Published: July 02, 2008 04:57 pm      

Warlick sticking around for a bit

Final TEA report looming

Cleburne ISD Interim Superintendent Dr. James Warlick stepped down Tuesday from his position as head of the district, but that doesn’t mean he is leaving quite yet.

Warlick is taking up the duties of retiring Carolyn Cody, assistant superintendent of human resources, Superintendent Dr. Ronny Beard said.

“Carolyn has retired, and she needs to take some time off,” Beard said. “We need to fill that position because it’s one that’s critical now, so he’s going to be the interim assistant superintendent for HR.”

Warlick said he’s pleased to stick around.

“I’m going to do HR for the next month for Dr. Beard until he figures out who he wants to hire,” Warlick said. “I’m just looking to help the district out, so I’m going to move over and do something else for awhile.”

Warlick took over as interim superintendent in April after the school board approved Robert Damron’s request for reassignment from his superintendent position. Damron’s departure came during a Texas Education Agency investigation of the district’s use of federal title funds.

Warlick acted as district head until Beard officially took over Tuesday.

Warlick said he came to Cleburne knowing there would be work to do, but has enjoyed himself since arriving.

“The people in Cleburne have been friendly. They’ve been wonderful,” he said. “I feel like we have done a lot of work in getting some situations straightened out here, and hopefully this will take care of future money concerns of the district.”

Warlick said he is anxiously awaiting the TEA report, which should be released this week.

“Once we get the report, we’ll know how they feel about the documentation that we’ve recommended and how they feel about how this will work to make the district more financially stable,” Warlick said.

Beard had only officially been superintendent for a few hours Tuesday but said he is doing fine.

“It’s been great,” he said. “I’m just trying to get around to meet everybody today and let them know who I am.

“We’re going strong.”