
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1.A. Roll Call
Presenter:
Board President
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1.B. Invocation:
Presenter:
Josie Smith-Wright
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1.C. Pledge:
Presenter:
Ashley Molina
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1.D. Mission Statement:
Presenter:
D'Anna Robinson
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2. Public Comments
Presenter:
Board President
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3. New Business/Action Items
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3.A. Consent Agenda
Discuss and Consider Action to approve the Consent Agenda
Presenter:
Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools
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3.A.1. Minutes of Meetings:
Presenter:
Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools
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3.A.2. Budget Amendments:
Presenter:
Amanda Smith, Chief Financial Officer
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3.B. Discuss and Consider Action to Approve the Date for the Public Meeting on the 2025-26 Proposed Budget and Tax Rate
Presenter:
Amanda Smith, Chief Financial Officer; Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools
Description:
The Truth-in-Taxation guidelines published by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts afford taxpayers an opportunity to express their opinions on proposed tax rates. Per these guidelines, before the budget and tax rate can be adopted, a public hearing must be held.
School districts file one notice for budget and tax rate adoption. Education Code Section 44.004(c) specifies the content requirements for this notice and the Comptroller’s office provides the model form which includes the statutory requirements. |
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3.C. Discuss and Consider Action on Bid for Resale Property: Suit 6792 R13814
(Parcel 13409)
Presenter:
Amanda Smith, Chief Financial Officer; Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools
Description:
The related property is located at 211 N Patrick. The bid received by the County on this foreclosed property conformed to resale policies and was, therefore, approved by the Commissioners at Court on May 12, 2025, pending the approval of the other taxing entities.
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3.D. Discuss and Consider Action to Approve Water Easement to City of Gonzales at new CTE & Ag Barn project
Presenter:
Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools; Casey Sledge, Region XIII, Sledge Engineering
Description:
The City of Gonzales will provide Water service to the new CTE & Ag Barn facilities. Part of the awarded scope of work for this project is to extend a City Water main from the existing infrastructure to the new project site. To accept the new water main, the City requires a Water Easement across property owned by GISD. The original water main design showed the main to be installed in existing road right-of-way, but site conflicts with fiber optic lines and city wastewater lines caused staff to consider alternate alignments. The proposed alignment has minimal cost impacts, avoids conflicts, and requires Water Easements. The City will maintain all lines in this easement.
The proposed easement draft exhibit is attached, along with easement language provided by the City. The final exhibit will be provided once surveying is complete. Note this easement is exclusively provided to the City and not to other entities or utility providers. There is no cost to GISD for this easement other than creating the exhibits. |
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3.E. Discuss and Consider Action to Approve Wastewater Easement to City of Gonzales at new CTE & Ag Barn project
Presenter:
Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools; Casey Sledge, Region XIII/Sledge Engineering
Description:
The City of Gonzales will provide wastewater service to the new CTE & Ag Barn facilities. Part of the awarded scope of work for this project is to extend a City wastewater main from the existing infrastructure to the new project site. To accept the new wastewater main, the City requires a Wastewater Easement across property owned by GISD. This easement also allows the City to utilize GISD property to extend wastewater service to the north to adjacent properties. The City will maintain all lines in this easement.
The proposed easement exhibit is attached, along with easement language provided by the City. Note this easement is exclusively provided to the City and not to other entities or utility providers. There is no cost to GISD for this easement other than creating the exhibits. |
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3.F. Discuss and Consider Action to Approve Commissioning Services for the CTE Building and Ag Barn as part of the 2023 Bond Program
Presenter:
Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools; Casey Sledge, Region XIII/Sledge Engineering
Description:
Energy Code requires 3rd-party Building Commissioning services to verify proper operations and efficiencies of installed HVAC, electrical, and other systems. Commissioning not only allows GISD to comply with Energy Codes but also provides assurance that the building systems as designed and constructed are operable, maintainable, and functioning according to design. The Commissioning service ensures the new building systems are operating at prime efficiencies to save operational costs and ensure optimal life of equipment.
Commissioning Services are a professional engineering service; therefore, firm selection is based on qualifications without price or fee consideration. Staff has selected EMA Engineering & Consulting as the most qualified professional engineering firm for this work. EMA was formed in 1974 and has over 250 employees. They are a Texas-based firms with an office in San Antonio. This scope of work includes Commissioning services as well as Test & Balance for mechanical systems. |
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3.G. Discuss and Consider Action to Approve LED Lighting Energy Conservation Proposal for all existing campuses as part of the 2023 Bond Program
Presenter:
Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools; Casey Sledge, Region XIII/Sledge Engineering
Description:
One of the 2023 Bond Program scopes of work for the Maintenance Projects is to convert all District campuses to LED lighting. This proposal from Aquila Environmental includes converting all district lighting to LED and to add timer switches where applicable. This scope includes over 6,000 light fixtures and over 250 timer switches.
