Sharyland ISD chief blaming pay for his exit after refusing raise

NEAR MISSION — Outgoing Sharyland schools chief Scott Owings cited financial constraints in a letter of resignation he tendered Monday, with no mention of the sexual harassment claims that have risen against him.

But just two weeks ago, the seven-year superintendent told The Monitor he had explicitly taken any potential pay raise off the table as the school district negotiated his contract extension.

Owings made the earlier statement after trustees unanimously voted at a Jan. 24 meeting to extend his $165,000 contract with the district until 2015.

“I told them prior to the meeting we would not even discuss any raise because of (state) budget cuts,” he wrote in a Jan. 25 email.

But in his resignation letter, which is dated Feb. 6 and was released by the district Tuesday, Owings’ tone was very different.

And he avoided any reference to allegations that he sexually harassed at least two female subordinates last week at a Texas Association of School Administrators conference in Austin.

“I appreciate your support in extending my contract through 2015,” Owings wrote to trustees, “however, due to the state budget cuts and lack of a raise the last two years, my retirement annuity is not increasing significantly.

“It makes more sense financially to retire and pursue other opportunities available to me.”

Owings, who will continue to collect his salary until his resignation takes effect in June, could not be reached for comment Monday or Tuesday.

According to two independent sources close to the school district, the true reason Owings decided to leave his post stemmed from unwanted sexual comments and advances he made toward a campus and central office administrator after drinking too much at a dinner in Austin last week.

He reportedly made a joke about one official’s sexual history in front of her husband and suggested another could earn a promotion if she met him in his hotel room later that evening, said the sources, who requested anonymity due to district policies that dictate privacy over personnel matters.

School trustees remained tight-lipped Tuesday, citing the same policies that district counsel Ivan Perez said prevented them from explaining their unanimous vote Monday to accept Owings’ resignation at a meeting.

And on Tuesday, school board President Ricky Longoria declined to discuss why the board will meet Friday to possibly appoint an interim superintendent if Owings will remain in his position until June.

The board may also establish a process to search for a new superintendent, according to the meeting agenda, which the district posted late Tuesday.

Perez could not comment on the particulars of Owings’ case but indicated the superintendent will no longer have a physical presence at the district.

“Owings has (vacation and sick) leave available to him, and he’s going to be using his leave for the remainder of the year,” Perez said.

Asked if he had received calls about the board’s decision, Longoria acknowledged he had spoken Tuesday with some community members.

But like him, they emphasized the positive outcomes of this transition, he said.

“The pulse that I’ve gotten is we need to move forward, and that’s all I’m trying to do for the district,” Longoria said. “We are quickly looking to name an interim superintendent and set the foundation to look for a permanent superintendent for the future.

“We will look for someone that will carry on the tradition of excellence for which Sharyland has been known,” he added. “We are a great district that (has) been blessed with great kids, great parents and dedicated employees.”

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Neal Morton covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at nmorton@themonitor.com and (956) 683-4472.

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READ MORE
>> Agenda for Friday's special Sharyland board meeting
>> Scott Owings' letter of resignation