Current situation
In front of an overflow crowd of loved ones, friends, supporters and associates, the five victors of their respective NEISD board races each took the oath of office and were seated during a special board meeting.
District 4 trustee David Beyer was one of two incumbents facing a challenger in the election, but he successfully defended his seat by beating opponent Jack Hoyle with 69% of the vote. Retired educator Terri Chidgey upset District 6 trustee Steve Hilliard, receiving 64% of the vote.
Lisa Thompson, a Hollywood Park resident, PTA chapter president and substitute teacher, beat contestant Michael Gurwitz to win the District 1 seat, succeeding outgoing trustee Sandy Hughey.
Tracie Shelton, a business owner and college instructor, claimed the District 2 post with 57% of the vote over candidates Jacqueline Klein and Rhonda Rowland. Shelton will serve out the remainder of the late trustee Terri Williams’ term through May 2026.
Melinda Cox, who has been active in PTA circles, collected 64% of the vote to win the District 5 race over Dick Rasmussen and Chris Evans. Cox succeeds departing school board President Shannon Grona.
A closer look
With Grona’s departure from the board, it was left up to one of two other established board members, Marsha Landry, to briefly preside over the election of board officers. Trustees unanimously approved a nomination of Beyer as board president.
The board voted 5-2 to approve the nomination of Chidgey as board vice president. The board also voted 5-2 to approve the nomination of Thompson as board secretary.
Trustee Diane Villarreal nominated Landry for vice president and then secretary, with the nomination failing to gain support of a second trustee each time. Landry and Villarreal cast dissenting votes in the selections of Chidgey and Thompson as board officers.
