Recommendation for Appointment to the
Fort Sam Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees

February 2, 2018

COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: CONSENT

SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for board consideration of one appointment to the board of trustees of the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District. The appointment is necessary due to the expiration of the term of office for one board member.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.352, and 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §61.2.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: No previous board action has occurred on this item.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The State Board of Education 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 of such 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 State Board of Education. 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 Army, David L. Raugh, Commander of the 502d Force Support Group, has notified the commissioner of one vacancy which exists on the board of trustees of the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District. Colonel Raugh has provided three nominees for the vacancy and has recommended the appointment of Mr. Aaron J. Braxton II to fill the term.

FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact to the state will occur.

PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Both the public and the students will benefit by having qualified individuals appointed to the board of trustees.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: No procedural or reporting implications exist.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: No public comments are presented.

OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: No other comments or related issues are presented.

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:

Based on Colonel David L. Raugh’s recommendation, approve the appointment of Mr. Aaron Braxton II to serve a term of office, from February 2, 2018 through February 1, 2020, on the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees.

Staff Member Responsible:
Jeff Cottrill, Director, Governance and Investigations

Attachment:
I. Correspondence from the Colonel which includes biographical information and supporting materials for each nominee