By unanimous vote, Daniella Lopez Valdez has retained the presidency of the the Brownsville Independent School District Board of Trustees, while Frank Ortiz becomes vice president.

The vote was without discussion and came just before the public portion of the board’s meeting on Tuesday ended. Longtime former BISD educator and administrator Neida Ruth Soto-Grantland’s appointment in late June restored the seven-member board to full representation.

The meeting presented a contrast to the dynamics prior to Grantland’s appointment, when the board often split 3-3 on contentious issues after former board president Erasmo Castro died in February leaving a vacancy.

The board had faced an Aug. 15 deadline to make the appointment after the window to hold an election closed.

The board voted 3-4 t

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