The board named Motal as its interim superintendent in April to replace former Superintendent Steven Snell, who resigned to become the new Williamson County judge.
The update
LHISD school board President Megan Parsons updated community members on the district’s superintendent search in a May newsletter. Over the last six years, Motal has helped the district navigate challenges related to its enrollment growth and budget, Parsons said.
“Given his experience and our trust in his leadership, the board of trustees believes his continued presence will provide needed stability as we navigate upcoming changes,” Parsons said about Motal in the newsletter.
In January, the board will evaluate its next steps in selecting a permanent superintendent, she said.
The background
Snell resigned from his position as superintendent at an April 7 special meeting. In March, the Williamson County Commissioners Court appointed Snell to serve as the next county judge following the resignation of former county judge Bill Gravell.
Gravell resigned after accepting a role in President Donald Trump's administration with the U.S. Small Business Administration in the Office of Advocacy as the Region 6 advocate.
Motal has worked for LHISD in various roles over the last six years, including chief of schools, director of secondary education and a principal. In April, Motal told Community Impact he wanted to help LHISD prepare for graduation, work through its budget development and hire new teachers and staff.
Did you know
With nearly 10,000 students, LHISD has become one of the fastest growing school districts in the state, according to the Texas Education Agency. The district’s enrollment is projected to almost double to over 19,000 students by the 2034-35 school year, according to an April demographic update from Zonda Education.
Next fiscal year, the district plans to make $6.37 million in budget cuts, including 78 positions. The district has faced a mounting budget shortfall amid rising expenses and stagnant state funding, district officials said.
In the 2025 legislative session, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 2 to increase school funding by $8.5 billion across the state’s nearly 9,000 public schools.
