‘Eligible for Rehire’ (not really): Killeen ISD, board members respond to Penrod deal

The Killeen Independent School District and school board members responded last week to allegations that KISD’s former deputy superintendent was allowed to resign quietly after the district caught him in a lie about his college transcripts. Former Deputy Superintendent Eric Penrod, who is still getting paid by KISD through the end of the month, resigned under pressure on July 1 after the district discovered he allegedly falsified his doctoral transcript, according to documents obtained by the Herald. A quickly arranged separation agreement between the district and Penrod, obtained by the Herald, requires the former deputy superintendent to pay back $3,510 in doctoral degree stipends and includes stipulations which appear to protect Penrod’s future employment potential such as the district agreeing to place “any and all negative documentation” in a “separate sealed file.”

According to the agreement, Penrod is “eligible for rehire, but he agrees to not reapply.” Although he officially resigned July 1, Penrod will continue to be on the district’s payroll until Aug. 31. Read more about his deal here: https://bit.ly/2X1UbJH. Killeen ISD’s deputy superintendent, among the highest ranking and highest paid positions in the school district, is “responsible for overseeing the full operation of Professional Standards, Human Resources, Business Services, Facilities Services, Student Services, School Safety, Technology Services and Athletics,” according to KISD. In a brief July 1 news release, KISD said Penrod left the district “to pursue other endeavors” without mentioning the issue with the transcripts or the exit deal that came soon after. Penrod joined KISD om 2019. Prior to KISD, Penrod was the superintendent in Gatesville since May 2015.