Austin ISD board of trustees meet Aug. 3, 2015 to approve a resolution honoring District 7 Robert Schneider, who died July 28, 2015.[/caption]

During a board meeting Aug 3, the Austin ISD board of trustees contemplated holding a special election to fill the vacant District 7 seat. The call for a special election comes after District 7 trustee Robert Schneider died July 28 after serving on the school board for 13 years.

The board will decide to hold an election either in November 2015 or November 2016. If the latter is chosen, then the board has to appoint someone in the interim before the election.

Board president Gina Hinojosa said an appointment would only allow for a one-year term instead of filling Schneider’s term, which lasts through 2018.

A November 2015 election would cost the district $80,000, and trustees said voter turnout may not be as great then as it will be in November 2016, which is slated to be a presidential election. However, there is a need to fill the vacant spot immediately so that matters relevant to District 7 in Southwest Austin can be addressed, trustees said.

“In Southwest Austin, there is interest in a South Austin high school,” trustee Paul Saldaña said.

In recent meetings, board members have discussed plans to vote on purchasing land for a south Austin high school by August.

During the meeting, flowers and a photo of Schneider were placed at his seat on the dais.

Trustees and AISD Superintendent Paul Cruz recognized Schneider’s family members, who were present at the meeting, and said he is grateful for Schneider’s 13 years of service on the board.

“I always called him Mr. Schneider,” Cruz said. “He will always be Mr. Schneider to me.”

District 2 trustee Jayme Mathias said Schneider was his mentor when he started serving on the board. Schneider was a “hero” to Mathias, he said.

“Robert was part of a handful of trustees whom I admired,” Mathias said.

The board is slated to vote Aug. 10 on when to hold the special election. The district has until Aug. 11 to notify Travis County if it is holding an election in November 2015.