EDINBURG — The school board here unanimously approved Mario Salinas as the sole finalist for superintendent at a meeting Monday evening.
Salinas is an in-house selection and currently serves as assistant superintendent for support services.
He’s poised to take over for Interim Superintendent Gilbert Garza Jr., who’s served in that capacity for well over a year.
Garza stepped in after the departure of the district’s last permanent superintendent, Rene Gutierrez.
“I look forward to this new change,” Board President Mike Farias said just after midnight Tuesday. “The interim superintendent that we had was there for a year and seven months. He would tell me, ‘I thought I was gonna be here for a couple of months, and I ended up being here for a year and a half.’ And he did a great job, but at the end of the day we needed to get somebody permanent.”
Farias complimented Salinas’ experience with the district, a sentiment echoed by Trustee Louie Alamia.
Alamia said that Salinas has at various times worked as a coach, teacher, principal and administrator for the district.
“I don’t think anybody’s as deserving as Dr. Mario Salinas,” he said. “He’s from Edinburg, he’s for Edinburg, he’s what our community needs, and we were able to vote him in this evening and we look for big things to come for ECISD.”
In his current role, Alamia said Salinas oversees maintenance and facilities programs, UIL and fine arts programs and assists with technology, finance and insurance programs.
Finding a permanent superintendent was a campaign promise for the freshman trustee, and he said Monday’s vote fulfilled that promise and is a “huge” step for the district.
“I think tonight is another step in the right direction. Another way for ECISD to move forward,” Alamia said. “And hopefully, as we continue to progress we continue to foresee things going into the near future.”
