A grievance has been filed against the Cedar Hill Independent School District following the removal of Melanie Benjamin from her position as athletic director. Benjamin, who has been with the district for over two decades, was reassigned to a new role, prompting a formal complaint process that may be addressed at an upcoming school board meeting.
Key Takeaways
- Melanie Benjamin, former Cedar Hill ISD Athletic Director, was removed from her post and reassigned.
- A formal grievance has been filed on her behalf against the school district.
- Benjamin is now serving as a CHISD instructional coordinator but remains a district employee.
- O.J. Kemp has been appointed as the new athletic director for the district.
- A Level III grievance hearing is scheduled for a school board meeting, though it is not confirmed to be related to this case.
Details of the Administrative Change
Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that a grievance was initiated after Melanie Benjamin was moved from her leadership role in the athletic department. A spokesperson for Cedar Hill ISD verified that Benjamin is still an employee of the district.
Her new title is CHISD instructional coordinator. The district did not provide specific reasons for the change in personnel. However, officials stated that such reassignments are permissible under standard employee contracts.
Understanding Employee Reassignments
In many Texas school districts, administrator and teacher contracts include clauses that allow the district to reassign employees to different roles. The primary condition is that the employee must be certified for the new position. This contractual flexibility allows districts to adjust staffing based on evolving needs.
In an email, a district spokesperson noted, “under any administrator or teacher contract, any employee can be reassigned to any other position for which they are certified.” This statement frames the move as a standard administrative procedure available to the district.
The Grievance and Legal Proceedings
The situation has now entered a formal dispute resolution process. The agenda for an upcoming school board meeting on Monday includes a Level III grievance hearing. It remains unclear whether this hearing will specifically address the complaint filed on behalf of Benjamin.
A Level III hearing typically represents the stage where an employee can appeal a decision directly to the school board after lower-level resolutions have failed. It is often the final step in a district's internal grievance procedure.
When contacted for a statement regarding the grievance and reassignment, both Melanie Benjamin and her attorney, Giana Ortiz, declined to comment on the ongoing situation.
The lack of public comment from Benjamin and her legal counsel is common during active personnel disputes and grievance hearings, as parties often wait for the formal process to conclude.
New Leadership in the Athletic Department
Cedar Hill ISD has moved quickly to fill the leadership vacuum in its athletic department. The district confirmed that O.J. Kemp is now serving as the athletic director. He will oversee the district's extensive sports programs.
Supporting Kemp in the department's administration is Nick Ward, the head football coach. According to the district's official website, Ward is now listed as the assistant director of athletics, adding administrative duties to his coaching responsibilities.
The Cedar Hill ISD athletic director is responsible for 18 different sports programs across multiple campuses, including Cedar Hill High School, a ninth-grade center, and two middle schools.
A Long Career with Cedar Hill ISD
Melanie Benjamin's connection to the Cedar Hill Independent School District is extensive, spanning her entire professional career. Her journey within the district began long before she took the top athletic post.
She was first hired in 1998 as a health and physical education teacher at Permenter Middle School. During her time there, she was deeply involved in coaching, leading several girls' teams.
Benjamin's Path to Athletic Director
- 1998: Started as a health and P.E. teacher at Permenter Middle School.
- Coached multiple sports, including girls' basketball, volleyball, and track and field.
- Established the cross country program at Permenter Middle School.
- August 2019: Named acting athletic director after the retirement of Gina Farmer.
- March 2020: Promoted to the permanent role of Athletic Director.
Her promotion to the permanent athletic director position in March 2020 put her in charge of a large and complex department. Her responsibilities included managing programs at Cedar Hill High School, the ninth-grade center, Permenter Middle School, and Bessie Coleman Middle School. Her recent reassignment marks a significant shift after more than 20 years of service to the district's athletic community.
