GALVESTON, Texas – The GISD Board of Trustees welcomed Beau Rawlins as the new Board President on Wednesday night at a special board meeting. Rawlins, who previously served as Board Vice-President, took over for departing Trustee Kelly Chambers, who recently moved from the district. The Trustees voted unanimously for Dr. Matthew Hay, elected in November 2011, to take over the vacant Vice-President position.

“I am looking forward to being President of our school board to help lead our district into even more success than we’ve already achieved,” said Board President Rawlins. “I love Galveston and its people, and have determined that our school district should to have the informal designation as the anchor of our community. My number one goal is to have successful academic ratings so that new families can easily make a decision to move to Galveston.”

Voters elected Rawlins to his first term as Board Trustee, serving the far west-end of Galveston Island in District 6-F, in 2008. The Board of Trustees voted him as Vice-President in November of 2010. He owns a construction business, Rawlins Residential Builders, based out of Galveston.

Rawlins is an O’Connell graduate and avid Ball High supporter. He is married to Ali Rawlins and has three children, Gannon, Tucker, and Ava Grace, all who attend GISD schools. Gannon will enter the 9th Grade at Ball High this Fall, Tucker will be in the 6th Grade at Austin Middle School Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Magnet and Ava Grace will be a 4rd Grader at Oppe Elementary School of Coastal Studies in August.

Rawlins served as the chair of the GISD reorganization committee after Hurricane Ike significantly reduced the number of students, forcing the district to consolidate buildings and programs. He was also instrumental in leading the community to vote for a $69.45 million bond in 2003 that led to the $12 million renovation of the historic Austin Middle School, now a Blue Ribbon school, an award given to the best schools in the nation by the Department of Education. The bond also led to the construction of Spoor Field, a competitive track and field facility next to Ball High.

“It’s a major goal for me to be a part of a school board that grows our district by at least 400 students in the next two years,” he said.