School board votes to terminate GISD police chief contract

In a special-called Gonzales ISD school board meeting on Tuesday, April 30, the board voted to terminate Gonzales ISD Police Chief Matthew Camarillo’s employment contract.

The official board action was to “propose the termination of the employee contract of Matthew Camarillo and authorize the superintendent to provide the employee notice and the opportunity for a hearing regarding the proposed contract termination.”

“The board accepted the administration’s recommendation to propose contract termination for Matthew Camarillo’s employment contract at its meeting on Tuesday, April 30,” Gonzales ISD Superintendent Dr. Kim Strozier explained. “He currently serves under a contract through the end of the 2019-20 school year. It is not the practice of Gonzales ISD to comment publicly on employee performance.”

Trustees Glenn Menking, Ross Hendershot III, Justin Schwausch and Sandra Gorden voted unanimously for the action.

Gloria Torres, Josie Smith-Wright and Sue Gottwald did not attend the meeting. Neither of the absent trustees returned requests for comment before press time Wednesday.

With his contract termination, Camarillo, just like any other educator, would require an opportunity for a hearing.

“If he requests a hearing, it would be before the board of trustees,” Strozier added. “In such a hearing, the board would typically hear the evidence in a closed session, and then come into an open session to vote, and make a final decision.”

Comments from Camarillo were requested, but not received before press time.