At a Jan. 8 work session the Clark County School District Board of Trustees elected Irene Bustamante Adams president, Brenda Zamora vice president and Tamika Henry clerk.

The results came after public comment in which community members urged trustees to choose leaders who could restore trust and navigate an upcoming legislative session. Trustees held nominations, closed nominations by vote, and cast written ballots; the presidential contest required a runoff when no candidate received a majority in the first round.

Trustees took immediate action to fill the three officer posts that govern agenda and meeting procedures for the district. The presidential vote proceeded in two rounds after trustees’ initial ballots produced three candidates with top counts for Linda Cavazos and Irene Bustamante Adams; under board policy the two highest vote-getters advanced to a runoff. In the final tally, Bustamante Adams received four votes to Linda Cavazos’s three, electing Bustamante Adams president. Brenda Zamora won the vice-presidency with four votes to two for Emily Stevens and one for Lydia Dominguez. The clerk’s office went to Tamika Henry by a 4–3 margin over Lydia Dominguez.

Supporters from across the community spoke at the meeting. Tiffany Bemel, who said she is a frequent attendee, told trustees she was “emphatically here this evening to support the election of Linda Cavazos for Board President,” citing Cavazos’s experience and meeting skills. Jenna Robertson, identifying herself as a parent and CCSD substitute teacher, said she valued trustees’ roles and added she supported Cavazos because “I want somebody experienced in this role.” Other public commenters urged new leadership and called for greater transparency and community engagement.

Trustees handled nominations and timing under the board’s governance policies and a process explained at the start of the session by Trustee Brenda Zamora and board staff. Board liaison Joe Caruso explained that trustees should mark nominations on a tally sheet, then write their name on a paper ballot used for the vote; staff then read ballots into the record. General counsel John Oguzaki advised the board that policy requires a runoff between the two candidates with the most votes when no candidate secures a majority on the first ballot.

Votes were read into the public record by staff. On the presidential ballots cast in the runoff, Vice President Irene Bustamante Adams received four votes to Linda Cavazos’s three. For vice president Brenda Zamora received four votes, Emily Stevens two and Lydia Dominguez one. For clerk Tamika Henry received four votes to Lydia Dominguez’s three. The board chair declared each officer elected at the conclusion of the tally.

Trustees and public speakers framed the officer elections as consequential for the district’s immediate priorities, including restoring public trust, preparing for the legislative session that begins next month, and the upcoming superintendent search. Several speakers and trustees urged that the new leadership expand agenda-setting beyond the president and vice president so all trustees have input on items brought to the dais.

The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Jan. 9 at 5 p.m., when newly elected officers will begin working with trustees and staff on meeting processes and agendas for the session ahead.