Source reporting: Texas Scorecard
The Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District board unanimously accepted the resignation of twice-censured trustee Matthew Short and approved a process to appoint his replacement, according to Texas Scorecard.
Board President Letticia Sever said during the September 3 meeting that Short submitted his resignation on August 27. The posted agenda also allowed trustees to consider action seeking his removal from office. Instead, the board accepted the resignation and moved to fill the vacancy.
Short had faced restrictions and disciplinary actions from the board during his brief tenure. Texas Scorecard reported that trustees limited his access to district property and funds in February, except for attending board meetings. The board censured him again in May after he used the district’s address when sending cease-and-desist letters to constituents who criticized him.
Short later sued the district, Sever and Superintendent Paige Meloni over the restrictions. During the board meeting, district attorney Chris Schultz said Short acknowledged in a recent court hearing that he created a fake email purporting to be from a constituent and sent it to fellow trustees. That account is attributed to the district’s counsel. Texas Scorecard also reported that the judge denied Short’s request for a temporary restraining order.
Separately, the State Board for Educator Certification issued Short a permanent reprimand on July 31, according to the report. Short had previously resigned from a teaching position in Judson ISD after that district began the process of terminating his contract. These employment and disciplinary details provide context for the school board’s actions but do not substitute for the findings in any separate legal proceeding.
SCUC ISD has posted an appointment process for the open seat. Applications are scheduled to remain open from September 4 through September 14. Trustees plan to review applicants on September 15, select interviewees and make a final appointment as early as September 21.
The appointment will place an unelected member on a public school board until the applicable election process determines future representation. The public-integrity significance lies in how transparently trustees evaluate applicants, disclose qualifications and explain their final selection after a resignation involving censures, litigation and reported misconduct.