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Newly elected trustees joined the Elgin Independent School District board May 19 amid procedural disputes, leadership changes and public scrutiny over transparency.
District 4 trustee Teneisha Wilson, District 5 incumbent Patrick Maass and District 7 trustee Barry Barker were sworn in and received certificates of election during the meeting. However, before the new members were seated, tensions surfaced over a proposed closed session.
Board President Beth Walterscheidt suggested the board enter executive session prior to the swearing in but was overruled following a heated exchange.
Once seated, the board moved to reorganize its leadership. Trustee Byron Mitchell was nominated for board president, prompting Walterscheidt to defend her tenure and commitment to the role. She noted that she had already served in the position for several years and had ample time to devote to the board.
“I do too,” Mitchell said.
A vote followed, and Mitchell received majority support. He and Walterscheidt switched seats, and the closed session did not take place.
During public comment, a resident and former trustee criticized the inclusion of the closed session on the agenda, arguing it reflected a lack of transparency.
In the early portion of the meeting, trustees frequently interrupted one another and clashed over points of order. The discussion eventually settled into a more professional tone as the meeting progressed.
In her report to the board, Superintendent Jana Rueter said Elgin ISD remains in good financial standing, even as school districts across Texas await legislative action on House Bill 2. The bill, which includes increased funding for teacher salaries and basic district allotment, was recently amended by the Texas Senate to reduce the proposed funding levels.
Rueter referred to the Senate version as a “substitute bill” and said the final outcome remains uncertain. She reassured the board and the community that the district’s financial position remains strong.
Al Rodriguez, the district’s communications director, also presented data on parent and community engagement through social media. Using analytics, he reported increased interaction with district communications and a rise in parent approval over recent years.
