'Time for new leadership.' San Angelo ISD Lanny Layman steps down as school board president

SAN ANGELO — School board trustee Lanny Layman has stepped down from his leadership role as Board President of San Angelo ISD, a position he's had for several years.

Layman made the announcement after a nearly 3-hour school board meeting Monday, May 17, 2021, in which trustees recognized the accomplishments of San Angelo ISD students who earned top-honors in sports, academics, and fine arts over the past school year.

Layman plans to continue serving on the school board as a member at-large for the district. His term won't expire until 2023.

During an interview with the Standard-Times, Layman said his decision to step down as president was made to give other trustees the opportunity to lead.

"I've been the president a long time...18 years I think, and I think we need to make a transition in new leadership; it's nothing more than that," Layman said.

Layman announced Max Parker had agreed to serve as the next Board President for San Angelo Independent School District.

Trustee member Bill Dendle will move from Board Treasurer to Vice President. Dr. Taylor Kingman will serve as the new Board Treasurer. Gerard Gallegos will remain as Board Secretary.

"This is an opportunity to show the skills of other board members," Layman said. "We've got a great board team and I'd like to feature them more in the public so they know what great public servants we have."

Joining the school board for the first time Monday night was Lupita Arroyo, who ran unopposed to replace SM2 trustee Art Hernandez. Arroyo took her oath of office in front of Judge Carmen Dusek, along with recently reelected trustee members Dendle, Kingman, and Ami Mizell-Flint.

In looking back over his more than 20 years on the school board, Layman said he was most proud of the professionalism he's witnessed by his fellow trustees and their passion for education.

"It's amazing how many school boards struggle because they can't get along. They overstep their roles or they get too far into the weeds, or they've gotten elected because they have an ax to grind," Layman said. "Our board is not like that."

"We have a school board that gets along, that respects our administrators, and that cares about our students, which is most important ...to have as qualified of board members as we have — I'm really proud of that," Layman said.

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John Tufts covers enterprise and investigative topics in West Texas. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.