The Gulfport School District Board's July 6, 2026 meeting is largely devoted to preparing the district for the 2026-2027 school year. The agenda combines routine governance with several significant financial, operational, instructional, and personnel decisions. The single largest action item is formal adoption of the district's FY2027 operating budget following a required public hearing held in June.
Board members are also scheduled to consider a substantial group of purchases, contract renewals, and memorandums of understanding affecting athletics, technology, child nutrition, instructional programs, special education, facilities, insurance, and district operations. Several recurring annual contracts are renewed while new instructional and operational initiatives are positioned for implementation before students return to school.
Financially, the packet includes notable expenditures including approximately $348,865 for liability insurance, about $192,929 annually for managed print services, $65,205 for district-wide copy paper, technology subscriptions, assessment systems, and numerous operational purchases. The packet also provides a positive financial snapshot through May 2026, reporting revenues exceeding expenditures by nearly $4.9 million despite higher salary costs and lower state revenue.
The meeting also addresses staffing, safety planning, career pathways, dual-credit partnerships, dropout prevention, professional learning, student support services, and agreements with community partners. Together, these items establish many of the operational, instructional, and financial foundations for the upcoming school year.
Major Discussion and Action Items
FY2027 Budget Adoption
The board is scheduled to formally adopt the Original Combined Budget for Fiscal Year 2027. According to the packet, the proposed budget has already been presented to the board, published as required by law, and reviewed during a public hearing held on June 1, 2026. Adoption represents the final legal step before the new fiscal year's financial plan becomes effective.
The budget establishes spending authority across district funds and serves as the financial framework supporting instruction, staffing, operations, transportation, facilities, and student services throughout FY2027.
Major Annual Contracts and Renewals
Several recurring district contracts require board approval before the school year begins.
Among the largest are renewal of liability insurance through Gallagher Insurance for approximately $348,865 covering July 1, 2026 through July 1, 2027, renewal of the managed print agreement with South Mississippi Business Machines totaling approximately $192,928.88 annually plus ten new copiers, and renewal of the PowerSchool Student Information System subscription for approximately $31,395.
These services support core district operations including risk management, printing infrastructure, and student records management.
Investments Supporting Classroom Instruction
The board is asked to approve several instructional purchases designed to support teaching and student achievement.
These include:
- Renaissance STAR assessments for elementary students funded with district and federal funds totaling approximately $9,810.
- Renaissance SAEBRS behavioral screening software for special education costing approximately $14,369.94.
- Six Acer Chromebook Plus devices for district administrators costing approximately $7,455.78.
- SmartPass digital hall pass renewal for Gulfport High School at approximately $6,965.
The packet also includes approval of the district's Instructional Management Plan, Professional Learning Plan, and Dropout Prevention Plan for the 2026-2027 school year.
Child Nutrition Improvements
Several agenda items modernize child nutrition operations.
The district proposes purchasing three mobile condiment carts for Gulfport High School for approximately $10,881.35 and front-of-house point-of-sale and menu planning software costing approximately $12,665 for the coming school year.
Additional actions include annual child nutrition uniforms, establishment of petty cash and cashier change funds, and other operational approvals supporting cafeteria services district-wide.
Partnerships Expanding Student Opportunities
Multiple memorandums of understanding strengthen partnerships beyond the school district.
These include agreements with:
- Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District to expand the Accelerate MS Career Coach initiative into Bayou View Middle School and Gulfport Central Middle School.
- Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College covering academic dual credit and career and technical education opportunities.
- Mississippi State University through an addendum for the Head Start/Early Head Start program.
- Kelly Educational Services for substitute staffing.
- The City of Gulfport allowing the swim team to use the Francis Collins Lifetime Fitness Center.
Collectively, these agreements expand workforce preparation, college access, extracurricular opportunities, and staffing flexibility.
Athletics and Student Activities
Athletics receives several operational investments.
The board is asked to approve football cleats totaling approximately $13,852 through the district's BSN Sports and Nike contract, renew live-streaming services with WSN Live for three years at $8,500, approve repairs and a maintenance program for Gulfport High School band instruments, deposit $10,000 into the DragonFly Ref Pay account for athletic officials, and accept a private donation supporting baseball bullpen renovations.
Safety and Operational Readiness
Operational planning includes adoption of the district-wide 2026-2027 School Occupational Safety and Crisis Response Plan.
The board will also consider permission to advertise for sealed bids for custodial services, disposal of surplus fixed assets, annual petty cash authorizations, and other operational housekeeping needed before the new school year begins.
Personnel and Staffing
The personnel agenda includes routine employment recommendations, resignations, updated supplemental pay schedules, accreditation renewal with Cognia for $14,000, hiring recommendations for multiple schools, approval of additional behavior intervention and preschool special education supplements, and several individual teacher appointments requiring separate action.
These actions prepare staffing for the upcoming academic year while supporting specialized instructional programs.
Financial Matters
The packet contains numerous financial actions supporting district operations.
Major expenditures include:
- FY2027 Original Combined Budget adoption.
- Liability insurance renewal: $348,865.
- Managed print contract: $16,077.49 per month, approximately $192,928.88 annually, including ten new copiers.
- District-wide multi-purpose paper purchase: $65,205.
- Football cleats: $13,852.
- Mobile condiment carts: $10,881.35.
