By Dr. G.F. McHale-Scully
http://www.brownsvilleliteraryreview.com/
http://www.brownsvilleliteraryreview.com/
Though the election isn't until November, we have been receiving numerous inquiries about the BISD Trustees' race.
This is the extent of our knowledge regarding the candidates. The three incum
bents--Enrique Escobedo, Ruben Cortez Jr. and Rick Zayas--will seek reelection.
bents--Enrique Escobedo, Ruben Cortez Jr. and Rick Zayas--will seek reelection. Otis Powers, a former trustee, is vying against Escobedo. Cristina Saavedra, a longtime educator, has informally announced that she will challenge Cortez.
Zayas at this juncture has no rival.
Sylvia Atkinson, Powers' sister-in-law and City Commissioner Charlie Atkinson's sister, was introducing herself as a candidate during the spring pachanga season, but there has been an ongoing rumor that the Cortez/Zayas faction have attempted to buy her withdrawal with a prestigious administrative post at the Glass Palace.
(Ed's note: Apparently, the carrot was the position of grants administrator, the same position where former Chief Financial Officer Tony Juarez was dumped when he refused t go along with the Stop-Loss insurance contract given to the company represented by Johnny Cavazos.)
Escobedo has been the voice of the dissenting minority while both Cortez and Zayas have spearheaded the majority. Contentious 4-3 votes epitomize the current state of the present board.
The Escobedo/Powers showdown is a toss-up, both aspirants struggling with more negatives than positives in the views of the general public.
Saavedra is an early favorite against the ignorant but bombastic Cortez. How will he sell himself to the electorate, particularly when he battles the unflattering image that he has less intelligence than a caveman?
That he is the latest example of the Great American success story, the ascension of a uneducated man who dictates to educators?
That there might not have been raises for the teachers, but he made sure that the egregious Johnny Cavazos slipped away in the night with a $40 million health contract?
That he fired a superintendent because Hector Gonzales wouldn't cut lucrative deals in the Brownsville compadre tradition?
That he made sure local attorneys got theirs as a result of excessive litigation?
That he rigged the hiring process for Gonzales' successor, limiting the applicants to BISD administrators, Bruce Springsteen the sole candidate for a $200,000 job?
That he is the husband of a BISD principal who climbed to the top after the new super signed a three-year contract and wanted to express his appreciation to Cortez by placing her at the Sharp campus over more qualified applicants?
Our information may be scant, but we will boldly predict: These will be nasty campaigns. And that's how we love it!
19 comments:
Please make note: The name of the BISD superintendent is Brett Springston. He is commonly called, among other names, Bruce and Springsteen. Blame the right person! God forbid that we blame an innocent guy named Bruce Springsteen! We read, we talk about, we are irrate with and we complain, but we do not vote. Even if we vote, our vote will go to whomever provides more vironga (beer) and fajitas, and surved on a plate full of lies. Wake up Brownsville! Why is Zayas running scared? Atkinson would serve well as a grants administrator, but would she just figure out a way to share grants with the board members or be fired?
Caveman logo is "is simple is about children"
what he forgot to add is that is ABOUT his children and NOT ABOUT OUR CHILDREN.
Let's hope that Atkinson reads this blog so that she will be convinced that the public knows what is going on and what we are presently thinking of her if she falls for the carrot being dangled before her. If she lets those 2 stooges win, she shows that she does not have much of a backbone to stand up for what she believes. But I guess at the end of the day she will fall for that six figure salary, which she does not need after being bought out by so many other ISD's. She claims to want to straighten out the district, and we can guarantee that being the grant writer for the district means some more papita for the board members. If Brett Springston does this at Tuesday's meeting, a bunch of us will lose whatever little respect he still has from us. We need a superintendent with a spine and backbone that will come shake up the district and kick you know what like she did when she was here before. We need Dr. Esperanza Zendejas back but who is going to get rid of Mr. Springston if he is being manipulated by the board? Shame on you, Brett.
I don't have a crystal ball but I am trying to foretell our future at BISD - Otis, Colunga, Aguilar, Zayas, Pena and Cortez. Nos van a mandar a la ------! Pobre Caty but more power to her! I hope she continues to open her mouth and tells them how it is. Christy Saavedra, ask for one of the area supts position in return for not running against Cortez. Now is the time to get into a cushiony job. They are handing out jobs like hot potatoes. We need to make some puppet costumes for Brett, Susan, Mary Jo, Tony, Mike, Berta, and CarlosG. I will not address them as Mr. Mrs. or Miss anymore for I have lost all respect towards them. I once read that when a person is dishonest, he repeatly glances to the upper left-hand side. Next time you view a BISD meeting, see who keeps looking to the left. For Christmas, they should go down to the Dollar Tree and buy each other a back scratcher! Vuerguenza deben de tener!
