Frustrated, Walden returns to seat on Victoria school board
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Thursday's board meeting
Ray Walden will be seated with the other six board members at Thursday's board meeting at 11:30 a.m. at the Education Center, 102 Profit Drive.
Ray Walden is retaking his seat on the Victoria school board.
For the past two board meetings in a row, the six remaining board members were deadlocked 3-3 on whether to appoint someone to replace Walden or not.
As a result of the dilemma, Walden announced Tuesday that he will resume his duties immediately until his term expires in May.
"I do not believe that continuing to bring up this issue is in the best interest of the board, the superintendent, the community, and, most importantly, the students," Walden said in a news release. "I am also concerned about leaving my constituents without representation and the effectiveness of a board of six over the next few months."
By law, until someone is appointed to replace him, he is still considered a board member.
Walden resigned in November after serving for eight and a half years so that family members could apply for employment in the school district.
As part of the district's nepotism policy, no board member may have a family member employed in the school district unless the employee was hired prior to the board member's term.
After Walden's resignation, the board met in December and agreed to appoint someone to fill in until the end of Walden's term.
Between Dec. 4 and Jan. 7, the board accepted letters of intent from those interested in applying. The three who applied for the position were:
Michael DiSanto, commercial business developer for GE Betz.
Dean Lester, senior accounts manager for Compressor Systems, Inc.
Will Sciba, attorney for Cole Cole and Easley law firm.
However, once board meetings began to appoint a new member in January, board members Bernie Klimist, Estella De Los Santos and James Murphy voted against appointing any of the candidates.
Lou Svetlik, board president, considers the board members' actions disrespectful, he said.
"It is disappointing to know members of this board did not honor their commitment to him through their official board action previously taken to appoint this position," Svetlik said. "I welcome Mr. Walden back to his seat he has served honorably for eight and a half years."
Walden, who will not seek re-election in May, is looking forward to help make decisions regarding the new Victoria schools.
"We've got the new high schools and middle school," Walden said. "It's going to be exciting to be a part of helping get these schools opened up."
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It must really hurt to have a members of your board, a group of friends, your friends, the ones that you serve the community side by side with, the same ones that you feel are really looking out for your BEST interest, and the interest of your family just leaves you hanging out flapping in the wind. ....In thirty below wind...while it is snowing.... that must really suck. It does suck there is a whole group of citizens that has felt this way for the last 5 years!!! This group of citizens are the bread and butter of the Walden famly. We have trusted our children with them since the day they were born....we gas up our car with their fuel...swim in their pool...get our hair cut at their shop...and eat at their diner. What thanks do we get for supporting(in more ways than one) them all these years???? Our kids are thrown to the wolves at the ripe old age of 11. What do you mean?? PATTI WELDER!!!!!!! Just because we go to work EVERYDAY, live in nice homes, and still greet you with a smile on our faces, do not think that EVERTYTHING is just fine. We resent the fact that we have to send our children to private school, change our own lives to homeschool, transfer them out of town, or the most difficult decision, send them to live with extended family. No, I take that back, the most difficult decision is to put them on that bus and pray like crazy that they make it home safely. I gladly drive 6 miles out of my way to gas my car, get snacks in the morning for my kids, and swim elsewhere. Do some number crunching. More and more of us are doing the same. There is a reason for some of this economic downturn...it's all about choices. Good luck Mr. Walden betrayal is a hard pill to swallow.
February 5, 2010 at 9 a.m.Maybe they couldn't find anybody willing to undo consolidation. You know, like Walden promised.
February 3, 2010 at 12:51 a.m.It is a public meeting, but I'd check with VISD on that.
February 2, 2010 at 6:48 p.m.thank you Mr. Cavazos.
can I take my camcorder??? legal??
February 2, 2010 at 6:41 p.m.yes, fatboy, it is open to the public.
February 2, 2010 at 6:38 p.m.is the meeting open to the public??
February 2, 2010 at 6:33 p.m.Alrighty then, let's get back to business.
February 2, 2010 at 6:31 p.m.