GISD approves hiring Walsh Gallegos as superintendent search firm

The Gonzales Independent School District has begun the search for a new superintendent to run the district.

The GISD school board met for their regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Dec. 9 at the district administration building.

One of the big items that came out of closed session was the hiring of Walsh Gallegos Kyle Robinson & Roalson, P.C., one of the largest law firms in the state dedicated to educational issues, as the district’s superintendent search firm.

Last month, the board approved unanimously to accept the resignation of former superintendent Dr. Elmer Avellaneda due to family medical reasons and named the district’s chief financial officer Amanda Smith as the interim superintendent for the remainder of the school year.

The board also approved a stipend agreement for Smith for her performance of duties as acting superintendent.

Walsh Gallegos was recently hired to conduct a similar search for Amarillo ISD and has been involved in more than 90 superintendent searches in the past 11 years. In the past, the firm has used community surveys and town hall meetings to gather input on what district staff and parents want in a new superintendent.

The district has been represented for several years by Walsh Gallegos in other areas, including to the Texas Attorney General’s Office in requests made to the district under the Texas Public Information Act and the Texas Open Meetings Act.

In other business, GISD Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Rachelle Ysquierdo went over the District’s Improvement Plans and Campus Improvement Plans Progress Report and Academic Report.

The monthly Bond Program update was given by Jennifer Black of Sledge Engineering and Region 13.

The board approved the following agenda item:

– approved the purchase of a Regular Education School Bus for and Associated Budget amendment.