Brown, Smith-Wright sworn in; Gorden says goodbye to school board

District announces results of bond sale

GISD Superintendent Administrative Assistant Maggie Holub reads the oath of office to swear in Naomi Brown and Josie Smith-Wright to the school board. Smith-Wright won her reelection for District 4 and Brown defeated incumbent Sandra Gorden for District 7.

Vandy Van Epps

New elected school board member Naomi Brown signs her official document as the representative of District 7

Vandy Van Epps

Sandra Gorden with GISD Superintendent Dr. Elmer Avellaneda. Avellaneda gave Gorden a special recognition from the school district for her service on the school board Monday, May 12.

Vandy Van Epps

Posted Thursday, May 16, 2024 5:01 pm

By Vandy Van Epps, Gonzales Inquirer

The Gonzales ISD Board of Trustees met for its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, May 13 at the GISD administration building.

One of the big agenda items was the certifying of the general election results for Districts 4 and 7. Challenger Naomi Brown defeated District 7 incumbent Sandra Gorden, while Josie Smith-Wright won her re-election for District 4.

The board said goodbye to Gorden with a special sendoff and recognition for her service with GISD.

“The biggest takeaway was for me that she had the best stories during the interview,” GISD Superintendent Dr. Elmer Avellaneda recalled. “I got home and my wife wanted to know how the interview went and all I could talk about was Mrs. Gorden’s stories and we laughed, laughed and laughed that night. I want to thank you for the support that you gave GISD the last few years.”

In other board business, the trustees went over bond-related agenda items including approving an order authorizing issuance, sale and delivery of Gonzales ISD Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2024, levying a tax as well as providing for the security and payment of such bonds.

“Today's an exciting day for our bond process,” Avellaneda said. “Mr. John Robuck of BOK Financial Services is the district's financial advisor and he is here today to present the results of the bond sale that took place today.”

Robuck said BOK has sold $48,170,000 in bonds to generate $50.6 million in proceeds for the school district.

“We're asking you to approve the bond order authorizing the sale of the bonds and to go approve that tonight and we will work with Attorney General and get their approval and close on June 11, at which point we'll receive the final approval to deliver the funds to the district's infrastructure projects,” Robuck said.

The board approved the order, 6-0.

The board also approved the following agenda items:

--approved to Amended Resolution Declaring Intention to Reimburse Project Expenditures and Associated Budget Amendment.

--approved an Interlocal Agreement with Education Service Center Region 10 to Allow Gonzales ISD to Participate in ESC 10 Sponsored Purchasing Cooperatives.

--approved on Roofing Repairs and Improvements For the 2023 Bond Program at a cost of $5,320,473.

--approved on Paving, Repairs, and Improvements for the 2023 Bond Program at a cost of $956,149.10.

--approved to Appoint Crystal Cedillo, Gonzales County Tax Assessor-Collector, as the individual to Calculate and Prepare the 2024 No-New Revenue and Voter-Approval Tax Rates for Gonzales ISD.

--approved the Delegate/Delegate Alternate to the TASB Delegate Assembly.