Atkinson Makes Exit At SISD

By Brenda DeAnda & Daniel Marin

EL PASO, Texas – It’s official. Socorro schools superintendent Dr. Sylvia Atkinson is leaving the district.

Tuesday evening, board members voted 4-2 to part ways with her, with trustees Willie Gandara Jr. and George Salas voting against the proposal.

The separation comes at a high price. The district will have to pay $205,000 – the equivalent to one year’s salary – to buy out Atkinson’s contract. As part of the agreement, she will also receive health insurance for one year, or until she finds a job.

After the meeting, Atkinson stressed her record at SISD.

“Don’t measure me by anything else, measure me by student success,” she said, pointing at higher TAKS scores throughout the district.

The now former superintendent said she had been able to make a difference in the already successful disctrict.

“It wasn’t a total makeover like in ‘Extreme Makeover.’ That wasn’t needed. Adjustments were made for more success,” she said.

Her adjustments, though, were not welcome by many at SISD, causing a deep rift. Board President Karen Blaine said the division in the district caused by Dr. Atkinson is the major reason the board decided to move forward without her.

“I agree with Ms. Blaine. We need to put this aside for the betterment of our students,” said Glenda Hawthorne, Socorro Education Association president.

This is not the first time Atkinson has parted ways with a school district through a separation agreement. Atkinson told ABC-7 she went through this process before with the Los Fresnos school district in south Texas.

Atkinson’s dismissal at SISD is effective June 30th. The board appointed Mary Benham, Assistant Superintendent for FInancial Services, as acting superintendent until an interim can be named.