Socorro ISD trustees name James Vasquez lone finalist for superintendent

The Socorro Independent School District board of trustees voted June 24 to name interim superintendent James Vasquez the lone finalist to become the district's permanent superintendent and authorized the board president and legal counsel to negotiate the contract terms.

The action came after a public executive-session discussion of a lone finalist under Texas Government Code section 551.074. Trustee Ryan Woodcraft moved to nominate and approve James Vasquez; the motion was seconded and later amended on the record to authorize board president Najera and district legal counsel to negotiate the contract, a change requested by Trustee David Hinojosa during closed session.

Board members who spoke during the public roll call and discussion cited district improvements since Vasquez became acting superintendent in April of the prior year. Trustee comments referenced academic performance gains and budget progress. One trustee said, "From a concerned parent, from a taxpayer perspective, and now as a board member, there are dozens of folks that we looked at. But by far, in my opinion, Mr. Vasquez has the right leadership to lead us into the future," during the roll call discussion. Vasquez addressed the board after the vote and said he was "truly humbled and honored by the confidence placed" in him and said he looked forward to finishing the work under the board's leadership.

The board held a public vote after the nomination and closed-session deliberations. Trustees also asked for a short recess after the vote to allow time for media and contract logistics. The amended motion passed and the board instructed administration and counsel to finalize contract terms; the vote outcome was announced by the board president as approved.

The board's next steps are contract negotiations and a subsequent public action to execute the employment agreement once terms are finalized. The vote followed a prolonged superintendent search process and came at a time when trustees and the administration also were advancing the district's budget, staffing and other operational items for the 2025'26 school year.

Administration and the board declined to provide additional details about the contract negotiation timeline at the meeting; trustees noted state open-meeting and personnel law procedures would govern how and when the finalized contract is presented for a public vote.