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Students and parents praise board’s extension of Mr. VanMatre’s contract
Summary
Multiple students and parents spoke during public comment to thank the board for extending Mr. VanMatre’s contract, crediting him with supporting student transitions, creating opportunities and strengthening programs including a Dual Language Initiative.
Several students and parents used the board’s public-comment period to thank trustees for extending Mr. VanMatre’s contract and to describe how his leadership affected students.
Cindie Ybanez, a community member since 1992, told the board that her son returned to Tuloso‑Midway to graduate with his classmates and that "Mr. VanMatre helped make her son's transition back to TM smooth and Mr. VanMatre made her son feel welcomed." Student Adalynn Ruth, a member of the Superintendent Student Advisory Council, said she was "reassuring that Mr. VanMatre will be here until after she graduates," and student Jazlyn Lerma credited Mr. VanMatre with creating resources and opportunities that support career goals such as opening a salon. Parent Francisco Campos said his children in the Dual Language/Immersion program benefited academically and culturally and that bilingual skills helped his employment prospects.
The speakers framed their remarks as appreciation rather than requests for new policy. Several speakers explicitly tied the contract extension to continuity for students and to recent partnerships, including a cited partnership with Texas A&M University–Kingsville. The board did not debate these public comments during the session; they were heard at the start of the meeting under the district’s public-comment rules.
