Update (Nov. 20, 7:38 a.m.): The dynamics of the Austin School Board of Trustees continue to shift. The board voted to elect officers last night—including two newcomers.
Vince Torres, District 4, will move from Vice President to President—replacing Mark Williams, who decided not to seek another term.
New member Gina Hinajosa, At Large Position 8, was picked to take Torres' place.
Another new member, Jayme Mathias, District 2, is taking over the role of Secretary. Lori Moya, District 6, had served in the role.
Original Story (Nov. 19, 10:34 a.m.): The Austin School Board of Trustees is swearing-in newly elected board members this evening.
The school board will see a dramatic change, as nearly half of its members will be new.
Two incumbents were defeated in the November election (Christine Brister suspended her campaign, citing non-life threatening health issues) and two more decided not to seek another term.
The new members include:
- Rev. Dr. Jayme Lee Mathias, District 2: Mathias defeated five-year incumbent trustee Sam Guzman by 104 votes. Unease with AISD's decision to implant a charter school into an East Austin campus aided in his win.
- Ann Teich, District 3: A retired teacher. Teich says she will focus on the needs of the quickly growing campuses in her district. She has also expressed disappointment with some aspects of Superintendent Meria Carstarphen’s tenure.
- Amber Elenz, District 5: A former broadcaster and Parent Teacher Association (PTA) leader, will replace school board president Mark Williams as the AISD trustee in District 5. Elenz easily defeated technology consultant Charlie Jackson in a school board district that covers downtown and the relatively affluent areas west and southwest of the urban core.
- Gina Hinojosa, At Large Position 8: A civil rights attorney who has pledged to challenge some of the educational overhauls championed by Carstarphen. Hinojosa defeated Mary Ellen Pietruszynski in the race to replace outgoing trustee Annette LoVoi.
The meeting begins tonight at at 7 p.m. in the Carruth Administration Center auditorium, 1111 W. Sixth St.