It's a done deal on Tuesday!!!
These sound like illegal hires practices Brett and Susan.
Maybe she never intended to run....maybe she just said that in order to get a job?
(Pobre Caty but more power to her!)
I would tend to agree with you, if only "Caty" could spout anything else but utter stupidity. Uneducated is a compliment to her, and to M. Pena too, while we're at it. LOL!
Ren.
Before you pass judgement know your information. Remember it is Caty who is Sylvia's friend. Look on the BISD website and see who put her on the bond committee. It was Caty. So who is Sylvia friends with? Apparently a large majority of the BISD board.
If Sylvia is hired, she must remember that her ethics should include doing what is best for the children of Brownsville. If she did threaten to run in order to get them to offer her a job, than that places a question on her ehtics, right? I never thought that Zayas and Atkinson were on the same team - that is a total disrepect by Zayas for his family.
If atmingson takes the job it just proves that she lied to people and wanting to do riight the thing
Let's pray that the rumors of Sylvia Atkinson returning to our district are just that rumors. Our district has suffered enough already at the hands of these board members. If our board members really believe in our motto "we are all about children", they should dig deeper into the real reasons why Atkinson left her last position as superintendent of schools in Socorro ISD. According to an article in El Paso Times, Atkinson left SISD on allegations of several ethical violations including cronyism, no surprise there. Let's just hope that our BISD board members consider very carefully in hiring someone who has already proven to lack integrity, ethics, and professionalism.
November VOTE THEM OUT BROWNSVILLE just waiting for the elections to come.
JUDAS ATKINSON, NO SHAME
But how can they keep Atkinson out of BISD if the board members serve as her role models. They can not throw stones because they too live in glass houses - no pun intended. I wonder how Rick's aunt feels about this crooked move?
Obviously the blogger who criticized Caty is not very familiar with what is or is not going on in BISD. I say this because if he or she were, they would know where Caty is coming from with her questions. I do agree that sometimes she needs to watch her manner of presenting the question or information, for that may be what turns people off, but if you listen carefully, every bit she brings up NEEDS to be brought up and questioned. Like last night, she was quieted down by Aguilar and Zayas quickly moved to approve the motion when she had not even finished proving her point. There was an article in the Sunday paper where the Rivera boys were elated over their new uniforms that they had purchases with fund raising monies. Even the new coach made a comment regarding the shirts they had bought with fund raising monies.
Than, the AD speaks up and says that is not true as well as the ass't supt. So why was it in the Sunday paper? Wow, the new coach is already in trouble for having a fund raiser without approval of the principal and the AA. So now even the principal is in hot water again. The administration speaks through their teeth and if you do not keep up with the shenenigans that they are implementing on a daily base, you certainly do not know what Caty is talking about. I also noticed that Minerva had done some studying before last night's meeting & she really drilled Susan Fox with questions. I was not satisfied with her answers and how the supt had to refer to her for answers. Why did he not know the answers? So you see, Mr or Mrs. Blogger, you need to catch up with the BISD Soap Opera (novela)to know what is wrong. You have obviously missed many episodes. Get with it and leave our voice, "Caty" alone! He dicho!
(Blogger, you need to catch up)
You know, you're right. You, obviously, do know quite a bit about the BISD "Soap Opera". Let us not forget, though, that we are not talking about people's entertainment. We are talking about elected people who go do their jobs with the intent to perform like they are the stars of the young and the restless. And you, my obviously knowledgeable friend, should look into coming up with something akin to the National Enquirer for the Bisd. Maybe start up a blog. And compete with the RRun RRun and El Rocinante.
Ren.
It is obvious and intentional the efforts of Zayas and Cortez to encircle themselves with allies to continue the sweetheart deals, the hiring of amigos, amigas, the awrading of contracts to compadres, the hell with our kids, screw the teachers they are doing a great job,lets not give them raises for th exceptionalwork that they do, instead let's hire our friends and potential political challengers and offer them jobs that pay $87,000. NOVEMBER is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
Ren, you are so right about this situation not being a laughing matter so as to relate it to a soap opera. I was writing full of anger and more anger, which is wrong because your thinking process is jeopardized. But I am glad that you do agree that what the board is doing is or should be related to National Enquirer stuff. But you know, Ren, if we don't do anything about it, this blog or anyother will be to no avail if we do not stand up for our values and demand that these idiots be investigated by TEA and forced to resign, like once upon a time that they removed another board member (JL) for acting unscrupously. Did you read about the hiring of Atkinson in the newest blog? Wait until the next board meeting where they hire another Atkinson. I wonder if that was part of the deal they made with his sister so that she wouldn't run against them?
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