SAN ANTONIO – Board members in the Edgewood Independent School District recently approved a separation agreement with the superintendent that will cost taxpayers $600,000.

The payout comes after a new majority took over the board during the last elections and are apparently working to install new leadership, as the district’s human resources director, employee relations officer, and about a dozen other administrators also left in recent months, KENS 5 reports.

Superintendent Jose Cervantes, who’s been at the help of EISD since 2011, negotiated a deal approved by the board in a 3-2 vote last week that gives away two years of salary worth $400,000. The district is expected to lose a total of about $600,000, however, because the agreement triggers a state law that reduces funding “by any amount exceeding one year’s pay and benefits that a district gives a departing superintendent,” according to My San Antonio.

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“Edgewood has had six superintendents in the past 15 years. Cervantes lasted longer than the others. Hired with a mandate to transform an underperforming district, he enjoyed solid board support until last year, credited with academic innovations, community outreach and an insistence that Edgewood students have opportunities on a par with wealthier districts,” the news site reports.

“Look what we could do with that money – we could hire more teachers and reduce the student-teacher ratio. We could buy new technology,” said EISD board president Eddie Rodriguez, who voted against the buyout.

The deal settles the remaining four years on Cervantes’ existing contract, KENS 5 reports.

Parents and community members sounded off about the deal online, with most irate about the massive waste of tax money.

“If the board is this stupid, just think if the lack of education the kids are getting. Great life lesson, work for a government entity, do a terrible job then get paid big time for your failure,” 4texas posted. “Way to go ‘Board Members.’”

“Same as government work, except in government employment, the inept are promoted to get rid of them … sort of like public education,” Educator2 added. “Totally agree with you.”

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“The tax payers lose,” Henry-17755084 wrote.

“Outrageous abuse of power by this board,” jimmy commented. “Vote every DAMN one of them out next election and clean house. This board is criminal and should be sued or be prosecuted for wasting tax dollars.”

“It’s only taxpayer money!” Kyrote wrote. “Elected idiots!”

Others blamed the superintendent himself.

“You must be so proud Mr. C! You are just the gift that keeps on giving,” [email protected] wrote. “The damage you have done to our district will take years to undo. When you add up your salary, the salaries of your incompetent cronies, and lets (sic) not forget the piano you had to have – how many millions of dollars have you stolen from our already impoverished community?

“Forget Alamo Heights, we need to Robin Hood on your fat butt to share some of those school funds. You are a (sic) epic failure and a disgrace to our hard working e