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Eagle Pass ISD board accepts resignation of Trustee Lipson, appoints Claudio Heredia and approves hires, easement and pay plan
Summary
At its May 12 meeting the Eagle Pass ISD Board accepted Trustee Morris Lipson's resignation, appointed and swore in Claudio Heredia to Position 5, approved an easement to AP Texas Inc., authorized ballot destruction timing, approved personnel hires including Jorge Luis Vargas as band director, and adopted a superintendent compensation plan with local step increases and additional leave days.
The Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees on May 12 accepted the resignation of Trustee Morris Lipson, appointed Claudio Heredia to fill the resulting vacancy for Position 5 and approved a series of routine administrative actions including personnel hires, an easement for the high school track project, and a superintendent-recommended compensation plan.
Trustee resigns; board accepts
The board approved acceptance of Trustee Morris Lipson’s resignation effective May 12, 2026. The motion to accept the resignation was made by Trustee Jaime Barrera and seconded by Trustee Tom Gonzales; the board voted to accept the resignation. After the vote, Lipson addressed the board, thanking fellow trustees and the community and directly denying that illness was the reason for his resignation: “There’s a lot of people worried that I was sick… That is not true,” he said, and described his continued commitment to community service.
Appointment and oath
The board moved to fill the vacancy under Texas Education Code section 11.06(a) and appointed Claudio Heredia to Position 5 (motion by Trustee Martinez; second by Trustee Perry). Heredia was administered the oath of office and spoke to the board, saying he had previously served on the board and noting that several family members are employed by the district and that he will recuse himself where appropriate. Heredia expressed gratitude for the appointment and a commitment to serve students and the community.
Other formal actions
- The board authorized the Maverick County elections administrator to destroy the ballots from the May 2, 2026 bond election after the statutory preservation period of 22 months, as allowed under Election Code §66.058 (motion by Trustee Hiller; unanimous).
- The board approved granting an easement and right-of-way to AP Texas Inc. to provide electrical power to the Eagle Pass High School track project dressing room building (motion by Trustee Lipson; second by Trustee Perry; motion passed).
- The board approved consent agenda items 1–3 together. Trustee Hiller recorded an abstention on consent item 3; otherwise consent items passed.
Personnel and compensation approvals
After a closed session, the board returned to open session and approved several personnel actions discussed in closed session, including approval of term contracts and the hiring of a professional employee to be assigned as Eagle Pass High School band director. The board approved hiring Jorge Luis Vargas as band director, subject to possible future reassignment by the superintendent (motion by Trustee Jaime Herrera; second by Trustee Gonzales).
Superintendent Mijares presented a recommended compensation plan for the 2026–27 school year and the board approved it. The superintendent described local step increases (for example, a $50 local step increase for certain teachers with 0–4 years’ experience and a $100 local step increase for professionals with five or more years) and recommended additional paid local leave days (five, six, or seven days, depending on position). The board voted to adopt the plan as presented and included in the approved budget.
What happens next
District staff will finalize personnel paperwork, post details of contract and hire actions as appropriate, and implement the approved compensation schedule in payroll processes. The district also indicated that detailed lists of bond projects and schedules will be posted in district materials for public review.
Votes and formal action (summary)
- Accept resignation of Trustee Morris Lipson: approved (motion by Jaime Barrera; second by Tom Gonzales). - Appoint Claudio Heredia to fill Position 5 (Tex. Educ. Code §11.06(a)): approved (motion by Trustee Martinez; second by Victor Perry); oath administered. - Authorize destruction of election ballots after 22-month preservation period (Tex. Elec. Code §66.058): approved (motion by Trustee Hiller; unanimous). - Grant easement to AP Texas Inc. for electrical service to high school track project: approved. - Approve term contracts and personnel hires discussed in closed session, including hiring Jorge Luis Vargas as band director: approved. - Approve superintendent’s 2026–27 compensation plan including local step increases and additional paid leave days: approved.
