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Trustees voted unanimously to approve a three-year superintendent contract with Jorge Arredondo during a special board meeting Thursday evening.

The approval follows state law which mandates a three-week waiting period after naming a lone finalist for the superintendent position. He was named lone finalist on Sept. 5, and Arredondo’s salary is $275,000 as superintendent, according to the news release. Arredondo will begin his duties on Tuesday, and current Superintendent Daniel King will retire on Monday. King has spent 12 years at his position at PSJA ISD, and eight years as superintendent at Hidalgo school district.

Arredondo said the district has a nationally and statewide reputation for its programs.

“The next step is for me to continue to serve, get to know people on a deeper level, find out what’s working really well, and continue to refine those practices … every organization has room for improvement and so I’m looking forward to finding out what others believe in, so that we can continue to go on that path,” Arredondo said after the meeting.

The incoming superintendent, was born in Monterrey in Mexico, but grew up in Houston. Arredondo received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Houston.

“I’m a product of public schools, I believe in public schools,” he said.

Board members relayed the importance of selecting a superintendent and how they feel about the future of the district on Thursday evening.

“Throughout the last several days, Dr. Arredondo has been visiting schools and district facilities with Dr. King as he continues to learn about our great district and the vision for our district. We are confident of his abilities, knowledge, and experience and we know that he will lead us to continue to take PSJA to the next level,” board President Jesse Zambrano said in a news release.

Arredondo has taken many positions over 20 years in the education profession, from being a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and area superintendent, according to the news release.

In conversations with King, he said he wants to focus on providing education for “every” student, he said.

King had words of encouragement toward his successor during the public meeting, and said that Arredondo had values that “align to the philosophies” of the district along with a passion for children.

“PSJA (ISD) has never been about me, it’s been about you, and it’s been about our students, this district will be what you make it, what the team makes it, what the students make it, what the teachers make it,” King said during the meeting, encouraging everyone to support the incoming superintendent.

Following King’s announcement in June, he said he hoped to give the school board time to find a new superintendent and not to go through an interim.

Arredondo is currently meeting administrators, staff and students getting a better feel for the district.

“I’m extremely honored to be here at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (ISD) where people come from backgrounds very similar to how I grew up in, and I look forward to connecting them to (ensure) that they have a brighter future,” Arredondo said.