After twelve years at the helm of the Harris County Department of Education, Superintendent Dr. John Sawyer is retiring. At last week’s meeting of the HCDE Board, the Trustees voted 5-2 to accept his resignation in return for a buyout of $198,000, plus accrued personal leave, sick days and vacation days valued at $84,341.40. Here is the agreement:
Superintendent John Sawyer Retirement Agreement
The two votes against the buyout agreement were cast by Trustees Marvin Morris and Kay Smith. After the meeting, I asked them why they voted against the agreement and both said that they thought the buyout amount was too high.
Dr. Sawyer has been Superintendent of the HCDE since 2002 and has been at the forefront of expanding the department, including obtaining grants from both the state and federal government for programs such as Head Start, teacher education, and adult education. His relationship with the board soured after his ill advised expenditures on lobbyists in 2013 and also for his role in the failed Early to Rise initiative.
Obviously, as a small government conservative, expansion of any government body is anathema but in this specific case, the “expansion” has actually saved money for other government entities. We can argue about the net effect, but I think that the department is well run, fiscally responsible, and the board is one of the few examples left of how Democrats and Republicans can work together in pursuit of good governance.
As for the size of the buyout, I understand Trustees Morris and Smith’s complaint but in context, given his twelve years of service, his contract that runs through 2017, and his yearly compensation of $246,784.92, I do not think that the amount is exorbitant.
The Board appointed Assistant Superintendent Celes Harris as Acting Superintendent as they start their search for a replacement. You can read the press release from the HCDE Board by clicking here.
A couple of other notes from the meeting. The Board approved an amended contract for lobbying with The Schlueter Group (more information here). Supposedly, the amended contract is for several thousand dollars less per month, from $12,250 down to $10,000. I have tried unsuccessfully to obtain a copy of the amended contract and if I am able to, I will update this post. The vote on the amended contract was 5-2, with Trustees Morris and Smith voting against it. They both told me that while it is a good thing to spend less, the contract should have been cancelled and no money spent on lobbyists. I fully agree with them. As I have said repeatedly, the mission of the HCDE is education and any money given to lobbyists is money taken away from that mission.
Both candidates on the November ballot for the At-Large Position 7 seat on the board, Melissa Noriega (D) and Don Sumners (R), were in attendance. Mr. Sumners addressed the board about the budget, saying that he had attended the morning budget workshop and was mostly satisfied with the answers that he received. He noted that with the increase in property tax appraisals, the board would need to lower the tax rate in the future. He asked the board to table the vote on the budget until he received a few more answers about the budget. Trustee Kay Smith made a motion to table the vote, Trustee Howard Jefferson seconded it, and the motion was approved, with Trustee Erica Lee Carter voting no.
The next board meeting is set for July 15th. If you have never attended one of the HCDE board meetings, you should make it a point to attend. They really do work together to achieve common goals instead of tearing each other down on a partisan basis. I’m a bit concerned that the November election will change that dynamic.