Sunday, February 12, 2017

WILL THERE BE UIL FALLOUT FROM JROD-BISD RINGGATE?

By Juan Montoya
As early as June 9, 2016, after an invoice from ring maker Herrf Jones arrived in the mail at Porter Early College High School, red flags should have gone up.
Since it was during vacation time, the invoice was simply tucked away.

The company, through its vendor, Luis J. Garza, was billing Porter for a total of $31,025.00 for 40 gold rings for 29 soccer players and 11 non-players associated with the 2016 5A District champions. The rings were duly presented to the players and the others during a Sept. 1 ceremony at Porter.

Right after that, questions arose as to who had ordered the rings. It wasn't the principal Hector Hernandez, who himself received a ring valued at $995, because it was Hernandez who forwarded the invoice to Brownsville Independent School District Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas after classes had started September 8 and wondered "I am not sure who will be the responsible party for all of this."

Zendejas, who also received a complimentary $995 ring as did BISD board member Joe Rodriguez, replied on Dec. 1, that "the district nor the school purchased any Porter Early College High School championship rings...The adults purchased their own rings. The student rings were donated by the company to support our students and school...Again, the district nor the school used any funding toward the purchase of student or adult championship rings."

This flies in the face of concerns raised by trustee Minerva Peña at the January 17 meeting where she told members she had brought the issue to the board after a coach had asked her if he would get in trouble if he left the district and didn't pay for the rings.

And it is a direct contradiction to Co-Lead BISD Auditor Arvin Tucker's report dated Dec. 12, 2016, that "(Zendejas) realizing NOT having funds to pay for rtings, negotiated with the supplier to donate 29 rings to be given to players and asked all non players to pay for the rings they received from their personal funds.

By that date, people knew there was trouble afoot. Two months after Tucker began his investigation, Herrf Jones salesman Garza had withdrawn his invoice for payment on the $25,000 cost of the player's ring. That letter was sent, not to the purchasing department or the school, but to Zendejas, on Nov. 18, 2016, apparently after Zendjeas "negotiated" with the vendor on payment for the rings.


Garza wrote Zendejas a letter thanking her for "giving us the opportunity to become a sponsor of the PH Soccer Team and Brownsville ISD. As part of our sponsorship, we are donating the Championship rings to the players. It is our way of giving back to the community, the school, and the School District."

But there was a catch. As BISD general counsel Baltazar Salazar told board members at their January 17 meeting, board policy did not allow for the district to accept donations after the fact. The district has to approve the donation before it is made. The board would violate its own policies if it accepted the "donation" in January for a purchase that had been initiated in June 2016.

And there was another catch. Since the rings were not acquired by the district through its formal procurement process, the district could not pay for them since neither the school, the Athletic Department, or the administration, had ordered the rings.

What to do?

BISD member Minerva Peña, at the Tuesday (February 7) meeting, placed an item on the agenda. It read:
47. Discussion, consideration, and possible action to request assistance from TEA (Texas Education Agency) Governance Division regarding procurement procedures in the district as they relate to pending issues; i.e. tablets and rings. (Board Member Request - MP)

By a 4-3 vote, the board did not approve the proposal to seek assistance from the TEA. The "nays" were Joe Rodriguez, Carlos Elizondo, Cesar Lopez and Phil Cowen. The "yeas" were Dr. Sylvia Atkinson, Peña, and Laura Perez-Reyes.

Should Rodriguez – associated as he was with BSN, under the same umbrella of Varsity Brands, their parent company– have recused himself from even discussing, or worse, voting, on the issue?

There is other fallout. Student athletes who accepted the rings lose their amateur status participating under UIL rules if within the preceding 12 months received money or other valuable consideration for participating in an UIL sponsored sport. If the student did not know he had violated the rules affecting his status, upon learning of it, he can remain eligible if within 30 days of being told of it, he returns the valuable consideration. Each of the 29 students received rings valued at $895.

Coaches also face suspension if they accept more than $500 in money, product or service in recognition or appreciation for coaching, directing or sponsoring of UIL activities. Did the coaches know that they had to pay $995 for the rings? Obviously, the porter school administration did not or else principal Hernandez would not have written Zendejas for guidance. And trustee Peña's voicing of concerns from coaches on whether they could keep the rings indicates they did not either.

