by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Top Photo: Uvalde CISD Trustee Jacklyn Gonzales speaks to the Uvalde Rotary Club

   Uvalde ISD’s two newly elected board members Jacklyn Gonzales and Jesse Rizo spoke at this week’s Thursday noon Rotary Club of Uvalde meeting  at the Uvalde Country Club where they talked about their experiences as new trustees and also spoke about their respective visions for the district and the challenges the district and the community faces. Superintendent Ashley Chohlis also attended the Rotary Club of Uvalde meeting. 

  Gonzales said that before the election, she was out at the Ssgt. Willie de Leon Civic Center parking lot near where early voting was occuring where she met and spoke with many people including parents, teachers and other citizens and she was moved by the many stories and comments she heard. She also said as a new board member she has a lot to learn and from the start, she has been asking a lot of questions. 

  Rizo spoke and said before being elected, he spoke to the school board members as a citizen many times. Now that he is on the board he sits with several members on the board who were school classmates.   Both Gonzales and Rizo spoke about the desire to foster more transparency within the district. Rizo stated that two years after the May 24th tragedy, it is an opportunity for rebuilding. 

  After the two took turns speaking, Superintendent Chohlis spoke stating attendance is a big challenge the district is going to have to address. She stated that if students are not in their classroom seats, the school does not get the money it needs. Chohlis went on to say that of all the meetings she has had with people upset with the district, all ended on a positive note. 

  In responding to a question about parents sending their children to attend school at other districts, Cholis said the challenge is not only to learn why these students are not going to Uvalde CISD school but also to .provide opportunities for existing Uvalde CISD students to excel and to get the word out on the great things that are happening with the district.

 One attendee at the meeting said that she strongly considered taking her kids out of Uvalde CISD schools and enrolling them with Knippa ISD, but once she sat down face to face with Chohlis to express her concerns, she decided to keep her kids at Uvalde CISD. 

 Chohlis continued by saying she and the district officials want to create more opportunities for parents and the community to communicate directly with them. It seemed like they all agreed that listening to parents and the community is important.

 

 

 

 

 

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Editor’s note: Two paragraphs of Jesse Rizo were attributed to Cal Lambert in a previous version. The error has been corrected.

    Two new Uvalde CISD Trustees and one reelected as a Trustee will be sworn in to serve at Monday night’s May 13th regular school board meeting at 6 Pm immediately following a special 5:30 Board meeting to go over district finances. 

   Jacklyn Gonzales and  Jesus “Jesse” Rizo will be stepping on the stage as newly elected Trustees and Calvin “Cal” Lambert will be returning to the board after winning his re-election bid. 

  “I am honored to be selected to serve on the UCISD board of trustees. I look forward to being a voice for our students, teachers and community,” Jacklyn Gonzales said. 

 Jesus “Jesse” Rizo submitted the following statement to the Uvalde Hesperian:

  ” I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been a part of this journey—from those who inspired me to run for school board trustee, to the friends who proofread my letters and speeches, and to the mentors who educated me on the processes involved. I’m especially thankful for those who provided encouragement during challenging times.

My initial intention was never to run for political office. Before May 24, 2022, I focused on mentoring students during career days across various schools and volunteering in Batesville during special events. The tragic event on that day changed our lives profoundly, creating a ripple effect across our community and beyond.

After many conversations and observations, I saw numerous opportunities for improvement that needed to be addressed across the board. While I respect the work of officials, council members, and board members, I realized that simply being “nice” wouldn’t be enough in the current circumstances, which led me to reconsider my course.”

After thoughtful reflection and discussions with my wonderful wife, we decided to place my name on the ballot. Going door to door and engaging with people from different backgrounds provided me with a deeper understanding of our community’s strengths and weaknesses. This reinforced my decision to run for board trustee.

  The overwhelming support I received from our UCISD communities tells me that people are eager for change, seeking transparency and accountability at all levels. I am humbled and honored by the many votes I received from within our district and from beyond.

  I look forward to serving as your at-large trustee for both Batesville and Uvalde. Together, we can make a meaningful difference. Thank you for this incredible opportunity.”

Calvin “Cal Lambert also shared a statement to the Uvalde Hesperian after his re-election bid:

“First and foremost I’m blessed with a family that always supports me.  This couldn’t have been done without them.  I sincerely thank those that cast a vote, supported, and trusted in

me to help the Board guide our school district into the next four years. 

  A special thank you  to my fellow School Board Trustees for your encouragement.  It’s an honor to continue to serve with an awesome team that always has the best interest of our students and employees at the forefront of every decision made.  There are many initiatives in progress directed at improving the academic success of our

students as well as the professional growth of our employees. I’m optimistic about the future of our district.  Thank you. ‘Loyal and True’