MARLIN, Texas — A Texas Education Agency appointed board could vote to investigate, suspend or place Marlin Independent School District Superintendent Micheal Seabolt on leave at a special board meeting Wednesday at noon.
The last second vote could impact Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath's decision to revoke the school district's accreditation and close the school.
The TEA revoked Marlin ISD's accreditation for the 2018-2019 school year in February 2019 after the district continued to fail to meet academic standards since 2011. That action would close the school, but Morarth is currently conducting an informal review to decide if the school may still be saved.
The agency put in a board of community members in 2017 to give the school district a chance to get back on track. After the substandard ratings didn't change, the TEA also appointed conservator Jean Bahney in February of 2019 to help direct the board. TEA communications divison spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson told Channel 6 Bahney's appointment does not guarantee another chance for the district.
Wednesday meeting's agenda includes the following items:
- Consider and approve an independent agent to conduct an investigation into district
- affairs as well as the Superintendent's performance of duties
- Consider and possibly take action to suspend the Superintendent and/or place the
- Superintendent on administrative leave pending further Board action
- Consider and possibly approve and acting superintendent
Marlin ISD received an academic accountability rating of "academically unacceptable" in 2011 and then received a rating of "improvement required" every year from 2013 to 2017. In 2018, under a new rating system, it got an "F" for academic accountability.
Marlin ISD is also under an informal review performed by the Texas Education Commission, according to the TEA. The review could result in the school district being shut down.
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