Another Texas school superintendent has been allowed to resign amid mysterious misconduct allegations.
Trustees in Lake Travis Independent School District voted unanimously during a special board meeting on Friday night to let Superintendent Paul Norton resign and receive a payout of his contract while avoiding further scrutiny.
Norton was placed on paid administrative leave in December for alleged misconduct involving “new information” presented to trustees in a closed meeting.
According to a statement issued Friday by School Board President Erin Archer, the complaint against Norton did not relate to students or district finances.
Archer said an independent firm, Marla Moore, PLLC, had completed an investigation into the undisclosed allegations.
After careful consideration by the Board and legal counsel, and a thorough review of the investigation’s findings, the Board has voted to accept Mr. Norton’s voluntary resignation. Under the terms agreed to, Mr. Norton will resign and retire effective immediately. He will be paid through the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
“This decision was made with the best interest of the district in mind,” added Archer. “The Board believes these actions will save money, time, and resources and allow the district to quickly pursue hiring a new superintendent.”
Norton’s voluntary retirement agreement was signed and dated February 7.
In addition to being paid the remainder of his salary and benefits for the current school year, Norton will receive a $158,000 severance payment and $60,255 for unused vacation and personal days.
The district and trustees also agreed not to participate in any “grievance, complaint, or other claim against Norton” and to withdraw any grievances against him.
Norton was hired as Lake Travis ISD’s top administrator in 2020.
Some residents have accused him and other administrators of financial misconduct and said they provided documentation in a grievance submitted to the district last year.
During public comments Friday night, district resident Jennifer Fleck reminded trustees of their December commitment to transparency and providing the public with updates on their investigation into Norton.
“We have received no updates in almost two months, and it appears that you may vote tonight to accept the superintendent’s resignation quietly so he can go run another district afoul,” said Fleck. “This is not transparency.”
“We need less administration, increased financial controls, and more emphasis on core education,” Lake Travis ISD resident Susan Harbin told trustees.
Tonight is about some level of shenanigans with our half-million dollar superintendent. We don’t have the facts, but we do have a lot of community members, teachers, and parents all crying for improvement with our administration. My appeal to the board is this: quit sweeping controversy under the rug and do right by the voters who voted you in and are expecting you to hold our administration accountable, to use our tax dollars wisely, and help improve our students’ education in school.
In a resignation letter, Norton described “many positive things” that occurred during his tenure, including “multiple bond elections totaling over $752 million” and starting a district police department.
Archer said the board will retain a recruiting firm to search for a new superintendent.
She said trustees will also be appointing an interim superintendent to take over until the superintendent search is completed. The district’s Chief Financial Officer Pam Sanchez has been serving as acting superintendent since Norton was placed on leave.
Norton is not the only school superintendent allowed to resign recently for undisclosed reasons.
Last week, trustees in Grand Prairie ISD voted 4-3 to allow their superintendent to resign, even though they fired him in December after just a few months on the job.
Details of the voluntary separation settlement—including an independent investigation report detailing why Jorge Arredondo was fired—are being kept secret.
Texas has more than 1,000 independent school districts. At any given time, dozens are searching for new superintendents.
TexasISD.com, which tracks superintendent job searches, currently shows 82 superintendent vacancies statewide.
Elected school board trustees are tasked with hiring district superintendents and setting their salaries and other contract terms.
Two Grand Prairie ISD school board seats are on the May 2025 ballot.
Three Lake Travis ISD trustee seats are up for re-election in May.
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