Gadsden ISD places Superintendent Travis L. Dempsey on administrative leave, appoints acting superintendent

The Gadsden Independent Schools Board placed Superintendent Travis L. Dempsey on administrative leave with pay through Dec. 31, 2025, and appointed Nubia Tarasona as acting superintendent through Dec. 31, 2025, or until the board names an acting or interim superintendent, whichever occurs sooner.

The board voted to approve the administrative leave and the appointment during public action following two executive sessions held under the New Mexico Open Meetings Act. The board also approved a supplemental daily pay of $177.86 for Tarasona for the duration of her service in the acting role and authorized the board president, in consultation with legal counsel, to enter into an acting-superintendent agreement consistent with those actions.

Board President Murillo, Board Vice President Lira, Board Secretary Rodriguez and Board members Flores and Guerrero recorded affirmative roll-call votes on the motions that placed Dempsey on leave, named Tarasona acting superintendent and approved the supplemental pay. The motions passed by the roll-call votes recorded in the meeting transcript.

The resignation letter from Superintendent Dempsey, dated Oct. 16, 2025, and effective Dec. 31, 2025, was discussed on the agenda. At one point during the meeting staff and members noted a procedural irregularity: the board observed that a motion to accept the resignation had not been made earlier in the meeting. The board nonetheless took separate formal actions to place Dempsey on paid administrative leave and to appoint an acting superintendent.

The board cited the statutory authority to hold closed deliberations on limited personnel matters under the New Mexico Open Meetings Act, Section 10-15-1(H)(2), when it moved into executive session to discuss resignation-related next steps, including possible administrative leave and potential interim/acting appointments.

During public remarks preceding the personnel actions, several board members expressed appreciation for Dempsey's service. Board member Flores said, "I would like to take a moment to extend my sincere patient appreciation to you for your years of dedicated service to our district." Dempsey replied, "Thank you."

Next steps indicated in the meeting record include the board president negotiating and executing an acting-superintendent agreement with Tarasona in consultation with legal counsel and the board continuing its search or appointment process for any interim or permanent successor. The meeting record does not identify a funding source for the supplemental pay beyond the board's approval; the transcript does not specify whether the district will charge the amount to the general fund, a restricted fund, or another budget line.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to place Superintendent Travis L. Dempsey on administrative leave with pay through Dec. 31, 2025 — mover: Lira; outcome: passed (affirmative roll-call votes by Murillo, Lira, Rodriguez, Flores, Guerrero). - Motion to appoint Nubia Tarasona as acting superintendent through Dec. 31, 2025, or until the board names an acting/interim superintendent — mover: (not specified in the transcript for this motion); outcome: passed (affirmative roll-call votes by Murillo, Lira, Rodriguez, Flores, Guerrero). - Motion to provide a supplemental daily pay of $177.86 per contract day to Tarasona for the duration of her service as acting superintendent — mover: (not specified in the transcript for this motion); outcome: passed (affirmative roll-call votes by Murillo, Lira, Rodriguez, Flores, Guerrero). - Motion to authorize the board president, in consultation with legal counsel, to enter into an acting-superintendent agreement with Tarasona consistent with board actions discussed in executive session — outcome: passed.

The district agenda and transcript show the personnel items consumed substantial meeting time, including two executive sessions to discuss the resignation and possible appointments. The public record produced during the meeting does not show a separate, final public-motion acceptance of the resignation distinct from the subsequent leave and appointment actions.