EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Round Rock ISD
RRISDboard of trustees reinstates superintendent HafedhAzaiez
SINCE SUSPENSION The RRISD board of trustees has taken multiple actions since placing its superintendent on administrative leave Jan. 6.
on reinstatement, it “would require the willing suspension of disbelief.” Prior to the March 24 meeting, the board voted not to approve a super- intendent separation agreement during a March 8 meeting. The board conferred with its attorney in closed session regarding the inquiry carried out by an external investigator at the direction of Faltys as well as a separation agreement for Azaiez. Place 6 Trustee Tiffanie Harrison stated she hoped the board could move forward and work coopera- tively in the best interest of students. “We have students that are count- ing on us, and no matter what the outcome of this vote, I hope we can move forward,” Harrison said. Just like during the March 24 meeting, several dozen people spoke during public comment at the March 8 meeting in favor of firing Azaiez as well as reinstating him. District information states RRISD officials are waiting on a ruling from the Texas Attorney Generals Office before releasing information from the investigation.
ROUND ROCK ISD The Round Rock ISD board of trustees voted to reinstate suspended Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez during a March 24 meeting. The decision came after just 30 minutes of closed session. The vote split 5-2 with Places 2 and 7 Trustees Mary Bone and Danielle Weston, respectively, voting against the measure to reinstate. His reinstatement was effective 8 a.m. March 25, according to the motion put forth by board President Amber Feller. The vote comes after several months of investigation by multiple entities, including the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Education Agency and an outside investigator hired by the district at the direction of its monitor, David Faltys. Community Impact Newspaper received a statement from Azaiez, who was never arrested or charged
Week of Jan. 10: The district’s investigator begins their inquiry Jan. 6: Superintendent placed on administrative leave Jan. 20: Board consults with investigator and attorneys regarding the superintendent, but takes no action Jan. 27: Board members ask investigator to conclude the inquiry into the superintendent and bring a completed report to the next meeting March 8: In a 2-4-1 vote, the board declines to approve a superintendent separation agreement, delays action regarding his employment to the next meeting and makes the report subject to open records requests March 24: RRISD board votes to reinstate superintendent after finding no wrongdoing
with a crime, via his lawyer, Mary Goodrich Nix, regarding the vote. “I am very pleased with the board’s decision to allow me to return to serve the students, staff and parents in the Round Rock community as the superintendent of the Round Rock ISD,” Azaiez said. Ahead of the vote, trustees shared the sheriff’s office had closed its investigation into allegations from a complainant who filed a petition for a protective order in a Travis County court alleging physical assault and infidelity. Prior to the March 24 vote, Bone expressed concerns about the investigation into Azaiez, stating she had not been able to verify commu- nications that it had been closed. Feller said Bone’s reasoning was not correct because the board received clear confirmation of the closure. Weston said for her to vote “yes”
SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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