Higley USD reportedly considering cutting ties with new superintendent

The Higley Unified School District board will consider a recommendation Wednesday to terminate its employment contract with Nate Carman to become the next superintendent.

The possible cancellation is part of the board’s agenda at its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the district office, 2935 S. Recker Road, Gilbert.

This is followed by an element of selecting a superintendent for the 2024-25 school year.

Carman was placed on administrative leave March 25 from his position as superintendent of the Socorro Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, after an external forensic audit identified him as having a possible conflict of interest regarding district purchasing decisions.

Prior to the regular meeting, the board will meet in executive session to discuss and consider a possible contract extension, but no further details can be offered due to state law governing executive sessions.

Associate Superintendent Sherry Richards signed a one-year contract to serve as interim superintendent while the district conducted a nationwide search for a new superintendent. The former superintendent, Dawn Foley, resigned last June.

This nationwide search, conducted with search firm Ray and Associates, resulted in Carman’s selection. The board approved his contract on February 21.

Carman was previously a finalist for the Peoria Unified School District superintendent position.

Tom Blodgett
Gilbert News Editor | Gilbert

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Raised in Arizona, Tom Blodgett spent more than 35 years in journalism in Arizona and joined Independent Newsmedia in July 2022 to launch the Gilbert Edition. He is a graduate of Arizona State University, where he served as a teaching professional at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication from 2005 to 2019 and remains an editorial advisor to The State Press, the state’s independent student media outlet. ‘university.