Bastrop ISD names Dr. Kristy Lee interim superintendent; board amends June 11 minutes

The Bastrop Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to name Dr. Kristy Lee interim superintendent, the board announced after a closed-session discussion.

The motion — read in open session as “I move that the Board of Trustees for Bastrop Independent School District name Doctor Kristy Lee as interim superintendent of Bastrop ISD under the terms and conditions as discussed in closed session” — was seconded and carried, the board said. In open session a board member said, “Mister Edwards is still at the helm until the 30 first of this month,” and the board welcomed Dr. Lee to the role.

The appointment followed a closed session the board said was authorized under the Texas Government Code, chapter 551. The board indicated it will continue the superintendent search process this year and said it expects to name a permanent superintendent at a future date.

Why this matters: the interim appointment places a district administrator in charge while the board proceeds with a formal superintendent search and contract negotiations. Board leadership and district operations will report to an interim superintendent during the transition.

Details and related votes - Interim superintendent: The board moved and seconded a motion naming Dr. Kristy Lee interim superintendent; trustees voted to approve the motion (motion carried). The motion text was read into the record in open session following closed-session discussion. - Minutes amendment: Trustees pulled the June 11 minutes from the consent agenda for clarification and moved to amend the minutes to state that an audience member “took a picture of something from the administrative assistant without permission.” That amendment was moved, seconded and approved. - Consent items b and c: After the minutes item was removed and amended, the board voted to approve the remainder of the consent agenda items b and c as presented.

The board did not provide a roll-call vote tally in the public record for these motions during the meeting; the clerk recorded that the motions were seconded and the board announced that the motions carried.

Background and next steps Outgoing Superintendent Barry Edwards was thanked at the meeting for his service; board members and others praised his open-door approach and years of service. Trustees said Edwards would remain “at the helm until the 30 first of this month,” after which Dr. Kristy Lee will serve as interim superintendent while the board completes the nationwide search and related steps it described in an information presentation earlier in the meeting.

The board’s external counsel and its search consultant will guide the public process for hiring a permanent superintendent, the board said. Under state law the board must name a lone finalist publicly and observe the statutory waiting period before final employment action, the consultant told trustees earlier in the meeting.

Ending Board members thanked Edwards for his tenure and welcomed Dr. Lee in remarks at the meeting. The district’s posted agenda and future board notices will have updates on the superintendent search and any subsequent formal actions.