South San ISD has been plagued with controversy in recent years due to the turnover rate for the superintendent position, but Wednesday night the district named Dr. Abeladro Saavedra as the new superintendent.
This comes after being interim superintendent for the district since December.
"This is a district that right now needs my experience, my background and working together this will be a great district," said Saavedra.
Saavedra, who most recently was superintendent of Houston ISD, came out of retirement to accept the superintendent position with South San ISD.
Thirty people applied for the job, but according to president of the school board, Helen Madla, no one had his knowledge or experience.
"The saying is you get what you pay for, and we've got the cream of the crop and we're having to pay for the cream," said Madla.
Saavedra signed on with an initial five-year contract of $200,000 plus retirement money. The board also approved Saavedra to have all hiring power within the district.
"He does not have to come to the board for hiring and firing, and that was one of the main problems with the board," said Madla. "If the superintendent couldn't hire one of her friends, she would be upset, so now that's taken away."
"They're willing to allow me to run the system, hire people, decide whether or not people need to continue not to continue with the district, so that's basically my call, that's one of the primary reasons why I think this will work," said Saavedra.
Saavedra said he'll focus on getting the district's business operations in order. Also a top priority is to make sure all the schools have what they need to teach students every day.