Nov 1, 2021. texasisd.com . [7] Residents urged the school board to do a forensic audit,[8] but Superintendent Demetrus Liggins initially did not think a forensic audit was necessary. Lakadren Moore is the boys aunt. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Join the Conversation. The audit focused mostly on, and it found most of it was in payroll, where there had been some financial improprieties, said Liggins, who joined the district in April 2017. Born the second child to an unwed teenage mother, Liggins credits his grandmother with teaching him to work hard without excuses and . King Charles III coronation: watch the ceremony as Britains monarch is crowned, Authorities offer $80,000 reward for Texas mass shooting suspect, Hunt County Sheriffs Office make methamphetamine arrest in Quinlan, City of Greenville receives distinguished budget presentation award, Lone Oak ISD names Morrow as new high school principal || Content sponsored by Quality Care ER. Ms. Boothe is a Texas native, born in Sulphur Springs. However, we are bound by law to follow the directive of the Attorney General, whose office has ruled that the audit should not be released because of pending criminal investigations. Those include: Superintendent Sharon Boothe said Underwood is the perfect fit for this role. He over-sees 11 campuses including; South Grand Prairie High School, 3 middle schools, 6 elementary schools, and the Marshall Leadership Academy. The Greenville Independent School District may become the focus of a criminal investigation after an external forensic audit found evidence of financial fraud, theft and misconduct. He grew up in San Angelo and earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science at Texas Tech University and his master's degree at Texas A&M University Commerce. Our faculty and staff understand that each child is unique and develops academically, socially, and emotionally at different rates. The recommendation was for a special called meeting next week to decide whether or not to fire the teacher. She saidher nephew told them the teacher called him out for acting out in class. Liggins steadfast goal is to provide all students, regardless of their learning style, race, language, ability, or family income, with opportunities and experiences to become successful, productive students and citizens., Dr. Before beginning her career in education, she held the positions of Vice President of Distribution at Mary Kay Cosmetics in New Jersey, Vice President of Customer Service and Distribution at both Bell South Mobility and SOL Communications (currently T-Mobile). The school district in Hunt County confirmed the picture was taken Tuesday. [19], The proposal was narrowly approved, with 4,161 (52.39%) people voting in favor of it and 3,776 (47.61%) people voting against it. [5] Travis Elementary School was a 1987-88 National Blue Ribbon School. Lancaster ISD investigation into former superintendent, trustees shared Greenville is a community that is rich in traditions, history and pride, and during the last five years in which I have had the privilege of serving on the GISD leadership team, I have been inspired to see that sense of pride continue to flourish. Our students have various backgrounds, experiences, and speak many languages, which provide a rich and diverse cultural context for learning. Superintendent Demetrus Liggins has signed and accepted the contract that the Greenville Independent School District Board with no change to his annual salary. Superintendent of Schools / Welcome from the Superintendent The district has a healthy fund balance that ensures fund availability in case of emergencies. "Mr. Underwood has a proven track record as an outstanding leader with a deep understanding of how to develop systems that enhance learning experiences for our students and enhance performance for our organization," Superintendent Sharon Boothe said. You can find the details HERE. State law requires a 21-day waiting period after a school board names a lone finalist before the future school superintendent can sign a contract. His responsibilities included overseeing a diverse portion of the district's campuses while focusing on curriculum and instructional program development, instructional technology enhancements and instructional budgets. In the case of GISD, there have been questions dating back to 2014. During the 2017-18 school year, GISD faced a serious budget crisis. Liggins has been the superintendent in Greenville ISD since April 2017. Prior to coming to Greenville, she has served as Elementary Principal, Middle School Strategist, Dean of Instruction at Grand Prairie ISD, and Executive Director of Special Education. Mr. Underwood is returning to GISD, where he previously worked for seven years in several leadership positions including Chief Leadership Officer and Assistant Superintendent of Operations. [20], In October 2018, the district was facing a lawsuit for allegedly violating First Amendment rights of residents. In the spirit of transparency, GISD hired a forensic auditor to conduct an in-depth look at finances dating back several years. There was a $3.8 million shortfall resulting from poor financial management in previous years. The National School Public Relations Association recently named Greenville ISD's superintendent, Dr. Demetrus Liggins, as one of its "24 Superintendents to Watch." The NSPRA selects superintendents for the honor who have fewer than five years of experience as a superintendent, but who have shown "fast-paced leadership" and strong communication. Millions in Spending at Greenville Independent School District Prior to coming to Greenville, she has served as Elementary Principal, Middle School Strategist, Dean of Instruction at Grand Prairie ISD, and Executive Director of Special Education. Personnel changes occurred in the Finance Department and the Human Resources Department, where practices had come into question. Texas Association of School Business