CCISD board canvasses election, mourns passing of board member and retired educator

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press

The mood was somber as the Copperas Cove Independent School District Board of Trustees held a special meeting on Thursday to canvass the votes for the Nov. 5 election for Places 3, 4 and 5 on the board.

Former Place 5 trustee Bob Weiss, who had been taken to a local hospital before the board’s regular meeting Tuesday evening, earlier that day, as announced later in the meeting by CCISD Superintendent Joe Burns.

Board members hugged each other as they arrived Thursday, and when Board President Joan Manning hit her gavel to the table, she was overcome with emotion and took a minute to compose herself.

“We lost a very special man today,” she said.

The board then got down to business to canvass the votes from the Nov. 5 election and accept the results.

Unofficial election results from Nov. 5 showed Place 5 candidate Jeff Gorres ahead by three votes, with a total of 1,146 to former CCISD board member Harry Byrd’s 1,143.

The last day to receive overseas and military ballots was Monday, Nov. 11. The district knew that Coryell County was not waiting for any overseas or military ballots for the school board election, but hadn’t yet heard from Bell County, according to Communications Director Wendy Sledd. The final vote count proved to be the same as the initial unofficial results.

The board unanimously accepted the results and gave congratulations to Gorres, who was sitting in the audience.

Burns shared that following the vote, candidates have two days to request a recount, with Monday being the last day.

Wilburn, Manning, and Gorres will be sworn in on Monday, December 10, during a special meeting before the board’s workshop.