GISD hires new band director

The Gonzales ISD School Board met for their regularly scheduled meeting Monday, June 25 at the GISD Administration building

The meeting covered multiple items on the agenda, with one of them being the introduction of the new band director for Gonzales High School.

Richard Varela, the former band director of Cuero High School, was approved by the board, 7-0, to be the next band director at GHS.

Varela graduated at Texas A&M University-Kingsville with a bachelor’s degree in music education and was part of the Pride of South Texas Javelina marching band, jazz band and percussion studio.

“He served as the Director of Bands at Cuero High School, where he significantly expanded the band program, leading to numerous accolades, including the Bands of America Austin Regional Champion in 2014, and multiple superior ratings at UIL competitions,” GISD Superintendent Dr. Elmer Avellaneda said.

Avellaneda added that Varela has done various ensembles, including mariachi, at Cuero High School.

Avellaneda asked Varela when he’ll expect the mariachi program to take off at GHS.

“Within the year, you will see some inkling of the program. I can't give you a full blown within the first six weeks, nine weeks. But I can't guarantee that you'll see some type of performance at some point within the first semester, with a possibility of a show by the end of the school year,” Varela said.

“You give me one year to get my feet on the ground, being used to the kids in the community, and see what else, what other resources I can use within the community to pull if we have any singers in the community and guitar players who can come in and help us with instruction,” Varela added. “I can guarantee that you'll see some type of program within a year. And the hope is within two years we'll have a full-blown program with concerts and anything else that you want to see around here.”

In other board business, the board went over the Employee Health Insurance Benefits.

GISD Chief Financial Officer Amanda Smith went over the employee portion of the insurance premium.

“Currently, employees who are participating in this particular plan are paying $99 a month for their health insurance. For next year, TRS is increasing that monthly premium by $46 a month so the employees costs will be $145 after the district provides the $300 benefit that we currently apply toward that,” Smith said.

The reason this item was brought up to the board is due to the IRS’s updated definition of affordability. Smith said.

“What they deem is affordable for the 2024 years is $105.29 per month per employee. So that $145 that employees are looking at for next year, which is the lowest possible price employee can pay to participate in the district's insurance, is obviously more than that $105.29 that the IRS has deemed as affordable, according to their regulations,” Smith said.

“So to remain compliant, we have to increase a minimum of $39.71 per month,” Smith added.

The board approved the option B to increase to the employee health insurance contribution by $50 per month for a total of $350 per month.

The board approved the following agenda items:

--approved the guaranteed maximum price for summer 2024 flooring work as part of the 2023 bond program.