Officials completed a 52-page procedural audit that detailed the problems in the Finance and Human Resources Departments. She is committed to providing all students with an outstanding education, regardless of their ability, race, language, or family income, with opportunities and experiences to become successful, productive students and citizens. . We strongly value relationships with families, community organizations, and businesses. Boothe has served as GISD's Deputy Superintendent since 2017, and she is known as an innovative educator with a laser focus on student achievement. Welcome to Greenville ISD! Superintendents of Schools Dr. Demetrus Liggins joined Greenville ISD as the Superintendent of Greenville ISD strictly enforces and follows student privacy preferences and release of student information as outlined in FERPA guidelines (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). Greenville Independent School District ( Greenville ISD or GISD) is a public school district based in Greenville, Texas, United States. Send Us Your News. Winds light and variable. Focus on Education - Hunt County News As superintendent of schools for Hempstead ISD, I am committed to innovation and constantly seek new ways to engage with our school community. They were welcomed to Greenville High School by seniors Joel Luna and Bentley Love. If you have any questions, please email communications@greenvilleisd.com. 3Greenville High School and the Katherine G. Johnson STEM Academy at Crockett Elementary School will both host open houses on the campuses next Tuesday, in which members of the community. Dr. William Stewart has been named Greenville High School Principal for the 2023-24 school year! As you may know, the Board of Trustees is considering calling a bond issue for May. Liggins finalist for Kentucky position Greenville Jr./Sr. High School Addison based CA Forensics, which conducted the audit, said investigators found sufficient evidence to conclude that former GISD officials engaged in cronyism, misappropriation of payroll assets, misconduct to include mismanagement and abuse of position, and theft by gift of taxpayer monies.. READ MORE. Greenville Independent School District / Homepage Greenville ISD Teacher Under Investigation Over Offensive Photo Sent to In a statement, Dr. Liggins said the district will report this to the State Board for Educator Certification, and "they will determine what action might be taken concerning her teaching certificate.". "I personally dont believe there was any malicious intent or racial issue there. GISD officials told the Herald-Banner that Dodson chose to leave to "pursue other career opportunities." Dodson could not be reached for comment Friday. Board members on Jan. 10 unanimously voted to offer Liggins a five-year extension, meaning that he will be the superintendent of the district until June 30, 2024 under his new contract. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. GREENVILLE, Texas - Greenville ISD has accepted the resignation of the teacher who took a picture of her foot on the neck of a student. Liggins was the one and only applicant for the position and now after the 21 day waiting period the district has made Liggins a formal offer and approval of acceptance. Serving as the superintendent of Greenville ISD is an honor that I do not take for granted. [12][13][14] Days later, the school district board directed the superintendent to "report all alleged acts of misappropriation, whether outlined in the forensic audit or not, to the appropriate law enforcement". [18] In August 2018, the district school board proposed a tax swap and drop measure, to be approved by voters in the 2018 midterm election (November 6, 2018). The Greenville ISD Board of Trustees named Interim Superintendent Sharon Boothe as the lone finalist to serve as the next superintendent for the district at its Aug. 26 special meeting. Superintendent's Office. His responsibilities included overseeing a diverse portion of the districts campuses while focusing on curriculum and instructional program development, instructional technology enhancements and instructional budgets. I believe in the power of positive relationships and mutual respect between teams including faculty, students, parents, community, and all stakeholders with an interest in the academic success of our students., Lone Oak ISD names Morrow as new high school principal || Content sponsored by Quality Care ER, Greenville High School Robowranglers wins their division at World First Robotics Competition, GISD moving forward with needed repairs/purchases || Content sponsored by Quality Care ER, King Charles III coronation: watch the ceremony as Britains monarch is crowned, Authorities offer $80,000 reward for Texas mass shooting suspect, Hunt County Sheriffs Office make methamphetamine arrest in Quinlan, City of Greenville receives distinguished budget presentation award. The shortfall occurred in the general budget that pays for day-to-day operations. Superintendent Demetrus Liggins, who has led the Fayette County Public Schools since July 2021, is a seasoned educator with more than two decades of teaching and leadership experience. Two more days of early voting available before May 6 elections Granger's spouse, Demetrus Liggins, was superintendent in Greenville ISD at . Greenville ISD Interim Superintendent Sharon Boothe was selected Thursday as the lone finalist for the position of superintendent by the district's Board of Trustees. Superintendent of Finance. As Deputy Superintendent, Mr. Underwood will be supervising a number of areas that are essential to the school system running smoothly. Public meet and greets planned for new GISD principals His philosophies are; I am a passionate educational leader who believes in providing a safe and inviting learning environment that promotes academic achievement for all students. