By Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter
Dallas, TX – Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter: The closed-door session to determine the superintendent's fate and the district's future lasted more than three hours. Prior to that, they'd heard from residents who urged them to ignore comments from two business groups. The Dallas Citizens Council and Chamber of Commerce wanted a new superintended to be named within 30 days. But real estate agent Fred Blair, who served on the tri-ethnic committee more than two decades ago, echoed comments of many speakers when he said the board needs to ignore that pressure.
Fred Blair, citizen and businessman: I suggest you take as much time as you need to make sure you get it right this time. I want you to know there's another business community out, and I'm a part of that community. We're not monolithic in the business world.
Zeeble: After Board members re-opened the meeting, Trustee Ken Zornes swiftly proposed Superintendent Bill Rojas' contract be terminated, because he'd failed to maintain good rapport, as his contract allowed. The vote was seven to one. Then Board member Ron Price proposed district Associate Superintendent Robert Payton fill in as interim superintendent. That also passed seven to one. Board member Jose Plata was on vacation. Trustee George Williams was the lone vote. Board veteran Ron Price said he knew why.
Ron Price, Dallas School Board member: He was saying we can't blame all this on Bill Rojas. The board helped put us in this situation.
Zeeble: To get out of the situation, the Board will pay Rojas $90,000. It was an option, an out, hinted at by Rojas last week, according to Trustee Hollis Brashear.
Hollis Brashear, Trustee, Dallas Public Schools: Dr. Rojas himself stood before you and in front of the camera and said, "I don't have good rapport with the Board." We've acknowledged that.
Zeeble: The temporary replacement in the Superintendent's office is district veteran Robert Payton. With 35 years in the Dallas school district, he's most recently been an associate superintendent of school operations. At yesterday's meeting, he praised the faculty and staff for keeping schools going in the face of whatever else was happening in the city. He also praised those in the business community, then said he felt good about this opportunity.
Robert Payton, Interim Superintendent, Dallas Public Schools: I look forward to working with the Board. I doubt the Board will agree on everything I say or do. And also I will not agree with everything they bring forward. But I think it's something we can work out. We can work well together.
Zeeble: If that comes true, it'll be fine with Hollis Brashear, who often opposed Rojas. He said yesterday was a good day.
Brashear: It's a good day ?cause the board did unite, did use the clause to terminate the contract, with obviously the least cost to the district. That doesn't mean there may not be a lawsuit.
Zeeble: Again, Ron Price:
Price: This is a sad day. It's not a sad day we're losing Bill Rojas. It's a sad day for the children of Dallas that once again we're losing another superintendent. This is a day of closure. We've closed another day in the district, and that's important.
Zeeble: Board member Ken Zornes will now head the five- to seven- person search committee to find the next superintendent. It'll include Ken Zornes, Hollis Brashear, Kathleen Leos and others from the Board and community. The rest will be named Monday. Names of possible candidates include the district's Chief Operating Officer, Bill Coleman; the former Financial Officer, Janice Davis; and candidates from the last superintendent search: among them, Dallas County Judge Lee Jackson and Beaumont Superintendent Carol Thomas. For KERA 90.1, I'm Bill Zeeble.