FORT DAVIS — The Fort Davis ISD School Board met Monday night and came to an agreement on its proposal for former Superintendent Graydon Hicks to resign from the district, according to Interim Superintendent Ralph Traynham.
Hicks said Tuesday that he did not attend the Monday board meeting, but that he had received a resignation proposal. He said he responded with a counter proposal but had not heard back from the district as of Tuesday afternoon. Traynham said attorneys are now working through a final agreement. Since that agreement has not been finalized, it is not available to the public.
Hicks had been placed on paid administrative leave on March 9, with the board remaining silent on the specific reason for the move in the weeks that followed. Afterwards, the board said in a statement that Hicks was placed on leave for “his inability to work with the board in three closed sessions.” Hicks has said that the board had asked him to do something illegal in those sessions.
The board statement denied that Hicks or the board had done anything illegal, nor did the board request Hicks do something illegal.
Monday’s agenda, however, did include a public hearing — required by Texas law — on additional compensation above Hicks’ contract.
Since being put on leave, Hicks continued to be paid for his $126,500-a-year contract, which was set to expire on June 30. In January, the board had extended his contract for another school year (2025-2026) starting July 1 — before the conflict with him began. On April 14, the board appointed Traynham as interim superintendent.
The district had hired a consultant, J&P Advisory Group, to recommend interim candidates, and Traynham was one of four candidates forwarded to the board for consideration. Traynham recently told The Big Bend Sentinel that his role would be to keep the district running smoothly and help shepherd it through a search for a permanent superintendent.