This past Saturday, residents of Austin witnessed an exciting runoff election that made waves across the community. In a resounding victory, Fernando Lucas de Urioste triumphed over Lindsey Stringer for the open at-large seat on the Austin school board. With a remarkable 70% of the vote—that’s more than 12,455 out of 17,778 votes—de Urioste has secured his position to take over from District 8’s outgoing Trustee, Noelita Lugo.
Both candidates had emerged from a competitive six-candidate field back during the November 5 election, where no one could clinch the majority required to win outright. “Going into a runoff, I didn’t want it to be close because I wanted it to be very clear the community made a choice,” de Urioste commented after the election results rolled in. “That’s very inspiring to know that Austin is behind you.” His enthusiasm and connection to the community seemed to resonate well, especially considering he has called Austin home for nearly 30 years.
The newly-elected trustee is not just familiar with the community; he also brings a wealth of experience to the role. He currently serves as the director of advocate services at Cirkiel Law Group, where he dedicates his work to supporting students, particularly those needing special education services. Before this role, de Urioste spent several years as a special education teacher and paraprofessional, giving him a first-hand understanding of the challenges facing students and families.
In the lead-up to the runoff, de Urioste significantly outpaced Stringer in fundraising efforts. Between the end of October and early December, he raised a hefty $29,750, which included significant contributions from organizations like Education Austin, a group representing teachers and staff in the district. In contrast, Stringer managed to gather about $11,530. During the earlier election period, the gap was even more staggering: de Urioste raised nearly $54,000 compared to Stringer’s approximately $5,700.
As de Urioste prepares to step into his role, he expressed his readiness to hit the ground running. “Now I’m ready to get to work and serve the community in the way that I was campaigning to do,” he said. His approach focuses on collaboration—hoping to instill a sense of agency among families and constituents to work collectively toward shared goals. He will join District 2 Trustee LaRessa Quintana, who was also newly elected during the same cycle.
With new members joining, the school board faces significant challenges ahead. Notably, the board is looking at a daunting $90 million budget deficit projected over the next three years. Members are determined to minimize cuts that would impact classrooms, striving to protect direct student services for as long as possible. Another pressing matter is the ongoing efforts to reform special education services under a Texas Education Agency monitoring order, which stemmed from years of backlogged evaluations. Although the district has cleared its overdue requests, it is actively working towards meeting additional compliance requirements.
The election of de Urioste brings a sense of hope and renewed energy to the Austin school district at a critical juncture. With community support behind him, he aims to usher in positive changes shaping the educational experience for students across the city. As this journey unfolds, many residents are eager to see how the new trustee will fulfill his promise to advocate for families and ensure efficient education services for all students in Austin.
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