FORT DAVIS — The Fort Davis ISD School Board agreed last week to pay former Superintendent Graydon Hicks $67,000 to buy out his 2025-26 contract, which would have started on July 1, according to Interim Superintendent Ralph Traynham.
The Big Bend Sentinel has requested a copy of that buyout agreement, but did not receive it by press time. However, Hicks said Monday that the figure is correct. He said he did not have further comment at this time.
Since being put on leave in March, Hicks continued to be paid according to his $126,500-a-year 2024-25 contract, which was set to expire on June 30. In January, the board had extended his contract for another school year (2025-26) starting July 1 — before the conflict with him began — prompting the need for a buyout.
Traynham said Monday that the board did approve the terms of the buyout at its Monday, June 2, meeting, but it hadn’t been finalized, which Hicks confirmed last week, thus leading to a later announcement of the final $67,000 figure after The Sentinel’s deadline last week.
Tammy Hicks, Graydon’s wife, was terminated from her administrative position with the district last week, according to Hicks, who said he would not be commenting on the reason at this time. Traynham did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Traynham, who was appointed by the board on April 14, previously said he will work with the board on a search for a new, permanent superintendent.