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. She has played a key role in introducing initiatives to add to student choice and preparation for college, career and military service. Liggins comes to Greenville ISD from Grand Prairie ISD, a district of nearly 30,000 students, where he served as Area Superintendent. Greenville ISDs curriculum provides a wealth of opportunities both within and outside of the classroom. The Greenville ISD may become the focus of a criminal investigation after an external forensic audit found evidence of financial fraud, theft and misconduct. The Greenville ISD school board was made aware of this, by Dr. Liggins, weeks ago. We are preparing students to enter a world that is rapidly changing and growing smaller every day due to innovation and developments in technology. [17] The survey included benefits of the proposal, but it did not mention that taxes would be lower without it. Greenville ISD Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins said their investigation ended Friday. [21] After the district apologized, the legal challenge was rescinded.[22]. Dr. Rankin is a 1999 Sulphur Springs High School graduate who has lived in Hopkins County . I am excited to be back in Greenville ISD and continue working to positively impact students and families to set a foundation for success, Underwood said. Jun. Partly cloudy. We realize that our financial house has to get in order, said Dr. Demetrus Liggins, GISD superintendent. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). She has been with GISD since 2017 as Deputy Superintendent. We serve approximately 5,400 students on eleven campuses from Pre-K through high school. From there he served as the Elementary Principal for the Corsicana ISD and then Middle School Principal for the Mansfield ISD. In the interim, Barbara Price will act as Superintendent for the district. Although I did not arrive in GISD until 2017, I will attempt to reconstruct that history based on information available to me. Greenville, Texas, United States . New Greenville ISD superintendent contract shows incentive-based Wes Underwood has been named Greenville ISD's Deputy Superintendent of Administration. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Greenville ISD Jun 2019 - May 2020 1 year . Dr. Liggins hired as new GISD Superintendent A 10-year-old Black student at Lamar Elementary School in Greenville was seen in a picture with a foot on his neck. Both the School Board and the new superintendent, who started in 2017, were committed to finding out what went wrong and how to correct the errors that led to the problems initially. Yesterday the Greenville Independent School District Board of Trustees approved Dr. Demetrus Liggins as its new superintendent. TABSE Partners Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney *Aldine ISD Dr. Anthony Mays Alief ISD Anthony Jefferson *A. W. Brown Leadership Academy Dr. Shannon Allen Beaumont ISD Mr. Travis Fanning *Bellville ISD Dr. Tiffany Spicer Buna ISD Dr. Thyron Hurst Calvert ISD Dr. Gerald Hudson *Cedar Hill Dr. Tory Hill Channelview ISD Lamond Dean Chappell Hill Brandon . We have a balanced budget, an A financial rating from the state, top ratings from Moodys, and a AAA bond rating. He has also served at the campus level as an assistant principal and principal. Those funds are completely separate from bond funds. GISD Superintendent releases statement about the district's financial Boothe has served as GISDs Deputy Superintendent since 2017, and she is known as an innovative educator with a laser focus on student achievement. She has one son and two grandsons. Superintendent of Finance Wage/Hour Status: Exempt Pay Grade: Greenville Salary Pay Scale Date Revised: June 2022 Reports to: Superintendent Primary Purpose: Direct and manage the operation of all financial and business affairs of the district including accounting, payroll and purchasing. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Looking back in history, GISD voters passed a bond in 2014 that paid for the projects listed in the chart above: All those projects are completed, and the expenditures are listed in detail in this report. Superintendent Sharon Boothe released the following statement amid social media scrutiny: Photo: Submitted Superintendent Sharon Boothe released the following statement amid social media scrutiny: Serving as the superintendent of Greenville ISD is an honor that I do not take for granted. Underwood is known for his genuine heart and a leadership style that others want to follow, which will serve him well in his new position. Follow Superintendent Liggins on Twitter @DrLiggins, Lone Oak ISD names Morrow as new high school principal || Content sponsored by Quality Care ER, Greenville High School Robowranglers wins their division at World First Robotics Competition, GISD moving forward with needed repairs/purchases || Content sponsored by Quality Care ER, King Charles III coronation: watch the ceremony as Britains monarch is crowned, Authorities offer $80,000 reward for Texas mass shooting suspect, Hunt County Sheriffs Office make methamphetamine arrest in Quinlan, City of Greenville receives distinguished budget presentation award. Greenville ISD adopted a tax rate that will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year's tax rate. [5], Travis Elementary School was a 1987-88 National Blue Ribbon School. The mother of the boy in the photo said in a Facebook post that she did not want the teacher to be fired. Greenville Independent School District - Wikipedia She is active in the community, where she is a member of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Greenville Rotary Club, and Child Advocacy Center. "He has a unique gift for both big-picture thinking and meticulous attention to detail.". Greenville ISD adopted a tax rate that will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year's tax rate. [16], In July 2018, the district ran a phone survey to gauge public opinion about tax swap and drop. The drum line, cheerleaders and Flaming Flashes greeted the guests with fanfare. Rankin lone finalist for MG superintendent A detailed bond issue proposal was presented during the Jan. 18 board meeting by Citizens Advisory Committee co-chairs John Kelso and Sonya Cathey, who represent a large committee of parents, grandparents, campus staff, community members, business owners, church leaders, and others. It is natural that whenever there is a discussion around issuing bonds, our community properly demands increased scrutiny regarding money and taxes. