Gunter Independent School District trustees will review a recommendation to terminate the contract of head baseball coach James Daryl Hellman at their September 21 meeting. The district’s board is set to consider initiating the process to end his employment or suspend him without pay for the remainder of his contract term.
Superintendent Brandon Enos stated that the district completed its investigation into misconduct allegations and determined that Hellman must be removed from his position. Hellman, who also serves as a business teacher, has been on paid administrative leave since the investigation began.
Enos noted that the district acted out of an abundance of caution by notifying parents, local law enforcement, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and the Texas Education Agency about the allegations.
Under Texas law, term contract employees must be notified of the intent to terminate their contracts for good cause or to suspend them without pay. Employees are then given 15 days to request a hearing to appeal the board’s decision. Enos indicated that district officials will continue to cooperate fully with all state agencies involved in the matter.
No specific details regarding the nature of the allegations have been released publicly. Hellman has not faced criminal charges or administrative sanctions, and his teaching certifications are not currently under review by the Texas Education Agency. The district plans to select a new head baseball coach for the remainder of the school year in the coming weeks.
