The Texas Education Agency's new commissioner, Michael Williams, told KFOX there are a number of sanctions the El Paso Independent School district could face if it does not make changes soon. 

KFOX spoke to Williams Wednesday during his visit to El Paso. When asked why the TEA didn't get involved with EPISD years ago when problems were first brought to the agency's attention, he said that was a question for the former commissioner. 

The El Paso Independent School District has been under scrutiny because of a scheme to cheat the state testing system by changing grades and grades levels, and even removing students from schools to prevent them from taking the test. 

EPISD's former superintendent, Lorenzo Garcia, was recently sentenced to 31/2 years in La Tuna Federal Prison partly because of that scandal. 

The district's interim superintendent, Vern Butler, spoke with KFOX Wednesday. He kept his comments vague. 

Our media partner, The El Paso Times, reported that board member David Dodge said the TEA has given the district a list of employees who need to be fired because they allegedly took part in the cheating scandal. 

Williams said he knew nothing about that list. 

The TEA has said recently that if the district doesn't take action against co-conspirators soon, the state will do it for them and impose new sanctions on the district. 

"First of all there is no list of people that we've created to be fired," Williams said. "But beyond that, let's just say that it is my opinion that EPISD should move with due speed. I will make a decision in due time and I will not take a long time to make it." 

KFOX asked Williams if the state could end up taking over and running the district. 

"Well, I have a number of options available to me under current law and I will look at every one of those options," Williams said. 

"We have a responsibility not only at the state level but at the local level," Butler said. "We're going to do everything that we need to do." 

If you have a story that you feel deserves media attention, contact Ric Dupont at ric.dupont@kfoxtv.com.