Ketti Davis out as Central Unified School District superintendent

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Governing Board of Central Unified School District announced Ketti Davis is no longer superintendent.

In a statement Wednesday morning, it says the board and Davis reached a separation agreement.

Davis has spent three decades with the district, serving as superintendent for nearly three years.

She was the first teacher from Central Unified to serve as the district's superintendent.

The district wished Davis well in her future endeavors.

"At last night's board meeting, the superintendent and the board of trustees came to an agreement of separation, and the board is making this decision based off of a desire to go with new leadership," said Johnathon Burrows, Central Unified Public Information Officer.

According to a copy of the agreement obtained by Action News, Davis received performance evaluations extending her contract until 2028.

Now, this unanimous board decision will cut her time at the district short.

"That's very shocking. I don't think it's fair. It was very unexpected," says Cindy Yang, Central Unified Parent.

As part of the agreement, Davis will receive a severance equal to a year's salary, estimated at over $215,000.

They also agreed to not make disparaging remarks about each other.

Davis was present at the meeting where the decision was made.

This ends her nearly three-decade career at Central Unified with the last three years as superintendent.

In a statement, Davis wrote:

"As I step away from this role, I do so with a heart full of gratitude." She went on to say she looks forward to new opportunities.

The district serves over 15-thousand students from preschool to high school across more than 20 campuses where this sudden change causes uncertainty.

"To any concerned parents, the board of trustees as well as everyone here at the administration are really focused on academic excellence making sure that they have a place where they really can excel and feel safe, so we're still 100% focused on making sure that our students do get the best education possible," says Burrows.

Dr. Tami Boatright, the current Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, will step in to act as the administrator in charge.

"She will be in that position until the board has a special session where they will then decide on who the interim will be. After that, they will begin a conversation on a search for a permanent superintendent," says Burrows.

The district did not give a reason as to why they were parting ways with Davis.

However, an expert Action News spoke with said this most often happens when significant policy differences between the board and a superintendent can't be resolved.

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