Document: Ex-district chief paid in full
Former Pflugerville school district Superintendent Alex Torrez resigned his position Jan. 31 and was to be paid the remaining salary and benefits owed to him per his contract, according to an agreement obtained by the Pflugerville Pflag.
The voluntary separation agreement between the district and Torrez shows he was to be paid $146,066, plus 10 accrued but unused leave days at his daily pay rate. The rate was not disclosed in the agreement.
The agreement does not state a reason for Torrez’s resignation other than that he “believes it in his best interest and that of the district to voluntarily resign his position,” according to the document.
On Dec. 7, Torrez announced he would resign as superintendent at the end of his contract term in September. He said he would consider positions at the university level, but did not rule out working at other school districts. Following that news, the school board put Torrez on administrative leave with pay Dec. 12.
School board trustees chose Gary Patterson, formerly superintendent of a San Antonio-area school district, to lead the district in the interim.
The school board hired a search firm in early February to find a new superintendent. The district has said it would hire the new superintendent by mid-to-late April after it reviews applications and selects candidates to interview.
According to the document obtained by the Pflag, school board trustees agreed to keep all events leading to the agreement confidential. “All facts and allegations associated with the agreement and related issues” were to not be communicated to anyone except legal counsel, Torrez’s spouse and Torrez’s tax advisor or accountant, the document states.
The district, school board and Torrez also agreed to refrain from making “disparaging remarks” or “negative comments” about other parties involved the agreement, according to the document.
The parties also agreed to not make any statements or references to “the fact that they ‘won,’ ‘prevailed,’ or ‘were prevailing parties,’ or any other similar statement,” per the agreement.
They also agreed to release a joint public statement about Torrez’s resignation.
That joint statement was released by the district Feb. 10. In it, the board lauded Torrez for his efforts while serving as superintendent, and Torrez thanked present and past board trustees for allowing him to serve the district.
Per the voluntary separation agreement, Torrez was to return to the district all keys, cell phones, computers, credit cards and any other property by Jan. 31. Torrez was to remove his personal effects and property from the superintendent’s office by the same day as well.
Torrez agreed not to sue or participate, unless required by court order, in any federal or state judicial or state administrative proceeding against the district or the board, board members, officers and employees, per the agreement. The district and trustees agreed to the same terms, according to the document.
The terms also included provision of a letter of reference signed by school board President Vernagene Mott to Torrez, according to the document.