The need to fill Place 7 came after former board member Tracy Fisher resigned to run for the State Board of Education District 14 seat. She resigned Oct. 17, and it was effective Oct. 23.
The application for Place 7 was open until Nov. 1, and the board voted to appoint Mathew during a Nov. 7 meeting after receiving 14 applications, according to district officials.
Board member Neena Biswas said during the Nov. 14 meeting that she was disappointed with the board filling the position.
The community wanted to vote on this candidate and did not want the board to fill this position, she said. She noted the time to file an application was also short.
“I don't believe it was a fair process,” Biswas said.
The board had three options to fill the vacancy. It could have left the spot vacant until the May 6 election, appointed a new candidate for the spot or held a special election.
Place 7 will be on the May 6 ballot even with the board replacement. The election will determine the person to fill the spot for the remainder of the term through May 2024; at that point, another election will be held for its full three-year term.
Mathew is the principal corporate counsel for the Microsoft Corp., according to the district. His CISD service includes being the president of the Coppell ISD Education Foundation, being a former member of the CISD Student Health Advisory Council, and a current member of the CISD Community Based Accountability System Advisory Committee and the 2023 CISD Bond Committee.
“I am so honored to be a part of this,” Mathew said.
