Lancaster ISD board approves termination of employee and moves forward with sheriff's sale

Lancaster — After returning from closed session at 7:17 p.m. on March 26, the Lancaster ISD Board of Trustees voted to accept a recommendation to terminate a district employee and to proceed with a sheriff’s sale of district-owned property.

Board President Hamilton made the motion to accept the recommendation to terminate the employee “effective today,” saying, “I make the motion that we accept the recommendation for termination of employment of Vermont Allen effective today.” Vice President Queenie Nichols seconded. The board clerk reported the tally as five yes votes, one no (Secretary Morris) and one abstention by Trustee Daryl Cluis; the chair declared the motion carried. The personnel record in the transcript contains inconsistent renderings of the employee’s name (the motion references “Vermont Allen” while subsequent references use “Armand Allen”). The board did not provide further details in open session on the reasons for the termination.

On a separate vote, Vice President Nichols moved that the district proceed with a sheriff’s sale for a parcel discussed in closed session and that the property not be struck off. A trustee seconded; the board clerk announced the motion carried unanimously. The transcript includes inconsistent or conflicting seconding names in different lines of the record; the board clerk’s public announcement reports the motion as carried and identifies the motion as made by Vice President Queenie Nichols.

The board took both votes immediately after reporting out from closed session; no additional public debate or amendment to either motion was recorded in open session. The meeting proceeded to opening ceremonies and recognitions following the actions.

Next steps: the termination and the sheriff’s-sale matter were recorded in the board’s meeting actions; the official minutes and related personnel or property files should contain any confidential supporting materials and the definitive spelling and details of the employee and property involved.