Argyle ISD trustee resigns; board elects new president

ARGYLE, Texas — Argyle ISD trustee Matt Slaton resigned during the school board's Oct. 19 meeting, and the board later elected Sam Slaton as its president, according to a report by the Cross Timbers Gazette. Leigh Ann Artho stepped down as president and was elected vice president. Matt Slaton, who had served as board secretary, read a resignation letter at the meeting and then left. He said in the letter that he believed the board had focused on personal agendas and lacked effective leadership. Those are his stated reasons, not findings by the district. His seat is now vacant; the Gazette reported that his term would have ended in 2028. The board continued with its posted business after the resignation. The Gazette reported that trustees also approved the district's legislative priorities that evening. The resignation followed other recent changes on the board: Sam Slaton had been appointed in July after Josh Westrom left in June. Following a closed session lasting more than two hours, members voted to make Sam Slaton president. He returned to the board in July when trustees appointed him to an earlier vacancy; the district's announcement at that time said he previously served eight years as board president. The Gazette reported that trustees may appoint someone to fill Matt Slaton's seat, though a special election is another possible route. The board had not announced a replacement in the report. Residents should watch district board notices for how and when the vacancy will be filled. The account of the meeting comes from on-scene reporting; the posted BoardBook agenda confirms the meeting but is not itself a record of the votes.