Harlandale ISD appoints new trustee to board seat
The Harlandale Independent School District board has appointed a new trustee to fill its District 4 seat.
Norma Anel Cavazos, a court coordinator at the Bexar County courthouse, was the sole applicant for the spot vacated by longtime trustee David Abundis in July, officials said. The board had the option of calling a special election but voted Monday night to appoint her.
Cavazos, 48, has lived in Harlandale ISD for 26 years, according to her application. A news release from the district said her son and daughter attend McCollum High School.
“I am very excited to have been appointed as District 4’s newest board member and be part of the great team of dedicated staff throughout the district that has brought Harlandale ISD to a B rating with the State,” Cavazos said in a written statement. “My goal is to support a shared vision that promotes enhanced student achievement, effectively communicate our vision, advocate for our district’s needs and support our superintendent to lead the district towards excellence.”
Cavazos was one of two challengers who ran unsuccessfully against Abundis in 2013. He resigned last month amid the threat of a takeover by the Texas Education Agency, saying he did so to spend more time with family. Abundis said he’d not wanted to run for reelection two years ago but failed to find a replacement. He ran uncontested.
A TEA investigation report sent to school district leaders last December and finalized in June faulted former Superintendent Rey Madrigal and the board for years of alleged malfeasance, including what it said appeared to be violations of state law, governing contracting and procurement. It also said the board had violated the state’s open meetings law.
Two weeks before Abundis resigned, the board began the process of firing Madrigal but decided this month to accept his resignation instead.
If the state takes over Harlandale ISD and replaces the elected board of trustees with an appointed board of managers — a decision that rests with Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath — no current trustee may sit on the board.
Harlandale trustees met with Morath and TEA investigators Aug. 7 in Austin to plead their case against a takeover. Part of their argument rests on the number of current trustees who were not yet in office during the period covered by the investigation.