New EPISD Trustees To Take Oath of Office Next Week

next week, the largest school district in el paso will once again be under the leadership of an elected board. texas education commissioner michael williams disbanded the elected board in 2013 in the wake of a cheating scandal. for nearly two years, el paso i-s-d has been under the guidance of an appointed board of managers. last night, district voters elected three new trustees. they are al velarde, trent hatch and dori fenbock. abc-7 caught up with velarde at his election party. he will represent district number two, which covers the burgess and jefferson area. velarde says he plans to restore trust in a district shaken following the cheating scandal in 2013. his biggest concern is the budget. the newly elected board will set the budget for the coming school year and finalize a tax rate. he says they’ll need to immediately smooth any issues before they do anything: al velarde: “We have a shor window, and the truth be said, we’re going to be handed this big gorilla, so our work is going to begin immediately. We have no time to get adjust, we’re going to work right away.” the budget must be approved in june. velarde says the newly elected trustees will be sworn in on may 18th. remember, the newly elected trustees will join four previously elected trustees. they are bob geske, susie byrd, diane dye, and charles taylor. these trustees — with the exception of geske — are still waiting to take their seats on the board. last month, commissioner williams appointed geske to the board after one of the managers stepped down. scary moments for several upper