Woodall: Investigate me

ECISD trustee Doyle Woodall said after some trustees and Superintendent Wendell Sollis made comments toward him in open session during Monday’s board meeting, he’s seeking answers from a state agency.

“I was accused by some trustees and the superintendent of some unethical behavior and breaking governance laws,” Woodall said.

Because of those comments, Woodall said he called TEA Tuesday and plans to mail a letter to the Texas Education Agency requesting the organization investigate whether he’s violated governance policies.

During Monday’s meeting concerning Sollis’ contract and employment, some trustees and the top administrator seemed to veer off topic occasionally and tended to address each other personally — causing board president Carol Gregg to remind them to stick with the sole agenda item.

Also during the meeting, Sollis singled Woodall out while commenting on board members not addressing their concerns with him personally.

“It’s not your role to go behind my back,” Sollis said, noting it’s a governance issue.

Sollis said Woodall would call employees, and other trustees said Woodall told them he called a certain number of employees about different issues.

“And that’s true, I have,” Woodall said Tuesday, noting he’s received calls from teachers and other employees for the past 10 months.

TEA spokeswoman Debbie Ratcliffe said anyone — including a board trustee — could ask the agency to investigate themselves or others on board governance issues.

“If you have a board member who wants to have a governance investigation conducted about himself or herself, they could file a complaint with us and allege whatever they have a concern about,” Ratcliffe said.

Woodall said he feels he’s in compliance with state policy, SB135 and several other policies and laws stating trustees may talk with employees.

“It just says policy cannot allow them to not have contact with trustees,” Woodall said.