SHERMAN, Texas — Sherman ISD superintendent Dr. Tyson Bennett was suspended with pay effective immediately Friday.
The decision came amid an investigation into a Sherman High School production of “Oklahoma!” that started after a transgender student was initially removed from a role in the show.
The school board also voted to appoint Deputy Superintendent Dr. Thomas O’Neal as acting superintendent. The votes Friday came after trustees spent more than three hours in a closed meeting with legal counsel.
The board did not discuss the status of the investigation.
The decision to recast the show last year based on a district rule barring students from playing roles that didn’t match their gender assigned at birth drew national media attention and backlash. It prompted protests calling for Sherman High School senior Max Hightower, who is transgender, to be allowed to play in the show.
After the backlash, the district walked back the decision within weeks, saying, "by utilizing a new version that’s age-appropriate, sex will not be considered when casting the new production." The show reportedly continued with the original cast and Hightower in the leading role.
Sherman ISD trustees at that time removed fine arts from Bennett’s purview and hired a law firm to investigate the decision.
The district will hold a special meeting on May 1 to discuss the status of the investigation.
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