November 2019 Committee on School Initiatives Item 2
Recommendation for Appointments to the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees
November 15, 2019
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: CONSENT
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for board consideration of three appointments to the board of trustees of the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District. The appointments are necessary due to the expiration of the term of office for three board members.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.352, and 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §61.2.
TEC, §11.352 authorizes the State Board of Education to appoint school board members in special purpose school districts.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: No previous board action has occurred on this item.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: The State Board of Education is statutorily authorized to appoint board members for military reservation independent school districts. Trustees so appointed shall hold office for two years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Enlisted military personnel may be appointed to the board; however, a majority must be civilians, and all may be civilians. When a vacancy occurs on one of these boards, the base commander notifies the commissioner of education of such in compliance with TEC, §11.352. Vacancies are widely advertised through base newspapers, email and other electronic means. Interested individuals then submit resumes and other documents verifying that they qualify to hold the position and would accept it if appointed.
The commanding officer appoints a nomination panel of at least three members who review the application packages, interview the candidates and evaluate the candidates. The panel’s recommendations are then forwarded to the commanding officer for consideration. The commanding officer is required by 19 TAC §61.2 to provide at least three nominations to the State Board of Education. The nominations may or may not be ranked in order of preference. All nominees must be qualified under the general school laws of Texas and live or be employed on the military reservation.
Colonel, United States Air Force, Samuel E. Fiol, Commander of the 502d Security Forces Group, has notified the commissioner of three vacancies that exists on the board of trustees of the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District due to the expiration of the term of office. Colonel Fiol has provided three nominees for each vacancy and has recommended the re-appointment of Ms. Deborah Seabron and the appointment of Mr. Willie White and Ms. Andrea Nicholas to fill the positions.
FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact to the state will occur.
PUBLIC BENEFIT AND COST TO PERSONS: Both the public and the students will benefit by having qualified individuals appointed to the board of trustees.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: No public comments are presented.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Based on Colonel Samuel E. Fiol’s recommendation, approve the re-appointment of Ms. Deborah Seabron and the appointment of Mr. Willie White and Ms. Andrea Nicholas to serve a term of office, from November 15, 2019, through November 15, 2021, on the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees.
Staff Member Responsible:
Jeff Cottrill, Deputy Commissioner of Governance and Accountability
Jason Hewitt, Director, Monitors and Conservators
Attachment: Correspondence from the colonel which includes biographical information and supporting materials for each nominee