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Greenville ISD teacher suspended for photo showing her foot on Black students neck, White Settlement police looking for armed group stealing from cars, Texas House bill would require college athletes to compete as gender assigned at birth, Dallas 7-Eleven shooting victim loses eye, crushing chances to join the Navy, Shocking details revealed during 'Doomsday mom' Lori Vallow's murder trial: Live updates, Watch: Surprised principal darts after bear pops out of school dumpster, 7 bodies found during search for missing Oklahoma teens, US to end most federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates next week, LEGO unveils new Star Wars sets ahead of May the 4th. The family says the teacher told the boy if he didnt get his work done she would put her foot on his neck. After reviewing the documents, Mr. Walker decided to avoid any potential conflicts of interest in carrying out the criminal investigation and requested that the Texas Attorney Generals Office conduct the investigation and go forward with the prosecution of any former or current employees of GISD alleged to have participated in instances of theft, fraud, or misconduct. He received his Ph.D. in K-16 Educational Leadership from University of Texas at Arlington. Greenville is a community that is rich in traditions, history and pride, and during the last five years in which I have had the privilege of serving on the GISD leadership team, I have been inspired to see that sense of pride continue to flourish. Sharon Boothe - Superintendent - Greenville High School | ZoomInfo In todays real talk letter to the community, I want to focus on the commitment that the Board of Trustees and I have to managing taxpayers dollars with care and transparency. The report also found theres no record of how $54 million in bond money was spent, with no invoices or cancelled checks. [11] According to the investigator, "former GISD officials engaged in cronyism, misappropriation of payroll assets, misconduct to include mismanagement and abuse of position, and theft by gift of tax payer monies". Dr. Rankin has 18 years of experience in education, and before arriving in Miller Grove, she served as both a teacher and coach at Greenville ISD and Sulphur Springs ISD. Anonymous Tips. It was just poor, poor judgement and an extremely inappropriate thing to do,"Dr. Liggins said. In October 2018, the district updated its website to include this extra information. She is a consensus-builder who appreciates this fine community, and we are proud to name her as the lone finalist for the post of superintendent.. Our goal is to develop and support learners who are prepared to think critically and creatively, problem solve, and are flexible and adaptive to our changing world. Liggins graduated from California State University in Fresno with a Bachelor Degree in English Language and Literature. Ms. On April 17, then-superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins presented the forensic audit report to Hunt County District Attorney Noble D. Walker. With 6,000 students, the school district in Hunt County has a budget of $48 million. There are so many things that make the Greenville community special, and the one that always speaks to my heart is the pride in our schools.. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Welcome to our community and I encourage you to take full advantage of our many high quality academic and extracurricular offerings. I want to go on record here: As superintendent of GISD, I fully support the release of the forensic audit. That is something that were having done as a full audit to actually look at bond funds and to see if there is an issue at all, said Liggins. He is the proud father of one son, a 16 year-old high school junior. During his tenure in Grand Prairie, the district experienced greater growth in student achievement than any other school district throughout Dallas County. "As superintendent, that is a . Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Family Health Connection. Job Title: Asst. On behalf of the faculty, it is my great pleasure to share our commitment to provide the highest quality educational experiences for all of our students. [12][14] As of June 2018, the Attorney General will not release information about the audit until its investigation is complete. GREENVILLE ISD: Dr. Demetrus Liggins She has called Greenville home for the last few years, which allows her to be closer to extended family. Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Mr. Underwood started his career in education as a Social Studies teacher at Wolfe City Middle School. Greenville ISD adopted a tax rate that will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year's tax rate. Please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see all of the great thingshappening across our district on a daily basis! Greenville Educational Enrichment Foundation, Clear Bag Policy for GISD Athletic Events, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC), Police Department and Student Engagement Officers, Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR), Texas Performance Reporting System (TPRS), On The Radio is the theme of this year's floorshow, GISD moving forward with needed repairs/purchases. She received her bachelor's degree in Business from the University of Texas at Arlington and her Master's in Education Administration and Superintendent Certification from Lamar University.