By RAY QUIROGA
Publisher@sbnewspaper.com
After a nearly two-hour closed session on Tuesday, September, 26, the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District (SBCISD) Board of Trustees, and the district’s embattled superintendent, Theresa Servellon, who was placed on paid administrative leave by the board upon a 4-3 majority vote during a special meeting on September 8, agreed to a mutual separation underscored by Servellon’s retirement as an educator and resignation as SBCISD superintendent.
Tuesday’s unanimous board decision took place towards the end of the trustees’ regularly scheduled meeting held at the school district’s John F Barron Administration Building Board Room. The board accepted Servellon’s resignation and resignation agreement as discussed in closed session.
After the vote, trustee Oscar Medrano publically thanked Servellon on behalf of the board, saying in open session, “For the record, I want to thank Ms. Servellon. I voted in favor of it (the separation agreement) I don’t agree with it, but I want to thank Ms. Servellon for all her hard work that she did for our district, and for the students; and we appreciate her, and good luck in all your endeavors.”
Medrano was one of three dissenting votes that were against placing Servellon on paid leave during the September 8 meeting. No other board member made a public statement during the meeting, but the district provided what it described as a joint statement from the board and Servellon.
The District’s Response
In the district’s official statement, Servellon announces her retirement as an educator and her resignation as SBCISD’s superintendent. Servellon thanked present and past board trustees for the opportunity to serve the district.
“The SBCISD expresses appreciation to the staff and community for their support of the district’s programs and services. It is noted that this decision is in the best interests of the board, Servellon, and the district,” read the statement provided by Isabel C. González, SBCISD’s Director of Communications. “An agreement has been reached which allows Servellon the ability to pursue other interests, and permits the board to pursue hiring another superintendent,” the statement continued. “The board and Servellon have entered into the agreement believing it is in their respective best interests, and in the best interests of the district.”
“The board extends its best wishes to Servellon in her future endeavors. On its part, the board will soon begin its search for a new superintendent as not to disrupt the district’s operations,” the joint statement concludes.
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