WFISD board overhauled in Tuesday meeting
The Wichita Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees has some new members and a new leader.
WIchita County Judge Woody Gossom swore in new members Sandy Camp, Jim Johnson and Susan Grisel. Trustee Mark Lukert took the oath of office for his second term. Camp and Grisel, both newcomers to the board, were unopposed in November's election while Johnson defeated incumbent Tom Bursey. Lukert was not opposed in his bid for re-election.
Choosing a new board president took three tries. Lukert and trustee Dale Harvey received nominations and trustee Katherine McGregor nominated herself. After splits of 3-2-1 McGregor finally won 4-1 on the last vote to replace outgoing president Mike Rucker.
Luckert was elected vice chairman and Camp was elected secretary.
The panel of new faces takes charge after a tumultuous period for the district that saw a drop in enrollment, a large budget deficit and the resignation of a controversial superintendent. Trustees Bob Payton and Elizabeth Yeager chose to not run for re-election.
Trustees got an update on construction of the district's two new high schools, which architect David Potter said was going well. They also got a animated virtual tour of what Memorial and Legacy high schools will look like when they're completed in 2024. District voters OK'd $290 million in bond funding to build the new schools.
Board members also approved applying for a Silent Panic Alert Grant through the Texas Education Agency. WFISD Police Chief Anthony Smith said the equipment would supplement the present securty system by allowing immediate contact with the Wichita Falls Police Department in the event of campus emergencies.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: WFISD board overhauled in Tuesday meeting
