[Update at 4:53 p.m.: As far as the district is concerned, Carla Ranger has not formally resigned because has not delivered "written notice, signed by
the Board member, to the presiding officer of the Board," per resignation policy. An email is not considered a resignation letter. There will also need to be a special election to replace her, per policy. Policy also says she could remain on the board till her replacement is in place.]
I was just on the phone with Dallas ISD spokesman Jon Dahlander about this last-second meeting called for Tuesday evening by the school board; the lone item on the agenda involves possible changes to the election cycle, the result of Dallas County Elections wanting DISD to move elections to November rather than May. (But in which year?) When I was talking to Dahlander, Schutze sent me this note just posted to Carla Ranger's website:
Board of TrusteesI imagine it has something to do with what happened last night. More to come.
Dallas ISD
Dear Trustees:
Via this email, I am today submitting my resignation as District 6 Trustee effective on the earliest date of Board acceptance.
It is my hope that the Board will appoint a replacement until the next regularly scheduled election date.
Immediate acceptance and appointment of a new Trustee prior to the September Board briefing would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Carla Ranger
District 6 Trustee
Update at 4:26 p.m.: I called trustee Edwin Flores, who reps District 1 and chairs the personnel committee, for his response. He had no idea Ranger resigned. "How do you know?" he asked. When I told him, he said: "I should have guessed."
Said Flores, "It's unfortunate she has decided to take this step." Flores says he's
not sure why she resigned. One can guess. "It is what it is. Doing what
we do is not fun. It's a rough position. Believe me, more than once have
I asked myself: 'Why am I doing this? Why do I continue to do this?' I
wish her and her family the best and hope and pray the board, if we do
have the opportunity to appoint someone, find someone to represent
District 6 with the same zeal she did."
I asked: What now? Said
Flores, they'll have to meet with attorneys.
But: "This issue has come
up before. My predecessor [Ken Zornes] resigned. The rule is there's a
special statute that applies to Dallas and Houston, which is, if their
term has between six months and a year to go, we can appoint somebody.
If not we have to call a special election. My predecessor resigned in
January, so there was an election for his unexpired term for one year.
Carla just got a new term last May, when nobody ran against her, so I am
fairly sure we have to call a special election. We may have to appoint
somebody."
