January 2025 Committee on School Initiatives Item 4
Recommendation for One Reappointment and One Appointment to the Lackland Independent School District Board of Trustees
January 31, 2025
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: CONSENT
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the board to consider one reappointment and one appointment to the board of trustees of Lackland Independent School District (ISD). The appointments are necessary due to the expiration of the terms of office of two board members.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.352, and 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §61.2, as amended effective August 15, 2024.
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.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: The State Board of Education is statutorily authorized to appoint board members for military reservation ISDs. 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 a board, the base commander notifies the commissioner of education, in compliance with TEC, §11.352, and recommends candidates for appointment. At its June 2024 meeting, the SBOE adopted an amendment to 19 TAC, §61.2 to define the term ‘commanding officer’ for the purpose of recommending school board trustee candidates to the SBOE. The rule that became effective on August 15, 2024 defines the term as, “the officer who is assigned to serve physically on the installation or military reservation on which the military reservation school district is located and who provides leadership for the functional support of and contingency or emergency coordination for the military reservation school district.”
Brigadier General, United States Air Force, Randy P. Oakland, has notified the commissioner of education that the terms of two trustees of Lackland ISD have expired. Brigadier General Oakland recommends the appointment of Mr. Thomas Koch and the reappointment of Mr. Brian Miller to the Lackland ISD Board of Trustees.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Based on Brigadier General Oakland’s recommendation, approve the appointment of Mr. Thomas Koch and the reappointment of Mr. Brian Miller to serve terms of office from January 31, 2025, to January 30, 2027, on the Lackland ISD Board of Trustees.
Staff Members Responsible:
Steve Lecholop, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Governance
Christopher Lucas, Director, Research and Policy, Office of Governance
Attachment:
Correspondence from Brigadier General Oakland that includes biographical information and supporting documentation for each nominee