GISD Board of Trustees accepts value limitation application from Brush Country Solar

The Gonzales Independent School District Board of Trustees accepted an application for a Chapter 313 value limitation agreement from Brush Country Solar at its meeting on Monday, May 10.

The acceptance of an application is not the same as an approval. The application will be sent to the State Comptroller of Public Accounts by the district.

The Board also voted 7-0 to retain the firm of Sara Leon & Associates and Jigsaw School finance solutions to assist with the district’s review and processing of the Brush County Solar application. Board members were polled for conflicts of interest regarding the development, and each board member stated that they had none.

Oaths of office were administered to Josie Smith-Wright and Sandra Gorden by Early Voting Clerk Lucy Peña. Both Smith-Wright and Gorden are returning for additional terms on board seats representing their respective districts.

Following up on previous discussions of opening the Pre-Kindergarten to all families, Chief Financial Officer Amanda Smith made the recommendation that the rate for the 2021 to 2022 school year be set to $29 a day, as the district awaits the official recommended rates to be shared by the Texas Education Agency.

The only public comment came from Ashley Molina, a parent who expressed frustration with the household income limits for admission to the district’s Pre-K program, when other daycare or educational opportunities have no remaining availability.

In other business:

• The board approved the minutes of its April meetings, as well as budget amendments related to donations made by the Gonzales ISD Education Foundation and High School fire sprinkler system.
• the district awarded contracts for fuel, lubricant and oil, and approved the engagement of a firm for the Gonzales High School Practice Field turf and lighting project.
• Crystal Cedillo, Gonzales County Tax Assessor-Collector, was appointed to calculate and prepare the 2021 No-New Revenue and Voter-Approval tax rates for Gonzales ISD.
• Resale bids of school property were approved by the board.

The Inquirer live streams many government meetings on its Facebook page. To watch the live stream of the GISD meeting, click here.