D’Andre Weaver, the Superintendent of DeSoto Independent School District, plans to retire in December.
According to a FOX 4 News report, this is the second time Weaver has tried to quit the troubled district. Weaver became the district’s Superintendent three years ago with a vast deficit blamed on mismanagement and corruption.
Weaver had initially resigned over a year ago when the state almost took over the district’s administration but was persuaded into returning.
According to the agenda for a school meeting held on November 15, Weaver will submit his resignation letter and leave the district in December.
While speaking with Dallas Morning News, Weaver said he feels his tenure has left the district better than he inherited it.
“We did a lot of hard stuff, but we were able to turn the tide a bit,” he told Dallas Morning News.
According to Dallas Morning News, the district had been dealing with sloppy bookkeeping problems and lavish spending issues that created a $21.6 million budget deficit before the arrival of Weaver. The budget shortfall, in turn, led to deep staff cuts and a temporary school closure in the district. The school district now has a budget surplus.
Board president DeAndrea Fleming said in a statement that the board is grateful for the passion, service, and commitment with which Weaver has led the district since he took over. Fleming added that the board “wish Dr. Weaver the absolute best as he transitions to the next endeavors.”
In an email to community members, the district noted that it improved its financial standing under Weaver’s leadership.
According to Dallas Morning News, Weaver brought the district from the edge of insolvency in 2018 to solvency, with a projected fund balance of over $18 million this year.
