April 2020 Committee on School Initiatives Item 2
Recommendation for Appointments to the Lackland Independent School District Board of Trustees
April 17, 2020
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: CONSENT
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the board to consider two appointments to the board of trustees of the Lackland Independent School District. The appointments are necessary due to the expiration of the term of office for two board members.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.352.
TEC, §11.352 authorizes the State Board of Education (SBOE) 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 SBOE 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 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 SBOE. 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, Scott J. Thompson, Commander of the 502d Installation Support Group, has notified the commissioner of two vacancies that exist on the board of trustees of the Lackland Independent School District due to the expiration of terms of office. Colonel Thompson has provided a nominee for each vacancy and has recommended the appointment of Mr. Khalil Gatlin and Ms. Sandra H. Wellman to fill the positions.
PUBLIC BENEFIT AND COST TO PERSONS: Both the public and the students will benefit by having qualified individuals appointed to the board of trustees.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Based on Colonel Scott J. Thompson’s recommendation, approve the
appointment of Mr. Khalil Gatlin and Ms. Sandra H. Wellman to serve a term of office, from April 17, 2020, through April 17, 2022, on the Lackland Independent School District Board of Trustees.
Staff Member Responsible:
Jeff Cottrill, Deputy Commissioner of Governance and Accountability
Jason Hewitt, Associate Commissioner, Governance
Attachment: Correspondence including biographical information and
supporting materials for each nominee