Laredo ISD names interim superintendent Guillermo Pro lone finalist, cancels external search
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Summary
On Dec. 17 the Laredo ISD Board of Trustees voted 5–2 to name interim superintendent Guillermo Pro the lone finalist for superintendent and to terminate the district's external search and TASB executive-search agreement.
The Laredo Independent School District board voted Dec. 17 to name interim superintendent Guillermo Pro its lone finalist for superintendent and to terminate the district's external superintendent search.
The motion to appoint Pro as the lone finalist carried 5'to'2 in a roll-call vote. Trustee Monica Ranjell Garcia and the board chair voted against the move; trustees Dr. Martinez, Juan Ramirez, Alfredo Perez, Rodolfo Morales and Veronica Ordunio voted in favor. After the vote the board also approved cancelling the search timeline and rescinding the TASB executive-search services agreement.
Trustees who supported ending the search pointed to Pro's performance since he began leading the district. Trustee Rodolfo Morales said the recent months had been "an interview in progress" and argued "the time to act is now," praising Pro's visibility and actions under pressure. Trustee Juan Ramirez and others described improved communication, campus responsiveness and completed projects as evidence that moving forward with Pro was warranted.
Trustees who opposed ending the search urged continuing the community-engaged process managed by the Texas Association of School Boards, noting an 80-page community engagement report and saying the district had already invested community time in the search. Trustee Monica Ranjell Garcia said she was "taken aback" that the item appeared on the agenda while community engagement was underway and that the process should be allowed to finish.
The board's action makes Pro the lone finalist under state law processes for employment of a superintendent; the board also voted to terminate or rescind the search timeline and the district's agreement with TASB. The board did not name a permanent superintendent at the meeting; the action places Pro in the lone-finalist role defined by state rules and means the external search work will not continue under the previously authorized timeline.
A roll-call of the final naming vote recorded Trustee Garcia as "Against," Dr. Martinez "For," Trustee Ramirez "For," Trustee Perez "For," Trustee Morales "For," Trustee Ordunio "For," and the chair as "Against." The meeting adjourned later that evening.