CAMERON SCHOOL BOARD VOTES TO FIRE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

(CAMERON)  The Cameron School Board voted Monday night to begin the termination process of the employment of Assistant Superintendent Phil Hall.  Following a 2 ½ hour closed session,   the board convened into open session and the motion was made by Trustee Curtis Hoyle with a second by Michael Watkins to initiate the proposed termination of Hall’s employment. The vote was unanimous with Trustees Hoyle, Watkins, Carl Bradley, Elva Vargas and Willyne Stanislaw voting to begin the termination process.  Trustee Mike Zajicek was absent during last night’s meeting. Hall recently came under fire after he told the board he fabricated data on the needs assessment of the district’s Technology Report in order to meet a deadline.  Board President Gene Vaculin (Audio)

Vaculin said Hall has not been placed on suspension and will continue to work during the 60 day appeal period.

Hall would not comment following last night’s meeting, however during a statement last week, he apologized for the reflection his actions had on the district, his family, this community and his church.  Hall said he was working with an 11-day deadline this spring to complete a new technology plan for the district when he compiled numbers based on personal knowledge and prior technology plans, rather than conducting an actual needs assessment survey which would have been physically impossible to meet the deadline.  Hall said his actions were done with the best interest of the district in mind.  Superintendent Maxie Morgan said he was notified by Texas Education Agency that neither the incident nor the data in the survey would have a negative impact on the district’s technology plan.  The district has a plan already in place through 2004 with TEA, however a new plan had been requested by all districts under new state guidelines.  TEA advised that the district is under no requirement to conduct the needs assessment, and said that an amended plan could be submitted after school starts.  The Technology Plan is used in seeking federal funding including E-Rate money, of which Cameron ISD is seeking $275,000.