疯客直播 Fe Public Schools Superintendent Hilario 鈥淟arry鈥 Chavez has resigned amid sexual harassment allegations and will be succeeded temporarily by former superintendent Veronica Garc铆a 鈥 marking her third time in the district鈥檚 top job.
School board President Roman 鈥淭iger鈥 Abeyta announced the changes with a heavy sigh Friday morning following the board鈥檚 closed-door discussion about 鈥渁 complaint against a licensed administrator鈥 and possible disciplinary action.
The board also approved measures to authorize attorneys to proceed with an investigation into the matter and file reports to the state Public Education Department.
Board member Sarah Boses said the panel aims to fill the position with a permanent new hire by July 1.
The announcement comes after attorneys for Amanda Chavez, a former 疯客直播 Fe High School assistant principal who stepped down last week, issued a statement Monday saying she had filed a complaint in early December accusing Larry Chavez of sexual harassment and retaliation.
Amanda Chavez, who also serves as a 疯客直播 Fe city councilor and is running for reelection to her District 4 seat, had been on paid administrative leave since Dec. 9, when she was informed her complaint against Larry Chavez, made three days earlier, would be investigated by an outside entity, according to her statement. The district鈥檚 action fueled rumors and speculation on social media that she had been disciplined or even fired.
Larry Chavez was not placed on leave before he tendered his resignation Thursday. District officials have not responded to questions about the decision to place Amanda Chavez on leave during the investigation but not her boss.
Larry Chavez will continue to collect pay for annual leave he has accrued until it runs out June 30.
He could not be reached for comment on his resignation or the allegations he faces. His school district email accounted was removed Friday, and calls to his phone numbers went unanswered.
District officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Garc铆a 鈥 who was surprised by a call from school board members about the interim position while they met in executive session Friday 鈥 served as superintendent from 1999 to 2002, and again from 2016 to 2021. In between, she served as the state鈥檚 first secretary of education from 2003 to 2010.
Veronica Garc铆a
New Mexican file photo
鈥溾奣his certainly was quite unexpected for sure,鈥 Garc铆a said, adding she hopes to bring stability to the district.
Boses read a statement on behalf of board members that said they intend to consult with the community in their search for a new superintendent. The statement also suggested the board does not intend to speak about the veracity of Amanda Chavez鈥檚 allegations against Larry Chavez.
鈥淭his remains an ongoing personnel matter,鈥 Boses said. 鈥淭he Board cannot respond to the allegations as reported in the media, including whether any of her allegations have been substantiated.鈥
John Day, one of Amanda Chavez鈥檚 attorneys, said in an interview Friday, 鈥淥ne of the key problems is the board claims they鈥檙e being transparent, but it鈥檚 obvious to everyone else that they鈥檙e not.鈥
Less than an hour after the special meeting was adjourned, district spokesperson Tara Melton sent a news release announcing the board鈥檚 decision and providing additional information about the investigation, including a timeline indicating the board had been discussing the investigation as early as Dec. 14.
The board also has held several closed-door sessions in recent weeks to discuss personnel matters and complaints, with no public action or discussion.
鈥淚f Amanda hadn鈥檛 come forward last week 鈥 if we hadn鈥檛 made our statement to the media 鈥 would Larry Chavez still be the superintendent in a position to sexually harass female employees? Or would he have quietly resigned without anyone knowing anything about what had happened?鈥 Day said.
Amanda Chavez declined to comment on Larry Chavez鈥檚 resignation, he said.
Garc铆a, who in recent years was contracted to lead the district鈥檚 鈥淩eimagining鈥 effort, a policymaking and public engagement process, said she was 鈥済lad to be of service for this short period of time,鈥 adding she has no intention of taking on the permanent superintendent position for another stint.
While she serves in the unexpected role, she said, she will focus on 鈥渟tability 鈥 ensuring that our students and families get quality educational services, and that they feel safe and secure.鈥
She plans no big changes during her watch, she said. She cited programs just now starting to 鈥渂ear fruit,鈥 such as bilingual education, standards-based instruction and an entrepreneurship program.
鈥淲hen there鈥檚 unknown and conflict 鈥 it鈥檚 a distraction, right?鈥 Now, she said, 鈥渢his is where this story sort of, so to speak, ended.鈥 And now we鈥檙e moving forward.鈥
Grace Mayer, a former president of the National Education Association of 疯客直播 Fe who attended Friday鈥檚 meeting, expressed support for Larry Chavez and questioned the allegations against him.
鈥淚 think Superintendent Chavez made every effort to ensure that there was a quality education and that the students were in programs that were vital to their growth,鈥 she said in an interview.
She also questioned the board鈥檚 decision to hire Garc铆a in the interim position, saying she was 鈥渄isappointed鈥 the job wasn鈥檛 filled from within.
鈥淲hen they have four capable associate superintendents who are in the positions and doing the work currently, I think that shows some lack of confidence in their efforts, and I think that that鈥檚 wrong. I think that we should, you know, honor the work of the people that are doing the work,鈥 Mayer said.
