After two and half years of serving as the trustee for District 6 of Austin ISD, trustee Paul Saldaña officially announced his resignation this morning at the district's Central Austin headquarters.

"All the issues I've wanted to raise and address, I've been able to do that," he said. "The last thing I want to do is spend the last 16 months [of my term] complacent. It's time for a new objective perspective to represent not only the children of District 6, but to also bring that fresh objective perspective to the board."

Saldaña said the decision ultimately rested in his desire to spend more time with his family, and despite rumblings from the community, his resignation is not linked to the board's approval of the updated Facility Master Plan, which he voted against in the early hours of Monday morning after a seven-hour board meeting.

"This is something I've been contemplating for a long time," he said. "While we may disagree, I think that there was certainly respect among the trustees."

District 6 straddles the Southwest and Southeast portions of AISD where a significant number of socioeconomically disadvantaged and minority students reside. During his tenure as a trustee, Saldaña advocated for the equitable provision of quality education for students district-wide.

"While the district is certainly moving forward to address historic inequities, much more work is needed to address the segregation that remains in our schools today," he said.

Saldaña called on his colleagues and members of the Austin community to ensure equitable minority board representation moving forward. Only one minority trustee will remain following Saldaña's departure, he said.

"The board has an obligation to change the narrative not by talk, but by action," he said. "When we state that as a district we support the whole child, every child, equity, diversity and inclusion, we must ensure that future actions and policy provisions are owned and demonstrated equally by trustees."

Saldaña also spoke of the difficulties linked to serving as an unpaid elected official. Contributing 60 to 80 hours per week as a volunteer is a task many individuals cannot afford, therefore precluding a large swath of AISD community members, particularly those from low-income families, from running for office.

"That has to change; that is not democracy," he said. "We have set up a system that basically allows people who have the means for support to do it. That is not at all to say that the people serving now don’t care, but that is the systemic, inherent issue we have all inherited, and that is something we have to live with."

Although the board will ultimately choose how to fill his position, Saldaña made a point to voice his objection to a special election.

"I have every confidence in the board that they can apply their due diligence to ensure the new trustee for District 6 will be a strong representative and advocate for the 19 school communities of District 6," he said.

Kendall Pace, at-large trustee and board president, was also on-site to express her appreciation for Saldaña's service.

"I’m really sad to see you go," Pace said while fighting back tears. "I respect your decision. You are like a brother to me. We fought like siblings, except in the end. Like a family, we always reconciled and respected each other. I have learned from you. You made me a better person and the board a better board. We will miss you and your commitment to the underserved and to knowledge."

Saldaña will end his service at the board's April 24 meeting. Still, he said his commitment to AISD remains.

"I firmly believe supporting public education is a civic responsibility, and I remain committed to supporting this district as a community advocate but most importantly as the parent of two elementary students and as a husband to an elementary teacher in AISD," he said.