In a move that has surprised many within the community, a faction of Cleveland ISD’s Board of Trustees is pushing for the removal of Superintendent Stephen McCanless. The special-called meeting to address this issue is scheduled for Tuesday, July 9, at 6 p.m., at the CISD Administration Building, 1901 E. Houston St. The meeting is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend and express their views.
Stephen McCanless, who has been with the school district for 11 years, the last three as superintendent, expressed his confusion over the board’s decision. In an interview with Bluebonnet News while on vacation on Friday, June 28, McCanless stated he has not been informed of any specific grievances held by the majority of the board, which is reportedly four out of seven members.
“I am baffled by this move to remove me,” McCanless said. “I have not been made aware of any issues that would warrant such an action.”
The decision to oust McCanless first came to light after the June board meeting. Following an executive session, it was announced that four of the seven board members, including three new board members, were in support of ousting McCanless. Wendy McNair, who was already on the board, also is said to be pushing for McCanless’s dismissal.
Bluebonnet News is attempting to reach out to McNair for comment but has been told through her supervisor at Austin Memorial Library that McNair believes the District should handle all statements to the media.
If the board decides to proceed with McCanless’s removal, it could result in a significant financial burden for Cleveland ISD. McCanless’s contract, which is set to expire in June 2027, could entitle him to a payout of up to $800,000. This potential expenditure comes at a time when Cleveland ISD is already facing financial constraints due to growth.
Should the board move forward with the ousting, the district’s attorneys and McCanless’s legal team will need to negotiate a final settlement. The process could be complex and drawn-out, further adding to the district’s challenges and its ability to entice another superintendent to the District. McCanless has expressed his desire to avoid this situation altogether and hopes to remain in his position.
Willie Carter, a longtime member of the board and the current board president, believes this is a misguided effort by some members of the board who have a grievance that should be negotiated. Carter’s perspective highlights a potential for resolution without the drastic step of removing the superintendent.
The upcoming meeting is expected to draw considerable attention from the community, given the high stakes and the lack of clarity surrounding the board’s motivations. Community members will have the opportunity to address the board directly, voicing their support for or opposition to the move.
Cleveland voters have done nothing to help the district – continually voting down basic construction projects vital for growth. The same people that vote no to school bonds are the same people that have no kids in the district. Short sighted and ignorant if this moves forward.
This is so true. There is a clear division between north Cleveland and south Cleveland.
No, the people voting down bonds are overburdened taxpayers who don’t want to pay for extravagant new buildings that will wind up trashed by the sprogs of the lawless wetbacks that have descended upon the district like a plauge. We pay for enough of their shit already.
Cleveland is going to have many problems going forward. Growth is difficult to deal with, growth that results from the wrong type of people even worse.
As someone that has worked in the district I can say this is absolutely untrue. Stephen McCanless is vindictive and many people that are currently working there or have even have left are afraid to speak out. This article is proof of that. Why would only one board member be named? How would anyone know that one person was orchestrating something? Why would you share that person’s place of employment?
There are so many people that have been moved positions with no notice, been bullied out of the district, and as one of them I’m appalled at this article.
I have seen it first hand
That is true. Bad administration!!!
Right now all of this information they have is one-sided and heavily biased. They pulled most of this from McCanless himself and from their interview that they had. They are choosing to ignore and are almost hiding from the fact that our school has worsened in the past 3 years. With the rising population, that calls into question if he could handle what came with it. These last few years showed that he could not handle the education issues and behavior issues. Scores have dropped, good staff have left that had no reason to leave in the past. This is coming from a student from cisd who actually keeps up with the events of this town
I agree
I am elated to hear this news, as a current teacher of 21 years… with a masters, u don’t break 70 unless I work summer school. I deal with no answers or knowledge above on many occasions. This on top of no response to emails and some supposed secret meeting with four or less board members, giving himself a raise of 70,000 a year!!!!!!!! AND AFTER 21 years of knowledge and doing the work??? Me and other teachers struggle in debt and physical health because of the way education, at least locally seems to initiate.
If you are going to type such an incoherent, unrelated, and emotional response you may want to NOT lead that with “teacher of 21 years”…I do not want my student in your class.
The end of line 1 you have a masters but cant be asked to spell out “you”, then proceed to bring up your salary that the board votes on, what does that have to do with McCanless.
If your emails are typed the way this response is im certain whomever you sent them to is trying to determine what’s going on.
However you will likely argue that you take more care and have more professionalism at home/work, even though you would not accept that excuse from a student, and you placed this for all the world to see…
I don’t even know what response you are looking for to a secret meeting with board members.
Unless I am terribly mistaken he can’t give himself a raise.
I would tell most any student if you are in debt, you are not living within your means, and that is a you problem. I’m certain you agreed to the terms of your employment.
Also if you are raising physical health as an issue im certain you eat right and exercise daily, and have not brought any of that on yourself, or been victim of genetic issues…McCanless made you sick appears to be your position, else why even bring it to this discussion.
