The three members of the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees scheduled for reelection this spring have all retained their places on the board.
During Tuesday night’s regular meeting, trustees approved a certification of unopposed candidates for places four, five and six, certifying members Dr. Cesar Maldonado, Dr. Nolan Perez and George McShan. HCISD board member serve three year terms.
“We feel and appreciate the trust of the community for giving us the opportunity to serve,” Board President Gerry Fleuriet said. “We look forward in continuing to serve with our fabulous schools in preparing our students for the future.”
As a result of all three candidates running unopposed, the board also approved the certification to cancel the May election, a decision that saved the district about $35,000.
“This is an exciting time in the history of our district and in education because of all the new teaching methods that exist, giving our students an opportunity to succeed,” Maldonado said. “The combination of exceptional administrators and academic leadership, along with the the vision for transformational change makes HCISD a great place for education. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve another term for this community.”
Maldonado, the board’s vice president, the president of Texas State Technical College in Harlingen and the vice chancellor of research and commercialization for the TSTC system, has served the board since 2003.
“I am truly honored and excited about continuing my service on the HCISD school board,” Perez said. “I look forward to the work ahead as we transform our schools into the optimal learning environment for all students. We need all students prepared for college, careers and our global digital world.”
Perez, a gastroenterologist in Harlingen and a member of several medical, education and business boards across the state, joined the board in September of 2010. This will be his first full term on the board after serving the remaining years on retired board member Omar Cano’s final term.
“I appreciate the trust the citizens have in me to continue to allow our students to reach their hopes and dreams,” McShan said. “It is my aspiration as an educator to give every student the opportunity to be a part of this great democracy. To do that, we need to prepare every child for college and the workplace. This will be my ninth term. It has been incredible to me that I have been able to serve this community for nearly a quarter century, and I am thankful for that opportunity.”
McShan, an education consultant and a retired higher education administrator, has served the board since 1988. He is a former president of the Texas Association of School Boards and the National Association of School Boards.
“Our district is fortunate to have a community filled with leaders who are up to the challenge of serving our public schools,“ Superintendent Dr. Steve Flores said. “These three men exemplify the leadership necessary to make decisions that benefit the students in this community.”
