Mansfield ISD school board president cites health reasons for resignation

By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

Courtney Lackey Wilson tearfully announced her resignation from the Mansfield ISD school board Thursday afternoon, citing personal health issues.

Wilson, who was elected to her fourth three-year term in a run-off in November, was serving as the board’s president.

Wilson indicated in her resignation that she would have liked to take a leave of absence, but Texas state law does not provide for that for elected school board officials, explained Mike Leasor, outside legal counsel for the school district.

“I hope you know that any and all decisions I made were always made in what I thought and felt in my heart were in the best interests of our babies, staff and district,” said Wilson, a Mansfield native and graduate of Mansfield High School. “I can only hope that this is short lived, but after what we have all lived through in the last year and a half, I refrain from predicting the future.

“Please remember that one heart is completely broken by this, my heart and I am just a person,” she said. “But a person that has put my whole heart in this position for over a fifth of my life, a position that I earned and a position that I planned to keep.”

The remaining trustees unanimously accepted her resignation, but declined to name anyone to fill the two years remaining of her term at Place 7.

“We will take no action,” announced Michelle Newsom, the board’s vice president. “We have a decision to make and need to take time to assess and evaluate how to proceed.”

Two parents spoke at the called special board meeting. One urged the board to consider Yolanda McPherson, who finished second to Wilson in November’s run-off, or Corinne Fiagome, who came in second to Keziah Farrar in a run-off in June, to fill Wilson’s seat.

“Mansfield is a minority majority district, but the diversity is not reflected in the staff, administration or school board,” said Scherron Richard, who has two children in the Mansfield ISD. “I urge you to take those things into consideration as you make your decision.”

Mansfield ISD parent Angie Thor urged board members to fill Wilson’s seat with someone who has previously served on the school board. Both Richard and Thor thanked Wilson for her service.

The school board could leave Wilson’s seat empty until May’s general election, appoint someone to serve until the May election or appoint someone to fill the final two years of Wilson’s term.

Needing a new board president, trustees held elections with Newsom elected as president, Desiree Thomas as vice president and Randall Canady as secretary. The vote was unanimous.

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