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Board of Trustee Term Changes and
Biennial Elections
In 2006, the
legislature passed an act that required school districts to hold their
trustee elections with a municipality such as the city or county on the
specified general election dates in May or November. This legislative
action left West Oso Independent School District (West Oso ISD) the
option of holding elections only in November since the City of Corpus
Christi holds elections in April by previous legislation.
The District
requested an opinion from the Secretary of State which confirmed that
West Oso ISD could only hold elections in November of even numbered years
even though the municipality of Corpus Christi held elections in April.
The opinion pointed to the district having only one viable election date
every two years in November. We needed legislative recourse in order to
have two election date options.
Superintendent
Crawford Helms contacted Representative Abel Herrero who sponsored HB 945
which allows school districts in the City of Corpus Christi to hold their
election for trustees on the same date as a joint election with the
city. The city has their regular election in April of odd numbered
years.
In addition Dr.
Helms contacted the Office of the Secretary of State, Texas Association
of School Boards (TASB) Policy and Legal Departments, and Attorney Dorcas
Green of Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Schulze, and Aldridge, P.C., who is
familiar with West Oso’s election issues. The following was learned:
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WOISD cannot hold a trustee election in 2007 as per rulings;
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The
district could hold an election with the county in November of 2008; and
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The
district could hold an election with the city in April of 2009.
During the
regularly scheduled board meeting of September 24, 2007, the Board of
Trustees acted on legal counsel provided regarding trustee term changes
and the elections process and adopted a resolution titled “Resolution of
the Board of the West Oso Independent School District Regarding Trustee
Term Changes and Biennial Elections.” The resolution provides for:
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4-year terms for trustees;
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Future elections to be held with the City of Corpus Christi in April
following adjustment elections to return to a regular cycle of elections
for trustees.
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a
one-time election in November of 2008 with Nueces County to commence the
cycle of terms for 4 trustees that will serve until April 2011 and for an
election of 3 trustees in April 2009 that will serve a 4-year term until
April of 2013.
History…
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Texas Legislature met in 2007, 80th regular session, HB945,
providing alternate dates for elections for independent school districts
in Corpus Christi
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Texas Legislature met in 2006, 79th Legislature, 3rd
called session, directing when elections are to be held
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Mr.
Barrera and Mr. Lopez were elected in May 2006
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Mrs. Boyd, Ms. Cantu-Guerrero, and Mr. Jasso were elected in May 2005
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Ms.
Jordan and Ms. Rodriguez were elected in May 2004
Future…
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November 2008:
Mrs. Cella Boyd, Mr. Lucas Jasso, Ms. Shirley Jordan, and Ms. Velma
Rodriguez will be up for re-election, thereby extending the trustee term
for each at-large position to April 2011. The 4-year term cycle for
these 4 at-large positions will commence with the April 2011 election.
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April 2009:
Mr. George
Barrera, Ms. Diana Cantu-Guerrero, and Mr. Jose Lopez will be up for
re-election, thereby extending the trustee term for each at-large
position to April 2013. The 4-year term cycle for these 3 at-large
positions will commence with the April 2013 election.
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