Additionally, if it is found that the entire team violated the UIL the Porter soccer team may be penalized and not each individual. In other words, the Porter soccer team may be prevented from participating in UIL sponsored activities.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Luis garza? The boys basketball head coach at porter is also named luis garza.

Anonymous said...

Short and simple ni, ask Ms. Solis, she won her grievance where she stated the same facts from the same people and she is still not back at her old job

Anonymous said...

Federal laws limit the amount/cost of any gift to federal officials. Most would not be allowed to accept a gift as costly as the rings given to Zendejas and Joe Rodriguez by vendors. That seems to be a bribe and Coach Joe should have recused himself from any vote by the BISD Board on this subject. These leaches always take care of themselves and we have no idea of how much they are receiving from kickbacks from those venders.

Anonymous said...

You know what. It is real bizarre that this community strives on gossip. I believe it was derived by Matamoros viejas that infected men that claim to be USA citizens cuz they drink and drink and gossip and gossip on this side of the river. Cha cha wichango wichinga luis go zalez people like that that swell with satisfaction seeing others go thru perils of life yet they suffer and use everyone for alcohol. It is caca like that is why President Trump wants them out. That is why I voted for Trump. Wichanga get out of here chismoso

Anonymous said...

You know what? Mr HERPES knows whobhe is and how infected he is, but yet he continues to infect. That is sad. How embarassing for TEXAS

Anonymous said...

Wicha Herpes mayor and commmision court and new candidates all suck tamales. City attorney still on job. City manager playing patti cake. This place sucks unless one eats seafood

Anonymous said...

So you are telling us that,
The Principal Hector Hernandez, the coaches, the ratas that got the free stuff, the Super and Joe Rodriguez did not know they were not to receive the free rings?

They must have not read the BISD employees handbook related to conflict of interest and receiving gifts greater than thirty dollars?

A otro buey con esa historia, bola de self serving ratas!

Anonymous said...

Minerva Peña just has it out for Zendejas that's obvious! It has come to my attention that Minerva Peña only cares about getting even with people she dislikes and in the hot seat. I agree it was wrong of Dr Z and others to do that and should be punished. But Minerva why do you act like you care about coach and what he told you and not children with special needs? People have been reaching out to you about a problem arising at the Aquatic Center yet you ignore their messages and calls? You're a sorry ass bitch and you will not hold office next election MARK MY WORDS!

Anonymous said...

The stupidity of BISD knows no boundaries. How many of the players are ilegales? How many of them use drugs?

Anonymous said...

Oh my, the wonderful world of Sports. Healthy bodies, healty minds.

Anonymous said...

Notice how irregular or illegal things always follow the now Porter Principal and he always comes out clean but takes others along the way?
At RHS the grade change scandal. All involved were moved around like peons and instead of him being demoted he was placed at the same level but a different HS. Now, board is involved, Super is involved but the head of Porter is the SAME principal and he has been in the district for 40 yrs and several internal problems, but is never part of what goes wrong. (even if he is).
WHO needs to call TEA for them to investigate?
De Vos, the new secretary of education; who knows NOTHING about education but is still the secretary, will eliminate many programs that BISD depends on. HOW IS THIS BOARD going to tackle THOSE problems? They are too busy being PART OF THE PROBLEM.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous at 7:28.Please stay off the blogs, my head hurts trying to read your garbage !"Strives on gossip ? "Haha ! Fuck you and Trump !

Anonymous said...

Awww you just realized thus? How sad you should've been more informed Mine cara de Weine only responds around election. Then she disappears like most others.

Anonymous said...

Don't implicate the Porter basketball coach. His name is Luis C. Garza. The Herf-Jones representative is Luis J. Garza.

Anonymous said...

Bravo for the blogger who wrote on the 13th at 1:30 in the morning.
She hit the nail on the head. La Minnie Mouse is playing la buenona for others on the board and trying to get rid of Dr. Z. She voted to hire her and to give her an extension and a raise and then she goes
around chingando with BS that we shouldn't have given the raises when we can't afford other things. then why did you vote like you did, tonta? I bet if Minnie had received a ring she would have kept her mouth shut because her father taught her to take whatever they give her and learn to appreciate that we live in this community who values are so clean and uncorrupt. We are sick and tired of all her BS and all her noise she makes at each board meeting. She can't even speak into the microphone well enough to be heard or understood. Find out who ordered the rings and why procedure was not followed and blame that person, but why penalize the whole team and district for what one careless person did. Question, if a trip to the spelling bee costs $100,000 and they go, can I pay for the bill after they come back as national champs? Balty also has it out to get Dr. Z and he reacts brutely after he is awaken with a question at the board meetings.

