Round Rock ISD Trustee Terri Romere Resigns From Seat With Year Left On Term

ROUND ROCK, TX — Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees member Terri Romere officially stepped from her post at the body's Thursday night meeting.

In a previous Jan. 4 statement, Romere expressed her desire to focus on her grown children—one going into the military and another preparing to enter law school. She also said stepping down would allow her to focus on her businesses, including her real estate practice.

“Our board is harmonious and in alignment to serve kids in our community,” Romere said in her previous prepared statement. “I am proud to have served this community as a trustee and will continue to serve students and families."

But the board hasn't always been harmonious, and sometimes Romere herself helped create discord within its ranks. Invariably outspoken and blunt while speaking from the dais, Romere in August 2014 helped a resident file a complaint against a fellow board member—board president Diane Cox—alleging she used her position to direct a district contract to her software company employer.

The accusation made for high drama for the months during an ensuing investigation, laying bare long-simmering tensions among some school board members. In the end, a law firm hired by the school district to look into the allegations cleared Cox of any wrongdoing.

"I started on this board in 2005, making this about the students, and as always I intend to make this about the students," an emotional Cox said at the time, her voice cracking with emotion as her exoneration was announced, in a report by the Round Rock Leader newspaper.

The drama that unfolded lay bare long-simmering, underlying conflict among some board members. Cox made reference to that tension at the time. And without mentioning Romere by name, she called for board trustees to undergo enhanced training on how to address such matters in the future to avoid false accusations and the expense of legal costs to the district.

“I also hope that my fellow trustee and individuals wanting to be a part of this board stop this behavior and make it about the students,” Cox said. The board spent more than $12,000 to essentially defend Cox against the Romere-crafted complaint at the time, the Round Rock Leader reported in a follow-up story, ultimately exonerating her of any wrongdoing.

But the resignation of Romere closes that chapter of school board history. She was serving her second term on the board in the Place 4 seat, and her term was scheduled to expire next year. Now, she said she plans to focus on family and career matters: "As CEO of a real estate brokerage firm, my clients and the opportunity to develop a large commercial project needs my focus," she said. "My role as a mom also comes first with my children starting law school and joining the military.”

For her part, Cox was gracious in wishing Romere well, despite any past conflict between the two: “Trustee Romere brought a passion and drive to the board that will be missed greatly,” Cox said in a prepared statement. “While we are saddened by her resignation, I am proud to celebrate her past six years of hard work and dedication in serving the diverse and growing population of Round Rock ISD.”

In a previous advisory alerting to her plan to resign, district officials ticked off a list of Romere's accomplishments: Supporting passage of a $299 million bond issue; promoting expansion of agriculture science programs; approving the district's Strategic Plan; voting to hire Superintendent of Schools Steve Flores; and joining in on the adoption of a District of Innovation plan.

“Trustee Romere has been an asset to our district as a fierce advocate for our students, staff and community,” Flores said in a prepared statement. “As a trustee and Round Rock ISD parent, she has proved her commitment to our district."

The remaining members of the board now have two options in filling Romere's now-unoccupied seat: Select a replacement to carry out the remainder of her term, or call for a special election to be called to yield a candidate willing to run in securing a short stint before potentially winning the seat outright after the unfulfilled term expires in 2018.

Stay tuned.

>>> Official photo of Terri Romere via Round Rock ISD website