Fredericksburg ISD board reviews Chapter 21 contract recommendation to fill Fredericksburg Primary principal post

The Fredericksburg Independent School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 4 discussed hiring a new principal for Fredericksburg Primary School, with administration recommending approval of a Chapter 21 contract for the finalist.

Joe Rodriguez, Ed.D., identified in the agenda as the meeting presenter and resource personnel, brought the recommendation to the board after a campus committee interviewed and ranked candidates and submitted a Recommendation Form to administration.

The board’s recommended motion language on the Board Action Item Sheet read: “I move that we approve the Chapter 21 Contract as recommended by Administration.” The agenda listed a closed-session personnel discussion under the Texas Open Meetings Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 551), specifically Section 551.074 for personnel matters, to discuss hiring the Fredericksburg Primary School principal.

Matt Seidenberger, President and trustee, and Taylor Ward, Secretary and trustee, were recorded as present and participated in the meeting record. Judge Edwards, Rusty Jenschke and Gayle Schoessow were also recorded present. Keri Hensley and Brian Lehne were listed as absent on the meeting roll call.

The minutes and attached Board Action Item Sheet provide background that the Fredericksburg Primary School principal position is vacant, campus staff formed a committee that interviewed candidates and ranked individuals by required skills, and that the superintendent’s recommendation supports the district’s mission. The agenda identifies a Recommendation Form as an attachment but the meeting record does not include the form’s text in the minutes.

The meeting agenda and action item language document the recommended contract type as a "Chapter 21 Contract." The minutes do not record a motion maker, a second, a vote tally, or a final outcome for the recommended approval; the record therefore does not specify whether the board approved the contract or completed a hire at that meeting.

The hiring discussion affects Fredericksburg Primary School students, staff and families and falls under routine personnel authority for the district; additional implementation steps, such as executing a contract or public notice of hire, were not recorded in the minutes.

The agenda and minutes are available from Fredericksburg Independent School District; supporting documents listed in the agenda include the Recommendation Form referenced by administration.