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DISD Chief Financial Officer Returning to His Former Employer Garland ISD

DISD

Rene Barajas, who became the Dallas Independent School District’sChief Financial Officer in January, has resigned to return to his former school district in Garland.

Superintendent Mike Miles made the announcement on Wednesday in a press release saying that Barajas is going to be Garland ISD’s Deputy Superintendent of Business Operations. Before going to DISD, Barajas spent five years as Garland ISD’s chief financial officer.

“While we are certainly disappointed to lose Rene, I understand the opportunity this represents for him,” said Miles. “Garland is his home and he’ll be the great asset to them he always was. We came to appreciate Rene as well very quickly and wish him nothing but the best.”

In the statement, Barajas said he was looking forward to his new role, “which will provide me opportunities and challenges which reach beyond finance.”

“I take great pride in working in public education and want to make the largest positive impact possible in the lives of students and teachers,” Barajas said.

Garland ISD Spokesman Chris Moore said Barajas begins his new job -- a newly-created position -- tomorrow. In that role, he will make $189,500 and oversee several divisions including administration, business operations, school facilities and technology.

“It’s a wider array, something that he is definitely well suited for," Moore said. "We were looking for the best candidate to fill this new position... and we certainly feel that we found that in Rene, because the overall public school knowledge as well as his ability that he’s going to be bring to the table.  It’s going to benefit our teachers, student, teachers, parents, staff, everyone throughout the GISD community.”

Miles said DISD would begin searching for Barajas’ replacement immediately and that Executive Director of Budget Services James Terry would be named Interim Chief Financial Officer.

Stella M. Chávez is KERA’s immigration/demographics reporter/blogger. Her journalism roots run deep: She spent a decade and a half in newspapers – including seven years at The Dallas Morning News, where she covered education and won the Livingston Award for National Reporting, which is given annually to the best journalists across the country under age 35.