Texas education commissioner to attend EPISD board of manager’s first board meeting

Commissioner of Education Michael L. Williams will attend the first formal meeting of the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) board of managers.

The meeting, which will include an official swearing-in ceremony and selection of board officers, will take place on Tuesday, May 7, in El Paso.

The U.S. Department of Justice this week notified the Texas Education Agency (TEA) that the federal agency has precleared Commissioner Williams’ appointment of a board of managers for the EPISD. The appointed board of managers – comprised of a majority of members from the El Paso community – will assume all responsibilities of the elected board of trustees.

“This has been a long process for all those involved,” Williamsm said in a statement. “But with federal preclearance now secured, these five individuals, who are committed to restoring faith in the El Paso Independent School District, can finally begin their work.”

The appointment of a board of managers for El Paso ISD was first announced by Williams in December 2012. The five members include:

Edmund G. “Ed” Archuleta – El Paso community leader who recently retired as manager (president and CEO) of the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board.
Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria – Chief financial officer for the City of El Paso and mother of three children who attend school in the EPISD.
Dr. Blanca Enriquez – Executive director of the Region 19 Education Service Center Head Start Program with more than 40 years of experience in education. Dee Margo – A resident of El Paso for over three decades who recently served in the Texas House of Representatives representing District 78. Dr. Judy Castleberry – A former executive director of the Region 20 Education Service Center who was appointed by Commissioner Williams as TEA monitor for the El Paso ISD in December 2012.

“I anticipate and expect the work of the board of managers to be conducted in a transparent manner, reflect what’s in the best interest of the community, and most importantly, always committed to the benefit of every student in the EPISD,” Williams said.

The board of managers will be in place for up to two years. School board elections will continue to ensure an elected board will be in place to resume management of the district. Replacing an elected school board is one of the most severe state sanctions that can be imposed on a school district.