Judson ISD District 4 trustee José Macias spoke with Community Impact about the next steps the district will take following the finalization of board's agreement Nov. 21 to accept the resignation of Superintendent Jeanette Ball and buy out the final two years of her contract at a cost of $140,000.
Macias noted that comments are on his behalf as a trustee for District 4 and do not fully represent the desires or thoughts of the board of trustees as a whole.
Macias said the board is set to have a meeting Dec. 1 to discuss an interim superintendent.
“We are going to be addressing a lot of questions about what we are going to do,” Macias said. “We have a hundred options, but we will get that solidified on Dec. 1, and then of course going forward, we may have the initial conversation about our timeline and strategy, but right now that is still up in the air.”
During the search for a new superintendent, Macias said it will be important to find a candidate who achieves and represents the goals of the board and the district.
“You cannot rush these things,” he said. “You have to make sure that you find a qualified candidate that embodies, at least in my opinion, everything that you need in a superintendent.”
With the news of the resignation agreement, comments expressing confusion and accusations of conspiracy have been made on Judson ISD community social media platforms.
Macias said while he usually strives to be as transparent as possible with his community, board members are bound by law not to share items discussed during closed sessions.
“There have been some specific and very unfair rumors about my motives, and I take that very sensitively,” he said. “This is a matter in which I cannot comment, because it is a personnel matter, and Dr. Ball has the right to privacy, and I respect that right.”
During the meeting Nov. 21, the board approved the resignation agreement in a 7-0 unanimous vote, which Macias said is indication the decision was not a part of a conspiracy or other political motive.
“I empathize with the people that want to know more information,” Macias said. “But you have a unanimous board vote, which means everyone is on the same page. There are no politics at play, and there is no drama where you have one faction fighting another faction. This is none of that.”
Information regarding the resignation agreement and other items discussed in closed session are unavailable.
Posted Nov. 21, 10:02 p.m.
The Judson ISD board of trustees unanimously voted Nov. 21 to accept the resignation of Superintendent Jeanette Ball and buy out the final two years of her contract at a cost of $140,000.
The specially called meeting had one public speaker, Bill Atkins, assistant superintendent of finances and operations for the district, who commented on Ball’s dedication to the district.
“I have worked for many superintendents, but I don’t think I have ever worked for one that has had a bigger heart for kids and staff than Dr. Jeanette Ball,” he said. “And unfortunately, that was her biggest asset, and her biggest liability because people take advantage of that ...”
Ball became superintendent in 2018, and her contract extended through January 2025. On Wednesday trustees took up an agenda item that read "Consider and Discuss the Superintendent's evaluation and contract." Held in closed session, no action was taken and the agenda item was revisited on Thursday. Again, trustees took no action and no public statements were made at that time.
Following a closed session on Monday, Board President Jennifer Rodriguez stated that Ball agreed to a resignation contract effective immediately in exchange for a total amount of $140,000, which would be paid from the Judson ISD general fund.
District officials said once the contract with Ball is finalized Milton “Rob” Fields III, deputy superintendent of support services, is expected to step in as interim superintendent. The district will then launch a search for a new superintendent.
Rodriguez said there will be no comments regarding the personnel issue.
“There is really not much I can say about it,” Rodriguez said. “This is a personnel matter, and we will be releasing the resignation agreement when all the signatures are final, and we hope that the statement that comes with that will provide more clarity to the public.”