If you are a teacher your entire argument is so full of foolishness, I suspect you are part of the problem, and failure to be a quality example is probably what leads you to feel the way you do, you do not appear to have managed any objective truth or logic, as with so many humans you see your shortcomings and wrap them in a blanket of “Its someone elses fault”.
I can say I see merit in the decisions McCanless makes for the most part, and I see that he cares about the future of our students, I do not know the 4 board members in question, so I cant say what the motives are outside speculation, but I can say I think they are misguided due to ignorance and a lack of understanding, they are likely depending on emotion related to friends/family that are angry, but pose about as good an argument as you did here.
But you are not alone, the comments section is littered with foolishness.
As far as I know mcanless has cut departments to cut cost but then proceeds to request a raise that has yet to be denied. Gives himself pats on the back for “saving money” on the new administration building when that building should have never been on the bond to begin with. While he is sitting in his comfy chair and big office there are kids walking in the rain, cold, and heat between each class. Seems to me like he is taking advantage of the district with for personal growth. He also failed to mention how he already applied to another district or at least inquired about it about a month ago.
The way this article is written is appalling, to single out one person, naming that one person only and also her place of employment is a direct jab to express oneself’s feelings coming out, is absolutely poor taste and very wrong. I am highly surprised because I’ve never seen biased issues like this before in this newspaper! I expected better.
If the article is to be believed, and I see no reason not to assume it can be. You do realize what you said and what you read are not logically connected at all and your argument is foolish:
The article NAMED, Mr. Carter, Mr. McCanless, and Ms. McNair…it did not single out and “Name” only one person, it went on to relay that the three newer board members are in agreement, as such it did name them without exclusively spelling out the names.
As for her place of employment being included…
“Bluebonnet News is attempting to reach out to McNair for comment but has been told through her supervisor at Austin Memorial Library that McNair believes the District should handle all statements to the media.”
Bluebonnet news was told by her supervisor … her job was literally placed between the reporter and herself. In addition it is offered that the school district should handle all statements to the media…about her decision…cause the reporter would be asking about her position and what prompted her position in the matter… so the district should comment on her behalf about what she feels and why…If that is her position, or her bosses position on her behalf (odd) I supposes we can assume she has had this conversation with a representative of the district in some form of a meeting so that the district is informed enough to comment for her?
Or is it more likely cowardice, she has not spoken with anyone at the district who has been instructed as to her position and the idea that the district should speak for her is simple deflection?
Looks like a plain political move to me, and its very odd to hide behind your employer…seems like someone who likes to control a situation and hide. Not a trustworthy move in my book, this is one of those things done in the dark, that will come to the light. Un Christian, unethical, and dishonorable behavior if you were to aske me…which no one has.
I agree with these comments, but when there is already financial crisis I don’t see how the district can afford to buy him out. McCanless has cut some unnecessary positions, yet some cuts don’t make sense. More than 2 LPAC positions are needed for the district. Asking for a $70,000 raise is just wrong.
If you go to website “Open the Books,” you can check McCanless’ salary, or any other puplic servant. It is less than previous superintendent.
It is interesting to see how people react to news like this. Unfortunately there are way too many politics, and SOME board members for the most part try to call the shots (out of place) when their role is to solely ensure policy is being followed. There are district employees to are related to bard members who do not follow district policies and even admin directives, simply because their sister in on the board. While yes, there are a lot of issues, from over crowded schools (due to bonds being shut down for two years in a row), to behavior issues that rise out of the same over crowded problem. To budget issues, when a curriculum department decides to buy every product under the sun “because is good” and not entirely understanding how to effectively layer curriculum resources appropriately. Should McCanless go? I don’t think so. Has he had a rough ride as the superintendent? Most superintendents do. Does the board need to be put in check? ABSOLUTELY.
Let the man actually run the school, without having the board make everyone stop, drop, and roll at the latest Facebook complaint about a parent who did not like how ONE thing did not work out. Please! This board is so interested in gossip, trying to please their egos, and being power thirsty that SOME, not all members, but SOME have forgotten what their role, purpose and goal is.
I can see what is wrong with our students. 15+ years and your grammar makes no sense.
To be completely fair, I’m not certain a fair portion of the board knows how to ask an intelligent question, wouldn’t know what a reasonable answer looks or sounds like, and don’t understand the role they are needed to fill.
I can say I think that Mr. McCanless is doing a great job with the tools he has been allowed, the funding he has been allowed, and the growth, language, and culture barriers he is having to deal with. The board and all the employees need to get behind a tough approach to delivering the highest quality effort to our kids.
I can say this, I think some members of the board are present for personal ego reasons, and I think Mr McCanless is there for the kids future.
No one is more important than the kids in this matter and apparently 4 board members need to ask if what they are doing is in the best interest of the children and what objective reasoning they leveraged to come to that conclusion, then they should temper that with the realization that are in all likelihood not being honest with themselves. Let’s be honest, if they will lie to themselves there is no one they wont lie to.