Sollis voted out

The Ector County Independent School District’s board of trustees voted 4-3 Monday to buyout Superintendent Wendell Sollis’ almost $175,000 one-year contract.

“I appreciate the board being honest and open with me in the decision that they feel is best for the students and the district,” the 55-year-old educator said after the meeting.

After the meeting adjourned, a woman in the crowd said aloud “idiots” repeatedly.

Sollis will still be at work today, ECISD Communications Director Mike Adkins said.

“Mr. Sollis continues to work until a buyout settlement is reached,” Adkins said.

Sollis requested the special called meeting to review his contract and employment be held in open session Monday because of “discussion and questions raised in the media” about him and his performance.

“I felt the public needed to hear,” Sollis said.

Board president Carol Gregg said trustees would have a meeting soon to discuss an interim superintendent.

In the meeting Monday night, trustees asked Sollis to back up his performance as ECISD’s top administrator in areas such as the district plan, athletics and fine arts.

Board vice president L.V. “Butch” Foreman asked Sollis to explain how he “personally improved” fine arts and athletics.

Sollis said he didn’t personally improve those areas and the credit goes to his staff and the teachers in the classroom.

However, through his leadership and hiring people, Sollis said he’s enhanced the district.

“To me, that’s the No. 1 issue, recruiting quality people,” Sollis said.

At least twice during the meeting, board president Carol Gregg stopped trustees from bickering back and forth about issues she said didn’t pertain to Sollis’ contract.

Trustee Doyle Woodall said some trustees might feel the district has been handled well under Sollis’ watch but others — like him — don’t.

“I love Wendell,” Woodall said. “I think he’s a great man. I just don’t think he’s done the best for this district.”

Trustee Ray Beaty said Woodall’s statement was an opinion and wasn’t a reason for wanting to buyout Sollis’ contract.

“I’m asking it to be backed on fact,” Beaty said.

Trustee Randy Rives said he took issue with Woodall making that statement.

Based on past “instances,” Rives said, such as Woodall wanting to oust a district coach and issues Woodall may have had with Sollis concerning his wife’s position at Odessa High, he didn’t believe Woodall’s comment was accurate.

And, Rives said, if Woodall couldn’t back up his reason for wanting Sollis out with hard facts then he didn’t have grounds to kick him to the curb.

“We’re evaluating a man’s career,” Rives said. “If somebody can’t stand up and give the facts then let’s not go there.”

Sollis emphasized to the trustees to evaluate his performance with actual facts in hand.

“I would encourage y’all to focus on real data — where have we come in three years?” Sollis said.

Woodall said he took issue with many things in the district and the trustees could be in the boardroom all day discussing it.

“I think we’re falling further and further behind,” Woodall said, noting recent Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills scores lowered some campuses from recognized status.

Woodall said the district’s budget spending hasn’t been the most efficient.

As far as an interim superintendent, Woodall said he’s relying on the district officials to mend the current rip in the administration’s side until Sollis is replaced.

“I’m counting on our quality people in the administration to pick up the slack and do the best for the kids until we can get an interim superintendent,” Woodall said.