HOUSTON – Hempstead School District Superintendent Delma Flores-Smith has been indicted on three counts of tampering with a government record.
School leaders said Flores-Smith is now on paid administration leave. The Waller County Sheriff's Office said the charges involve her resume filed with the school district.
The District Attorney told Local 2 that Flores-Smith is accused of changing her resume and deleting many of the qualifications she listed when she first applied for the job.
"There are things on her resume that she said she had that she did not," said Pat Chernosky, a Hempstead city council member. "Other candidates were overlooked because of that."
The news is getting a lot of attention around town and some residents are suggesting the superintendent has been set up.
"Most definitely. It's corruption, that's the only tem you can use for this process," said Walter Pendleton, a Hempstead resident.
The D.A. said the investigation is ongoing and more charges could come.
Sources told Local 2 that Flores-Smith has been told to turn herself in.
"These kids deserve so much better than what they've been given this year, " Chernosky said. "It's been horrible for the kids, the turmoil has just been awful."
Texas law means if convicted, Flores-Smith could be punished by up to one year in county jail for each count.
The district has had a number of problems in the past year. Principal Amy Lacey resigned after parents accused her of banning students from speaking Spanish on campus.
The school office manager and the Hempstead I.S.D. police chief were fired following separate incidents later in the year.
Monica Lawton has been appointed interim superintendent of Hempstead I.S.D.