MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ (AZFamily) — The Higley Unified School District has withdrawn its employment agreement with Dr. Nate Carman, the superintendent who was set to start this summer.

In a unanimous vote on Wednesday, the board decided to terminate Dr. Carman's contract before he could officially take up the role on July 1. Before the vote, board members released a brief statement indicating that candidates must disclose any past issues or misconduct they have been involved in. They allege that Dr. Carman omitted pertinent information, which led to their decision to revoke his employment.

Dr. Carman, hired in February, was scheduled to begin his duties this summer. However, in March, he was placed on administrative leave from his current superintendent role in El Paso, Texas, due to a potential conflict of interest involving a company the district worked with. An audit indicated that he may have influenced the district to hire ADM, an Arizona-based architectural firm, for several projects in 2022 shortly after he began his tenure.

Parents attending the Higley USD meeting expressed relief over the board's decision. "The controversy has been present since day one when we were rushed through the selection process," said Taylor Francis, a parent. "I think we avoided a catastrophe tonight by the board voting to rescind his contract."

Following the termination of Dr. Carman's contract, the board appointed Sherry Richards, the current interim superintendent, as the district's permanent superintendent. Richards has served with the school district since 2011.