Granbury ISD’s longtime insurer abruptly slashed its price by nearly $300,000 when faced with competition — but the school board still voted Friday to keep the provider, drawing sharp criticism from trustee Karen Lowery in an interview with The Dallas Express. The decision comes just seven weeks before voters head to the polls, where several incumbents who supported the deal will be on the ballot.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Texas Political Subdivisions (TPS) had charged the district $1.12 million last term. When Texans for Excellence in Public Education (TEE) entered the bidding with an offer of $820,410 — later revised to $831,060 — TPS cut its proposal to $836,157. Lowery and fellow trustee Tim Bolton argued the steep drop showed taxpayers had been overcharged for years.
‘Rushed’ Vote
“They tried to rush through the vote without discussion,” Lowery told The Dallas Express, pointing to video of the meeting as evidence.
Coverage and Cost Concerns
“I believe TEE had the better coverage, with fewer deductibles and protections TPS did not include,” she said. “TPS lowered their bid very significantly from the year before, but there hasn’t been any reduction in risk to justify that drop. We’re still facing storms, property damage, and rising costs.”
“That’s money that could have gone to buses, special education, or teachers,” Lowery added. “If we don’t review these contracts every three to five years, we’re missing out on real benefits for the district, the taxpayers, and the children.”
Transparency Questions
“The entire process for the district was quite a mess,” Lowery said. “There were discrepancies in communications with the bidders, and because this wasn’t a formal RFP, it lacked structure and transparency.”
“You can’t have a relationship with a new provider unless you start the relationship,” she added, after district leaders cited their longstanding ties to TPS.
District leaders said the decision reflected TPS’s long service history with Granbury ISD and a desire for continuity.
What’s Next
The school board cast its deciding vote on Friday, August 29, 2025, setting the stage for a heated campaign just five weeks ahead of the Granbury ISD trustee election on November 4. Early voting is scheduled to begin Monday, October 20.
Critics argue the district missed an opportunity for structured competition that could have yielded real savings. “That’s money that could have gone to buses, special education, or teachers,” Lowery told The Dallas Express.