Selvaggi's resignation happened after residents wrote to the board expressing concern about Selvaggi's financial past—which, according to a resident-authored letter, includes bankruptcies and a new residency in the state of Texas.
As a result, Selvaggi parted with the board, and members of the board decided to review the way in which they appoint trustee members in the case of a vacancy. Board counsel Bill Bingham broached the topic of background checks, which residents used to learn about Selvaggi's past. These background checks are not a district requirement currently.
"I think you probably need to tell prospective appointees that these are the things you will ask, for example, a background check," Bingham said. "There is no real prescriptive on how you select people to interview."
Board President Diane Cox asked if the district could use the Raptor Visitor Management Software test, which uses a person's driver's license to execute a background check, to research potential trustee candidates. Districts often use this system to run background checks on visitors at district campuses.
Bingham recommended the board communicate to potential applicants that they might be required to undergo the Raptor test during the application process. Bingham said the results of the background check would likely be open to the public as a result of the Open Records Act.
RRISD trustee Mason Moses emphasized that because of this, applicants should be aware background check results would be public.
"It needs to be made very clear to the applicant up front, as it has been made evident, that there are no secrets," Moses said.
Cox suggested the district look into background check options at a specially scheduled Sept. 11 meeting at 5:30 p.m.. She also suggested the vote to appoint process be separated from the swearing-in process so the public could express input on whoever the board chooses.
(Selvaggi was appointed and sworn in on the same night, receiving his ceremonial swearing-in three days later.)
Trustee Suzy David also recommended considering a past trustee to fill the remainder of the Place 6 term, which is set to expire in November 2018. Cox said the board did just this in 2005.
The board has yet to accept Selvaggi's resignation, but Bingham said it will be automatically accepted Sept. 5 if the board does not take action. From Sept. 5, the board has 180 days in which it must act to make an appointment. The 180-day deadline falls in March 2018, Bingham said.
Cox said an election could not be held for the vacant trustee position in November because there is not enough time for the district to go through the proper steps with Travis County.
State law has some requirements for trustee appointments. They include:
- being a U.S. citizen;
- being 18 years old or older;
- not being determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote;
- being a resident of the state of Texas for one year when appointment is made;
- being a resident of the school district for six months when appointment is made; and
- being registered to vote in the state of Texas.
A board can also consider a number of other factors that it deems important—including certain educational certifications, background or experience.
