Burleson ISD board grants president temporary hiring authority, installs Dave Mason as Branson Elementary principal

The Burleson Independent School District board on April 13 approved two personnel actions arising from closed session: it granted the board president authority to approve new hires until the next regular meeting in May, and it approved the hiring of Dave Mason as principal at Branson Elementary.

At the start of the meeting the presiding board officer asked for a motion to grant temporary hiring authority and, after a second was called, the motion passed with no opposition. The board likewise approved the recommendation to hire an elementary principal; the vote was recorded as “I see none opposed.”

Board members and staff told the board they had conducted a search after longtime Branson Elementary principal Rob Ballantyne decided to retire after eight years. A board member who introduced Mason said district leadership and an interview committee considered internal continuity important and praised Mason’s years at the campus, saying “we think that is absolutely the best thing for that school is to keep that continuity.”

Dave Mason briefly addressed the board, thanking trustees for the opportunity and saying he intends to remain at Branson as long as he can. The board indicated it will ratify hires approved by the president at the next regular meeting.