LCPS board member who voted against new superintendent resigns citing ‘misogyny’

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- The Las Cruces Public Schools board member who cast the lone dissenting vote earlier this week against hiring the district's new superintendent has resigned, citing what she called "gross displays of harassment" at board gatherings.

In her Thursday resignation letter obtained by ABC-7, LCPS District 2 board member Terrie Dallman alleged that she was a victim of "bullying and misogynistic comportment."

She also blasted the process that culminated with Tuesday's hiring of interim superintendent Ralph Ramos as the new permanent superintendent for the school district. His hiring on a two-year contract at an annual salary of $180,000 was approved by a 4-1 vote, with Dallman voting no.

"Lack of transparency and mismanagement of the Superintendent Search Plan, in my opinion caused confusion (among Board members and Committee members) and may have ultimately impacted important decisions," Dallman wrote.

LCPS launched a search in March for a new leader following the death of then-superintendent Karen Trujillo, who was fatally struck by a van while walking her dogs. The search was later narrowed to two finalists, including Ramos who was favored by all the board members except Dallman; she had moved unsuccessfully Tuesday to try and delay the board from making a hiring decision.

In response to the resignation, school board president Ray Jaramillo thanked Dallman for her time serving on the board and said he would seek an external investigation into her complaints.

Jaramillo told ABC-7 he planned to call a special meeting for next Monday at 6 p.m. to ask the board to authorize that external probe into Dallman's allegations. At that same meeting, he said there would be an open discussion on the process for filling her now-vacant board seat.

You can read Dallman's entire resignation letter below.