Lewis fired as superintendent

The Ellis County Press

LANCASTER – Embattled Lancaster Independent School District Superintendent Larry Lewis was fired Monday, Nov. 18 during a special school board meeting in which findings from an outside lawyer’s investigation were revealed.

Harold Jones was hired to investigate financial mismanagement and allegations that Lewis tampered with school board trustees’ mail.

The firing, which occurred after years’ worth of controversial news from the district north of Ellis County, passed on a 5-2 vote, with Lewis’ biggest backers on the board – District 1’s Marie Elliott and District 2’s Ed Kirkland –voting against.

"Dr. Lewis should no longer serve as superintendent of this district," Jones said.

"He has abused his position, committed unauthorized and illegal acts, was dishonest in this investigation, abdicated his leadership duties and repetitively failed to notify the board about critical information."

Jones was paid $37,000 for his 12-page investigation, according to LISD records.