- Front-of-house child nutrition software: $12,665.
- SAEBRS Behavioral Support System: $14,369.94.
- Renaissance STAR assessments: $9,810.
- PowerSchool SIS renewal: $31,395.17.
- Streaming services renewal: $8,500.
- SmartPass renewal: $6,965.
- Chromebook purchase: $7,455.78.
- Cognia accreditation renewal: $14,000.
- DragonFly Ref Pay deposit: $10,000.
Financial reports through May 2026 indicate year-to-date revenue of approximately $58.33 million and expenditures of approximately $53.33 million, producing a positive balance of roughly $4.91 million. The report notes salaries and benefits increased by about $2.08 million, state revenue declined by approximately $1.21 million, while local revenue increased about $907,598.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
Governance actions primarily involve annual policy implementation and required board approvals.
Key governance items include adoption of the FY2027 budget resolution, approval of the district's Occupational Safety and Crisis Response Plan, Instructional Management Plan, Professional Learning Plan, Dropout Prevention Plan, annual petty cash procedures, student transfers, and multiple agreements governed by existing district purchasing and contracting policies.
The superintendent's report includes authorization of school fundraising activities across multiple campuses for FY2026-2027.
Board members also receive May 2026 financial reports summarizing revenues, expenditures, and budget trends.
Instructional leadership will provide monthly ATSI/TSI updates for several schools, giving the board information regarding ongoing school improvement efforts and accountability initiatives.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel recommendations include employment approvals, resignations, specialized hiring actions, supplemental compensation adjustments, preschool special education supplements, behavior intervention support, and Cognia accreditation renewal.
Separate action items include approval of teacher appointments at Bayou View Middle School and approval of a resignation and release from contract due to personal obligations.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Facility and operational improvements include baseball bullpen renovations funded through a private donation, district copier replacements, mobile cafeteria equipment, technology purchases, managed print services, school safety planning, custodial service procurement, fixed asset disposal, and maintenance of Gulfport High School band instruments.
These projects focus primarily on maintaining facilities and ensuring schools are operational before the beginning of the academic year.
The packet notes that the required public hearing for the FY2027 budget occurred on June 1, 2026 before final adoption.
The July 6 meeting agenda also includes a Public Forum early in the meeting, providing an opportunity for community participation before board action on agenda items.
Students will experience expanded instructional supports through updated assessment systems, behavioral screening tools, improved technology, strengthened career coaching, dual-credit partnerships, and continued extracurricular investments.
Families may benefit from improved instructional planning, updated safety procedures, enhanced child nutrition operations, and continued access to career and college readiness opportunities.
Employees are affected through staffing recommendations, supplemental compensation, professional learning plans, accreditation renewal, and operational investments supporting day-to-day work.
Taxpayers benefit from formal budget adoption, public financial reporting, competitive purchasing processes, annual contract renewals, and board oversight of significant expenditures before the new fiscal year.
- How does the adopted FY2027 budget compare with the previous fiscal year?
- What factors contributed to declining state revenue and increasing salary costs?
- What measurable improvements are expected from the new instructional assessment systems?
- How will the Career Coach partnerships expand opportunities for middle and high school students?
- What performance measures will be used to evaluate the managed print contract?
- Why were the selected vendors chosen over competing quotes?
- How will the updated Dropout Prevention Plan be evaluated during the school year?
- What improvements are included in the School Occupational Safety and Crisis Response Plan?
- How will the district monitor outcomes from its professional learning initiatives?
- What long-term maintenance strategy accompanies the band instrument repair program?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- July 6, 2026: Board considers adoption of the FY2027 budget and numerous operational actions.
- July 1, 2026 – July 1, 2027: Liability insurance renewal period.
- 2026-2027 School Year: Implementation of instructional, safety, dropout prevention, professional learning, and operational plans.
- 2026-2027 School Year: Career Coach partnerships with Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District become active.
- 2026-2027 School Year: Dual-credit agreements with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College take effect.
- FY2027: DragonFly referee payment account funded for athletic contests.
- Future Board Meetings: Financial reports, school improvement updates, and implementation progress are expected to continue throughout the year.
Key Takeaways
- FY2027 budget adoption is the meeting's most significant decision.
- Liability insurance renewal totals approximately $348,865.
- Managed print services will cost about $192,929 annually.
- District-wide paper purchase totals $65,205.
- Multiple instructional plans for 2026-2027 require approval.
- Career coaching and dual-credit partnerships are expanding.
- School safety and crisis response plans are updated district-wide.
- Technology, assessments, and student support systems receive continued investment.
- Personnel actions prepare staffing for the new school year.
- Financial reports show revenues exceeding expenditures by roughly $4.9 million through May 2026.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Gulfport School District
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Gulfport, mississippi
- County: Harrison
- Provider: diligent
Keywords
Gulfport School District, Gulfport School Board, FY2027 budget, liability insurance, Gallagher Insurance, managed print contract, South Mississippi Business Machines, PowerSchool SIS, Renaissance STAR, SAEBRS, child nutrition, mobile condiment carts, multi-purpose paper, football cleats, SmartPass, Cognia, career coach, Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, dual credit, Head Start, Kelly Educational Services, school safety, crisis response plan, dropout prevention, instructional management plan, professional learning plan, Gulfport High School, Bayou View Middle School, athletics
