The family of embattled Dallas school district Superintendent Mike Miles is moving back to Colorado.
Miles said in a statement Monday to school trustees and top staff that his wife and youngest son were moving back to Colorado Springs, Colo., so he can start school there later this month.
"It is a difficult decision, but we feel that our first responsibility as parents is to our son, and we have to do what is best for him," Miles said. "Our son will be able to continue his education and attend seventh grade with his childhood friends and classmates."
Miles declined to talk with NBC 5 about the move.
"Ultimately, this is a private family matter," DISD spokesman Jon Dahlander said. "His son's support system, his friends, are still up there in Colorado Springs, and so they just feel, as parents, this would be a better move for him during this next school year."
Miles cited the pressure of negative media attention in Dallas.
"We also hope to insulate him from the negative media attention that has taken a toll on both him and my wife," he said.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Rena Honea, president of teachers group Alliance AFT, said she wonders if Miles will decide he wants to be closer to his family. She said he brought some of the media attention on himself.
"It's very curious to a whole lot of people. Did he really not think there would be any pressure at all?" she said. "And the second thing is, if Dallas schools are not good enough for his son to be in, how can he be truly committed to helping our students achieve at the level that he says he wants?"
Dahlander said Miles works weekends and is very committed to his job.
"I am absolutely steadfast in my commitment to serve the children and staff of Dallas ISD and implement systems that will help Dallas children learn and give hope to their dreams," Miles said in his statement.
DISD Board President Eric Cowan tweeted Monday that he respects Miles' decision:
As a father of 2, I respect Miles' decision to care for family. As Board President, I view this as a personal matter, not personnel matter. — Eric Cowan (@ericcowan4DISD) August 5, 2013
Miles, the fourth Dallas Independent School District superintendent in 15 years, came on as superintendent last summer. He has been the topic of numerous news reports the past year.
He was attacked by some community leaders for replacing principals. Recently, the school board hired former U.S. Attorney Paul Coggins to investigate accusations from former DISD Communications Chief Rebecca Rodriquez about Miles' handling of a vendor contract.
Rodriguez was only on the job a few months. She replaced Jennifer Sprague, whom Miles brought from his former job in Colorado Springs. Sprague left after half a year after intense scrutiny centered on performance questions and her relatively high salary.
All of Miles' predecessors faced intense scrutiny, and Honea said he should not be surprised to face it, too.
"When he came to visit, he saw the press," she said. "He saw the media. He saw how things worked."
NBC 5's Ken Kalthoff contributed to this report.
