February 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM - GCSSD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

Discussion:  Mr. John Campbell led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Watkins called the meeting to order.

Discussion:  No public comment

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett recommended allocating an additional stockpile day for inclement weather. This measure would prevent the need to make up the seventh day of missed school.

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett presented the Schoen Foundation Grant. The Schoen Foundation is a guaranteed-donation campaign to support Gibson County teachers through DonorsChoose—a $50,000 poll designed to help as many teachers in Gibson County as possible. 

Discussion:  Mr. Rory Hinson presented the TISA Outcomes Budget Amendment. 

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett presented on Food Service Management. He recommended postponing any decisions regarding the cafeteria to give staff time to improve participation and engage in training and other improvement efforts, particularly since we have a Volco contract that runs until December 2026. After discussing various options, the board decided to pause the application process to allow for these improvements in the cafeteria.

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett presented the Free and Reduced Meals and handed the discussion over to Ms. Erica DuRall, the Food Service Director. Ms. DuRall explained that the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a meal service option that allows schools and districts in high-poverty areas to offer free meals to all students without requiring household applications. To qualify, schools must have an Identified Student Percentage (ISP) of 25%. The ISP includes students who are directly certified for free meals through programs such as SNAP, TANF, FDIR, and Medicaid, as well as students who are experiencing homelessness, are runaways, migrants, or in foster care. 
An ISP of 60 % or higher revenue increases; 50% breaks even in revenue, but at 40%, revenue decreases significantly. Schools do not need to meet the 25% threshold individually if the entire district or a group of schools within the district participates and meets the requirement. 
Ms. DuRall reported that the data show that the district's overall Identified Student Percentage (ISP) is 25.21%. However, if all students in the Gibson County Special School District were to receive free meals, the district would face a monthly deficit of $90,368.77. She noted that the combined ISP for Gibson County High School, Dyer School, Kenton School, Rutherford School, Spring Hill School, and Yorkville School is 54.90%, which generates a monthly revenue of $376,608.75.
Ms. DuRall stated that, based on this data, the district cannot support all of GCSSD under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) in the long term and would need to find alternative funding sources before pursuing this option. Only non-federal funds—such as state and local funds, cash donations, and contributions from outside sources, including volunteer services—are permitted.
The discussion about Free and Reduced Meals in all GCSSD schools continued; no action was taken at this time.

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett presented the surplus items.

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett presented the revisions to the policy as follows:

Discussion: 

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett congratulated Mr. Jack Ball on receiving a scholarship. He reported that GCHS is gearing up for prom.