A new interim chief is expected to be named for Tucson Unified School District tonight.

H.T. Sanchez, who served as superintendent since 2013, left the district last week after a weeks-long effort from some governing board members to remove him. He walked away with a $200,000 severance pay.

The board will decide who would take his place in the interim at a meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Duffy Community Center, 5145 E. Fifth St.

Sanchezโ€™s exit first became a topic when new board member Rachael Sedgwick requested to review his contract at a meeting three weeks ago. She previously told the Star that she had first intended to see about putting him on a performance plan.

The former superintendent was paid more than $270,000 in base salary to oversee 86 schools in the city. His contract would have been up for renewal in 2018 if he hadnโ€™t left.

The matter was never discussed publicly during board meetings, though many community members showed up to meetings to voice their opinions.


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