Board rejects ad hoc committees, keeps Lone Star Governance committee after split vote

Trustees spent a large portion of the meeting debating governance structure tied to Lone Star Governance (LSG) work. Dr. Cantu and members of the LSG committee presented options for completing upcoming LSG phases and asked the board to decide whether to continue the standing LSG committee or form several ad hoc subcommittees. Advocates for ad hoc committees said smaller working groups could share the workload and accelerate progress; opponents cited quorum concerns, meeting frequency, and the need for clarity and transparency for trustees not on committees.

Trustee Pantoja moved to form ad hoc committees; the motion failed, with the transcript recording the vote as 3 in favor and 7 against. Vice President Cisneros then moved to retain the Lone Star Governance committee as a standing committee; that motion passed by a 5–4 vote. The board later voted 5–4 to keep its board policy language as the authoritative description of the LSG committee’s role rather than adopt a new description at this time. Trustees asked that the committee rotate access so noncommittee trustees can participate in meetings and requested clearer documentation on responsibilities and timelines. Vice President Cisneros emphasized the need to keep the LSG timeline on track, saying the committee should drive the work and bring recommendations to the full board for votes.