The newly elected Victoria Independent School District (VISD) Board of Trustees members took their oaths of office and were sworn in at the May regularly scheduled board meeting last Thursday.
Of the three trustees sworn inòòò½ÊÓƵ”Mickey Kostella, Margaret Pruett and Kathy Bellòòò½ÊÓƵ”Kostella is the only newcomer to the Board.
Bell ran unopposed for the District 1 seat in the May 3 election. Kostella won the District 7 seat, beating Josh Moore and Christian West. Pruett won the District 6 seat, defeating Andy Rokovich.
The District 7 race had no incumbent candidate as former trustee and Board president Mike Mercer did not run for reelection.
Following the swearing in of the trustees, Kostella began his service as the District 7 trustee, voting on the meetingòòò½ÊÓƵ™s remaining action items. Mercer stepped away from his role and received a standing ovation as he exited the meeting.
A reorganization of the Board took place after all trustees were sworn in for their next term. A new Board president, vice president and secretary were elected by the Board members.
Micah Patton, District 4 trustee, was nominated for the president position by Rick Jones, District 5 trustee. Patton was elected by a vote of 4-3.
The Board chose Jones as its new vice president and elected its secretary. It is a position Bell had held in previous term. Patton and Jones took on their duties as president and vice president for the remaining portion of the meeting..
The Board appointed 43 individuals to the districtòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Bond Action Committee (BAC). In addition to these members, Patton, Bell and Kostella were elected to the BAC.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThe Bond Action Committee, formerly known as the VISD Facilities Bond Oversight Committee, is a citizen advisory group tasked with supporting, promoting and providing input on the development of a potential facilities bond proposal,òòò½ÊÓƵ a VISD communications press release read. òòò½ÊÓƵœThis group is made up of parents, staff, business leaders, and community members from across Victoria.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The Board additionally appointed Jones, Pruett and BJ Nelson, District 3 trustee, to the Underutilized VISD Properties Board Subcommittee.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThe Board Subcommittee on Underutilized Properties will evaluate existing district-owned facilities and properties that may no longer align with current student enrollment trends or programmatic needs,òòò½ÊÓƵ the release read. òòò½ÊÓƵœThis board subcommittee is tasked with identifying opportunities to repurpose, consolidate, or potentially divest underutilized spaces in a way that maximizes value and reduces operational costs.òòò½ÊÓƵ
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