Lancaster ISD fires Superintendent Larry Lewis

by Jeff Melcher, Cynthia Corbin

The Lancaster ISD Board of Trustees voted, 5-2, to send a proposal of termination for cause to Superintendent Larry Lewis. The board acting after weeks long consideration of a report into district administration under Dr. Lewis. The 12 page summary, prepared by attorney Harold D Jones, indicated, among other things, the superintendent and his highly paid staff routinely drew loans, payroll advances, and gifts to themselves from the district's public funds.

"Loans or advances of District funds are not permitted under district policy, case law, and the Texas constitution. Nevertheless, Dr. Lewis allowed, approved, administered and hid a zero interest employee loan program that favored his inner circle of well-paid administrators. At least three zero interest loan checks were paid to the district's CFO (Chief Financial Officer -- this in 2008.) Dr. Lewis also advanced paychecks without promissory notes including his own (on four occasions.) Other employees who received paychecks early included the CFO, the Acting superintendent, the payroll manager, and the HR director. In summary Dr. Lewis routinely allowed and approved the gift and/or loan of public funds in violation of state law. Dr. Lewis's 'sweetheart' secret loan program and routine pay advance program render him unfit to be a superintendent."

The investigation covered only the recent (calendar year 2008) activity the report suggests the "loan" program has been underway for years.

Other findings included a mismatch of 18 employees hired in excess of budget, failure to communicate TEA reports to the board, paying "award" money to selected employees without board and budget authority, and, shockingly, lying to Harold Jones during the investigation.

Jones concluded his report by stating Dr. Lewis "abused his position, committed unauthorized and illegal acts, was dishonest in his investigation, abdicated his leadership duties, and repetitively failed to notify the board about critical information.

Read the official Lancaster ISD report here.

This article was submitted by members of the Pegasus News community.

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jefmelch, says:

The attorney responding to the Jones report did not bother to refute the claims by the TEA auditors against Dr Lewis. But a similar pattern of benefits to the "inner circle" is apparent in both.

For a couple of examples: the Jones report found sweetheart no-interest loans made to "inner circle" administrators -- already drawing six-figure salaries. The TEA audit reported that circle also had meals purchased by the superintendent using the district credit card while also drawing meal money/ per-deim. The Jones report found "awards" promised, and paid, out of general funds unapproved and unbudgeted by the board. The TEA audit found "banquet" and "celebration" meals similarly bestowed upon the superintendent's chosen.

Most of these expenses are of a few thousand dollars out of a budget of many millions. No doubt Dr Lewis considered them chump change. But it illustrates an environment where childrens' and teachers' needs fall into second place behind the need to buy loyalty, support, and silence among HQ administrators.