The Tornillo Independent School District superintendent is on leave effective immediately after a school board vote Monday night.

Paul Vranish has been under scrutiny since the Texas Education Agency discovered $48,000 in questionable reimbursements and mismanaged money by the superintendent.

Former board president Rachel Avila was emotional after the motion to place Vranish on leave was passed.

"I just feel for the kids, because they are the ones that are going to be affected by this," Avila said. "Because they are the ones who are going to be affected. This man did a lot of great things for the town."

However, a TEA report alleges that Vranish had something to hide. The report stated that more than $100,000 in reimbursements were made to Vranish and his wife, a district employee. Nearly half of that is questionable because of inadequate documentation.

Tornillo High School Principal Margaret Ruybe was named interim superintendent.

"My first plan of action is to keep some togetherness in the community and start working together for the same common goal: getting kids to be successful in school," Ruybe said.

Vranish handed over a binder filled with employment recommendations, a bag with his keys, and before he was dismissed, cheers rattled the room full of attendees.

The next step in the process will be to get a forensic auditor who will go over and go further in depth with district records for the past few years in order to determine any further discrepancies.