Amidst a state investigation and board infighting, Judson Unbiased Faculty District named a brand new interim chief.
On Tuesday, the board selected Ann Dixon, a longtime educator and acquainted face at Judson, in a 6-1 vote. As soon as the superintendent of Somerset ISD, Dixon has served as interim at greater than 20 different districts in Texas, together with Judson at one level.
That is the fourth time the college board has picked an interim superintendent after pushing out Milton Fields in January, a longtime Judson worker who turned superintendent in 2023.
“Given the challenges and alternatives forward, we imagine an skilled exterior interim superintendent can present the attitude, stability, and management mandatory to assist information the district via this era, whereas permitting our inner leaders to proceed specializing in the important work of supporting college students, workers, and faculties,” mentioned board president Monica Ryan.
Dixon started her schooling profession at Judson over 50 years in the past as a speech pathologist. Since then she’s gone on to serve in district management roles, as superintendent, board member and has been acknowledged by the Texas legislature for her work.
Ryan briefly employed Dixon as an outdoor monetary advisor throughout finances disagreements with Judson workers final 12 months, however the board voted to not renew the contract after discovering out Judson was paying $1,500 a day for the consulting from a TPR investigation.
Dixon’s contract lasted 20 days, and the district paid her $30,000 plus bills.
A revolving door
The district has cycled via 4 leaders whereas finalizing Fields’ termination, a dramatic and bitter course of that didn’t wrap till April.
The board first positioned Fields on administrative depart in January after board members accused him of monetary mismanagement, harassment and failure to reveal information of alleged abuse.
With Milton on depart, the board appointed district worker Lacey Gosch as performing superintendent between Jan. 10 and Feb. 4. After formally firing Milton, the board picked one other worker, Mary Duhart-Toppen as interim superintendent.
The board picked one other worker, Mary Duhart-Toppen, for a short stint as interim superintendent from Feb. 4 to Feb. 16. On the time, Ryan mentioned Duhart-Toppen was ineffective. The board then employed Robert Jaklich, a retired superintendent who as soon as led Harlandale ISD and was tapped as interim superintendent in San Antonio ISD a number of years in the past.
On the time Jaklich was employed, the board didn’t announce plans or subsequent steps for a everlasting superintendent search. Ryan, who led the cost towards Fields, mentioned she wished to offer the district time to settle earlier than one other change.
Jaklich introduced his resignation final week in an e mail to workers, and his final official day is June 30.
Underneath Jaklich, the district reduce 500 positions — most of them vacant— and proposed different cost-saving measures like freezing pay to stability Judson’s finances after reaching a $35 million deficit through the 2025-26 college 12 months.
The board is meant to vote on adopting the finances Jaklich had an enormous hand in shaping on Thursday, June 25.
Challenges forward
Dixon steps into the workplace in a key finances second, as board divisions proceed to spill over into public conferences, in addition to lawsuits, sanctions and investigations.
The Texas Schooling Company is at present investigating whether or not Judson leaders violated state legal guidelines amid allegations towards each Fields and Ryan.
Initially stored underneath wraps when he was place on depart in January, Fields was accused by each Ryan and trustee Lesley Lee of failing to report the abuse of a scholar by a district worker and failing to inform the board of a TEA investigation into one other case the place an worker didn’t report baby abuse, amongst different issues.
TEA’s investigation additionally accuses Ryan of abusing her energy as board president to undermine the superintendent and different workers, and threaten board members.
Trustees had been additionally accused by TEA’s investigation of discussing board enterprise relating to the superintendent’s termination and interim management off-site and in non-public channels, that are open conferences violations. It’s unclear which or what number of trustees.
In the meantime, a authorized battle between present trustee José Macias Jr. and the district escalated to federal court docket in Might after the board voted 4-3 to sanction him for allegedly pressuring fellow board members to vote a sure method and for sharing confidential board info on social media.
Macias and Ryan usually butt heads, publicly sparring throughout board conferences and on social media.
As a part of the sanction, Macias was barred from district property for six months aside from the board room and prohibited from touring on board enterprise and accessing district funds for a 12 months.
In response, Macias filed a lawsuit to drop the sanctions and asking for $1 million in restitution. The swimsuit is at present pending as either side finalize their arguments.
Macias was the lone vote towards hiring Dixon on Tuesday, commenting that Judson is going through a number of challenges proper now, and discovering a everlasting chief might be troublesome.
Trustee Laura Stanford mentioned she supported hiring Dixon as a result of exterior candidates appear to deliver extra stability to Judson, citing Jaklich’s five-month tenure.
Dixon has a monitor file of shoring up troubled districts’ funds and teachers, Ryan mentioned. Underneath her management within the Nineties, Somerset ISD confirmed improved teachers, higher amenities and among the highest instructor salaries in Bexar County on the time, in response to a state decision honoring her work.
“Her information of the district, mixed together with her monitor file of stabilizing and strengthening college programs throughout Texas, will assist us proceed the necessary work of enhancing our scholar outcomes, restrain our monetary stability, and rebuilding belief all through our group,” Ryan mentioned.