Anonymous said...

MINNIE IS DOING A GOOD JOB !
DR. Z AND OLD FART JOE DID A ILLEGAL PURCHASE .
THEY NEED TO BE HOLD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS.
GOOD JOB FOR YOU MINNIE !

CC TAXPAYER said...

CORRUPTION VIRUS AT BISD STARTING WIH JOE RODRIGUEZ AND DR.ESPERANZA ZENDEJAS !!

BOARD NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION NOW !

GET TEA INVOLVED AND GET THESE PEOPLE OUT BEFORE OUR DISTRICT GETS WORSE.

Anonymous said...

GOOD JOB PENA and board members !!
I agree it was wrong of Dr. Esperanza Zendejas and others to do that and should be punished.

Not to worry you will hold office next election.

Anonymous said...

HOLY MOLY !!
THIS IS HAPPENING AT BISD.
NO WONDER SHE CANNOT HOLD A JOB AS A SUPERINTENDENT ANYWHERE SHE GOES.

GOODBYE NOT NICE HAVING YOU AS A CORRUPT SUPERINTENDENT !!

Anonymous said...

You're right I'm sorry. Coach garza is a class act and is above that, as are the porter soccer coaches who got involved in this mess because of 1 greedy board meme berlanga and 1 dumb superintendent. My apologies. Coach garza good luck as you pursue the playoffs.

Anonymous said...

As I read all the comments,I wonder how many people that VOTE actually do their home work and review each candidates qualifications. I wonder if this city actually wants HONEST hard working people to represent them. We can complain about all the violations that board members commit but then we vote for them again. When does it stop? When does it change? It's not about you or the board members. It's about making the best decisions for our kids, grand kids. They are the future of tomorrow. Complaining doesn't change anything!! Taking action by voicing your opinion at the polls or attending school board meeting and speaking out on behalf of the kids is the first step to making change and improvement. One voice for our city.

Anonymous said...

http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Contact_Us/Complaints/TEA_Complaints_Management/

Anonymous said...

Yup coach joe and his protégé Tom Campos have done it agaun. They have given a head coaching job to an under qualified applicant. Coach Uresti at Porter high school. He has minimal experience but because he played u ser Tom Campos he got the job. Sound familiar??? Oh yes where have we seen another of Campos' ex players become a head coach??? They passed up offensive and defensive coordinators AND applicants with head coaching experience. What a shame. And that my frends is why Brownsville will never win at football.

Anonymous said...

simply put, Mr Hernandez was left out of the loop, it was the Soccer coach that took a directive from Board member Ratriquez, my only question is where the heel is the STUPID ATTORNEY the board hires in all of this, does he not attend board meetings if NOT fire his over priced ass. He could of told the board that Ratriquez should have not voted thus being a 3-3 split in bring in TEA, hello BISD, wait isn't the attorney Ratriquez son, then there you go. FIRE THEM ALL bring in TEA TO CLEAN HOUSE

chief cool arrow said...

I agree with 2.38 pm comments but the question really is do you vote? Do you make time to got vote at every election? do you bother to read up or get informed about candidates? I keep hear the same talk talk talk and complaints all the time, just like with the president election where were the democratic voters who poll after poll indicated Hillary would win? now everyone is crying about trump, really wow all those illegals with children born here? Question if you have been here for that long, had children born here then why didn't you make an effort to get your residency in order so you can avoid deportation? Sorry chuck how long is too long? And for the democrat congress you guys been in office too long had plenty of time (40) years to do something about immigration but didn't so don't blame others blame yourselves, oh I forgot you guys are too busy. adios

Anonymous said...

where is the board attorney in all this, does he not attend board meetings? if he does how come he did not speak up about Rodriguez conflict of interest and not allow him to vote, fire that hi paid idiot, bring in TEA a governing body that is non partial.

Anonymous said...

Really? So does he have a degree is he certified is he the only applicant? Or is it just cause they drink at c c wings together all the time?

rita