GOOSE CREEK CISD SETS AUG. 7 TO REPLACE CAVAZOS

Dr. Salvador Cavazos

After months of criticism from the Baytown and Highlands public and parents who were unhappy with continual changes made by Goose Creek CISD superintendent Dr. Salvador Cavazos, the school board has decided it must take action to respond to the community.

Therefore they have called a special board meeting for Thursday night, August 7th at 6:30 p.m. in the Administration Board room at 4544 Interstate 10, Baytown.

The Agenda that they posted last Monday evening lists only three items for consideration. There is no regular business or public comment period on the agenda.

Instead, they call for the following possible actions in open session, which will follow a closed meeting as prescribed by law for personnel matters:

1. Approve a voluntary separation agreement with the Superintendent.

2. Appoint an Acting Superintendent.

3. Cancel the August 11 regular board meeting.

Cavazos has been superintendent for two school years, having been hired from the Alice District in south Texas. Alice is a smaller district of about 5,300 students.

In the last year, he has made a number of controversial personnel changes, including appointing 10 new principals to existing schools, as well as two more to new schools. Many of the new teachers and principals the last two years have come from the Alice district, at the expense of experienced teachers that have been with the GCCISD district for many years.

Critics point out that Cavazos has moved many personnel in unusual and unstable ways, such as three principals in one year at Highlands Elementary, and about 35 teachers at Highlands Junior not having their contracts renewed, without reason or explanation.

A singular event that alienated many parents was the reassignment and therefore demotion of Goose Creek Memorial principal Michael Wahl. This followed stories about a rude confrontation with Cavazos, and led to Wahl quitting the district. Prior to this, Wahl was a highly praised principal who had accomplished good results at the new high school.

An expression of this discontent was the last two school board meetings, when over two hundred citizens packed the room, voiced complaints, and demanded changes, which apparently led to the events that will transpire this week.