The expected annual energy and maintenance cost savings from this project is $142,215 per year, meaning this project will pay for itself in just over 4 years. This scope of work is the core service of Aquila, and their track record and references with other Texas school districts is excellent. Staff feels their proposal is lower in price and faster in schedule than other options. The entire project is expected to be complete within 6 weeks of commencement and can be completed this summer with little to no educational disruption. This contract has been procured via the TIPS Purchasing Cooperative. |
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3.H. Discuss and Consider Action to Approve the Gonzales ISD EIC (Local) policy
Presenter:
Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools; Dr. Rachelle Ysquierdo, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Description:
: Recent legislative developments necessitate a review and potential update of our EIC(LOCAL) policy concerning academic achievement and class ranking. These changes may influence how we calculate grade point averages (GPA) and determine class rankings, particularly regarding the inclusion and weighting of various courses such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), dual credit, and correspondence courses. Clarifying these aspects in our policy will ensure transparency and fairness for all students.
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3.I. Discuss and Consider Action on a Memorandum of Understanding with Texas A&M University for Clinical Teaching/Educator Placements (Student Teaching or Internship)
Presenter:
Mary Lynn Ramirez, Director of Human Resources; Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools
Description:
Administration will present an overview of the agreement that is being recommended for approval. This is a partnership that the district would like to implement as a teacher pipeline in support of Goal Area 3 of the District’s 5-Year Strategic Vision.
The contract has been reviewed and approved by the district’s legal team. To expedite the partnership, administration requests and recommends that authorization be granted to the superintendent to finalize and execute the agreement. |
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3.J. Discuss and Consider Action on an Agreement with the University of Houston-Victoria for a Student Teacher Internship for Education Students
Presenter:
Mary Lynn Ramirez, Director of Human Resources; Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools
Description:
Administration will present an overview of the agreement that is being recommended for approval. This is a partnership that the district would like to implement as a teacher pipeline in support of Goal Area 3 of the District’s 5-Year Strategic Vision.
The contract has been reviewed and approved by the district’s legal team. To expedite the partnership, administration requests and recommends that authorization be granted to the superintendent to finalize and execute the agreement. |
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4. Reports
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4.A. 2025 GISD Ballet Folklorico Proposal
Presenter:
Brandi Bell, Executive Director of Recruitment, Leadership, and Professional Development; Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools
Description:
Administrator will present the current proposal from Teatro De Artes De Juan Seguin for the GISD 2025 Ballet Folklorico Artistic Director in Residency program.
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4.B. Academic Update
Presenter:
Dr. Rachelle Ysquierdo, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction
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4.C. 2023 Bond Program Monthly Update
Presenter:
Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools; Casey Sledge, Region XIII/Sledge Engineering
Description:
Education Service Center Region 13/ Sledge Engineering will provide the Board a monthly update for the 2023 approved Bond Program.
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4.D. Grounds Services
Presenter:
Gene Kridler, Director of Operations; Dr. Dana Arreola, Superintendent of Schools
Description:
This is a follow-up to the May 12, 2025, agenda item that was tabled. Historically, the district has outsourced its grounds service. However, due to the recent price increases proposed this year by the district’s prospective vendors, administration conducted a cost analysis for an in-house operation. A summary of the results have been included below.
Administration will be moving forward with bringing the service in-house, beginning September 1st, for the foreseeable future. Proposal #1: $158,862 Proposal #2: $136,610 In-House: Year 1: $104,000 Years 2-3: ~$76,000/year |
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4.E. Financial Report
Presenter:
Amanda Smith, Chief Financial Officer
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4.F. Superintendent Reports
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4.F.1. Enrollment-Attendance
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4.F.2. Campus Reports
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5. Board Business
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5.A. Board Correspondence
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5.B. Dates of Interest
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6. Adjourn to Closed session: Under Texas Government Code Chapter 551, The board will recess this open session and covene in a closed meeting to discuss items on the agenda. The board may conveniently meet in such a closed or executive session or meeting, concerning any and all subjects and for any and all purposes permitted by Texas government code chapter 551:
Presenter:
Board President
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6.A. Personnel
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6.B. Administrator Contracts
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7. Reconvene to Open Meeting: The Board will take appropriate action on items, if necessary, as discussed in Closed Session
Presenter:
Board President
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8. Adjourn
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