In what some are calling a blindside move, the Houston ISD Board voted 5-4 to remove Dr. Grenita Lathan from her post as interim superintendent. Replacing Lathan will be former superintendent Abelardo Saavedra. He will have a six-month term and then be on a month-to-month basis.

Trustee Diana Davila made the motion that was a surprise to most in the room to remove Lathan and bring in Saavedra as talks were about to happen to discuss lengthening Lathan's contract to September 2019. An eruption of shouting and accusations followed. Trustees Wanda Adams and Jolanda Jones both noted the racial divide on the board between African Americans and Latinos.

“I did not know about this at all. Some of my other colleagues did not know about it. Some knew about it — (Sergio) Lira knew about it, Holly (Flynn Vilaseca) knew about it and (Elizabeth) Santos knew about it. It goes back to my original statement about racism on this board,” said Adams.

Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones voiced her frustrations over the secrecy with other board members. "I go back to transparency because if we pull the tape from the last meeting, the same trustee said when we asked to give this lady (Lathan) a contract, 'we are not because my community has not vetted that. We are not going to go behind closed doors and make deals and come out give an interim superintendent contract to her. Hmmm," said Skillern-Jones.

Following the chaotic meeting, trustees in the know issued a release saying Saavedra's appointment is an opportunity for Lathan to apply for the superintendent position.

"It is only appropriate that the district be run by someone who has no stake in the outcome of the upcoming superintendent search," Davila said.

Lathan will resume her previous post as chief academic officer.