In a significant shake-up, the Uvalde CISD school board welcomed new members on a promise to better address community concerns in the wake of the Robb Elementary massacre, with the uncle of one of the victims, Jesse Rizo, now among its ranks. Rizo, alongside Jaclyn Gonzales, were sworn into the board after being elected on May 4, calling immediately for more transparency and accountability, as San Antonio reported. Their first board meeting saw them advocating for the interests of the community, with Rizo inquiring if board members were given a platform to answer questions raised by the people—a response to the silence that met resident Daniel Myers when he sought answers from the board.
Jaclyn Gonzales and incumbent Cal Lambert came out on top along with Rizo in a heated election that ousted former board president Luis Fernandez; Rizo's mission to improve communication within the board is rooted in personal tragedy as he is the uncle to Jackie Cazares, who was one of 19 children and two teachers killed in the fatal school shooting nearly two years ago, grief in the service of governance. "Finally, something takes place," Rizo expressed his intentions to KSAT, framing his election as a moment that sparks hope and potentially the beginning of a healing process.
The public show of support for the new school board members, especially from the families of the Uvalde shooting victims and survivors, included Javier Cazares, who remarked on the fresh perspectives the new members brought, comparing it to "a sprinkle of fresh water in this stagnant water." His desire is that, with time, these new influences will bring about a positive transformation within the district.
Transparency was a prevailing theme during the election and Rizo's pursuit of it on the school board has been clear from the start; he took the issue head-on, pressing UCISD School Board President Cal Lambert about how and when board members can respond to community queries. Lambert pointed to legal boundaries governed by the Open Meeting’s Act, the Freedom of Information Act to skirt direct interaction during meetings, the dialogue highlighting the tension between bureaucratic protocol and the community's plea for direct answers, a plea spoken in the language of mourning and an urgency born of loss, as FOX San Antonio elucidated.
