It's finally official. With the stroke of a pen to sign his new contract during Thursday night's Arlington ISD board meeting, Dr. Marcelo Cavazos can now say he's the new Arlington school superintendent.

Applause rang out through the Mac Brown Professional Development Center room once the board of trustees unanimously approved the contract for Cavazos, 44, who joined the district in 1999. Now Cavazos can put his stamp on the 64,380-student district, with the help of the Arlington community.

"Over the last 13 years, and certainly the last six months as interim superintendent, the dedication, the enthusiasm, the desire to make Arlington ISD a premiere school district is pervasive in the community,' said Cavazos, who began with the school district in 1999. "When you have that commitment pervasive in the community, nothing can stand in our way.'

Cavazos' three-year contract calls for a base salary of $250,000 annually, $1,000 per month for discretionary expenses, $800 per month for transportation and technology expenses, and the premiums on his life, health and disability insurance.

The San Benito native was named interim superintendent in June when former Superintendent Jerry McCullough departed. He had served as deputy superintendent since February 2009.

Cavazos began his teaching career in the Mission Consolidated ISD as an English teacher in 1990. Two years later, he taught English and government in McAllen ISD. In 1993, he was named the secondary language arts supervisor for Mercedes ISD. Cavazos went to work for the Texas Education Agency Department of School Finance and Support in 1998.

He has previously served as a lecturer for the University of Texas at Arlington's Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Cavazos holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from the University of Texas - Pan American and a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.