Riviera Independent School District trustees voted 4-3 not to extend Superintendent Earnest Havner’s contract during a meeting held at the Margery Malin Library Wednesday.

Since then, certain school board members and district personnel have been reluctant in talking about the meeting.

Havner is currently in the second of a three-year contract, which expires after the 2010-2011 academic year.

“Here at Riviera ISD we have an outstanding school system, board and administration,” Havner said when asked about the trustees’ decision.

“We will continue to focus on what is right for our children and continue to make this about our community.”

One local resident who attended Wednesday’s meeting is happy with the school board’s decision not to extend Havner’s contract.

“I am proud of those school board members who showed their leadership in their decision and am glad they were looking for the truth,” Vern Crocker who has been critical of the majority RISD school trustees and the administration handled a proposed $18.5 million school bond election and proposition to eleminate the cap on maintenance and operations taxes.

Both propositions go before Riviera ISD voters on May 8.

“We felt that the information on the proposed bond issue given to the board by the superintendent was partially incorrect and incomplete,” Crocker said.

“Some of the school board members were more receptive to hear additional information separate from what the superintendent had given them,” he noted.

Trustee Danny Strubhart voted against the motion not to extend the superintendent’s contract.

“I think Mr. Havner is doing a great job as superintendent,” Strubhart said.

“I appreciate the support,” Havner responded.

Voting along with Strubhart in favor of Havner – according to Crocker - were Board President Sylvia Arguijo and Vice President Lisa West.

The four votes rejecting Havner’s contract extension, Crocker said, came from trustees Jose ‘Buddy’ Naranjo, John Beadle, Wilson Martin and Board Secretary Becky Gutierrez.