DALLAS (KRLD) - The Texas Education Agency has appointed a special conservator for the DeSoto ISD. The move follows the release of a report this summer that identified serious financial problems within the school district.
State law allows the TEA to appoint a conservator if a school district has problems with its academics, finances, health, or security. A TEA investigation identified financial mismanagement by a previous administrator and some school board decisions had contributed to a deficit of more than $21 million.
The DeSoto ISD had brought in a new superintendent to replace Dr. David Harris, who had been named in the TEA's report. The DeSoto ISD posted a message on its website earlier this week that the Board of Trustees had accepted the resignation of the new Superintendent, Dr. D'Andre J. Weaver. The Board named Dr. Don Hooper as the Acting Superintendent.
Dr. Hooper's appointment then faced criticism from some members of the community because of previous posts he had made on social media.
DeSoto ISD Board President Karen Daniel posted a message on the district's web site addressing the remarks, saying that "Dr. Hooper has apologized to the district and assured the Board that he is committed to leading with sensitivity and integrity and serving the students".
The TEA has named its Deputy Commissioner of Governance, A.J. Crabill, as conservator for the DeSoto ISD. He will work with district officials to identify the issues that created its financial problems and to come up with a plan to address those issues.
