By Juan Montoya
In case you didn't know, Sunday is the last day for candidates to apply for the position of superintendent to the Brownsville Independent School District.
Yes, we know. On Feb. 16, there was much discussion on hiring a consultant (George H. McShan Consulting Services, of Harlingen) and to appoint 14 community residents to assist him in deciding who to recommend after conducting a nationwide search.
But, as the application deadline indicates, some trustees and administrators had a better idea and totally disregarded the sentiments they expressed in the meeting. They advertised forf the position and limited it to internal applicants only.
McShan, who has acted as superintendent search consultant for numerous school districts in Texas, was proposed by trustee Joe Rodriguez. Most recently, he submitted his proposal to the San Antonio ISD in their search for a consultant.
"For the past eight years I have been actively engaged as a consultant, conducting Superintendent searches for school districts throughout the state of Texas, including Valley districts (McAllen, Sharyland, Mission, Port Isabel, La Villa, Mercedes, Raymondville and Corpus Christi)," he wrote Ms. Pamela Morrison, of the SA ISD.
"I have conducted Superintendent searches for public school districts in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Ohio. The most recent Superintendent searches that I have personally conducted over the last 12 months are Ysleta in El Paso Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas, Roma ISD, and Mission CISD. As a current school board member, serving my 27th year in Harlingen, I know firsthand what it takes to be an effective leader to meet the needs of raising student achievement for all students and building a cohesive relationship with the board and Superintendent," he concluded.
McShan also put the cost of his services up front.
"The professional fee for performance of the Superintendent search will be $20,000.00 and expenses, will not exceed $5,000.00. This fee does not include travel costs for candidates or any costs associated with travel for members of the San Antonio School Board to visit the School District finalists."
On February 16, a unanimous board of trustees of the Brownsville Independent School District announced that it was hiring Dr, Esperanza Zendejas as interim superintendent and promised the district would launch a nationwide search for a permanent replacement for Dr. Carl Montoya which would include a citizens' committee's input.
At the time that Zendejas' appointment as interim was announced, the Brownsville Herald and remarks made by trustees on the district's public channel agreed to hire a consultant at the March 3 board meeting to conduct a national search for a permanent replacement for Montoya.
That did not happen, and in fact, videotapes of that March 3 meeting are not available online for some reason.
Each board member was select two community members to serve on a committee to assist in the final selection of a superintendent of schools.
“The board believes that Dr. Zendejas will provide the necessary leadership and stability required during this transition period,” Board President Minerva Peña said. “We look forward to having a new permanent leader in place in the near future.”
Additionally, the trustees had an understanding that Zendejas would not be allowed to apply for the permanent position. As it is, unless the board decides after the May 24 deadline to hire someone else, it'll probably be Zendejas for next year, if not the next two.
In case you didn't know, Sunday is the last day for candidates to apply for the position of superintendent to the Brownsville Independent School District.
Yes, we know. On Feb. 16, there was much discussion on hiring a consultant (George H. McShan Consulting Services, of Harlingen) and to appoint 14 community residents to assist him in deciding who to recommend after conducting a nationwide search.But, as the application deadline indicates, some trustees and administrators had a better idea and totally disregarded the sentiments they expressed in the meeting. They advertised forf the position and limited it to internal applicants only.
McShan, who has acted as superintendent search consultant for numerous school districts in Texas, was proposed by trustee Joe Rodriguez. Most recently, he submitted his proposal to the San Antonio ISD in their search for a consultant.
"For the past eight years I have been actively engaged as a consultant, conducting Superintendent searches for school districts throughout the state of Texas, including Valley districts (McAllen, Sharyland, Mission, Port Isabel, La Villa, Mercedes, Raymondville and Corpus Christi)," he wrote Ms. Pamela Morrison, of the SA ISD.
"I have conducted Superintendent searches for public school districts in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Ohio. The most recent Superintendent searches that I have personally conducted over the last 12 months are Ysleta in El Paso Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas, Roma ISD, and Mission CISD. As a current school board member, serving my 27th year in Harlingen, I know firsthand what it takes to be an effective leader to meet the needs of raising student achievement for all students and building a cohesive relationship with the board and Superintendent," he concluded.
McShan also put the cost of his services up front.
"The professional fee for performance of the Superintendent search will be $20,000.00 and expenses, will not exceed $5,000.00. This fee does not include travel costs for candidates or any costs associated with travel for members of the San Antonio School Board to visit the School District finalists."
On February 16, a unanimous board of trustees of the Brownsville Independent School District announced that it was hiring Dr, Esperanza Zendejas as interim superintendent and promised the district would launch a nationwide search for a permanent replacement for Dr. Carl Montoya which would include a citizens' committee's input.
At the time that Zendejas' appointment as interim was announced, the Brownsville Herald and remarks made by trustees on the district's public channel agreed to hire a consultant at the March 3 board meeting to conduct a national search for a permanent replacement for Montoya.
That did not happen, and in fact, videotapes of that March 3 meeting are not available online for some reason.
Each board member was select two community members to serve on a committee to assist in the final selection of a superintendent of schools.
Additionally, the trustees had an understanding that Zendejas would not be allowed to apply for the permanent position. As it is, unless the board decides after the May 24 deadline to hire someone else, it'll probably be Zendejas for next year, if not the next two.
Things, apparently, somehow have changed.
If you look in the BISD Human Resources page, you will notice that the posting for a district superintendent was placed there May 15 and revised May 19 for the 2015-2016 School Year – Until Filled (Applications will not be accepted once the screening process begins.) https://hr.bisd.us/Jobs/Jobpost.exe
If you look in the BISD Human Resources page, you will notice that the posting for a district superintendent was placed there May 15 and revised May 19 for the 2015-2016 School Year – Until Filled (Applications will not be accepted once the screening process begins.) https://hr.bisd.us/Jobs/Jobpost.exe
And a cursory check with several school board members indicates that none have appointed the two community representatives the board promised. For that matter, the district has not even hired a the consultant to assist the board and citizens' committee to make the choice.
In fact, the posting indicates that the selection of the new school year superintendent is limited to BISD employees. "Internal Applicants Only! Closing Date: May 24, 2015 (this Friday)," the posting states.
During that February 16 meeting, just about all the trustees expressed their support for a committee made up of community residents.
Board president Peña emphasized that "we do need community residents to participate in the choice," and suggested two per board member.
Catalina Presas Garcia also chimed in with support for a committee and made a motion to do it. Trustee Joe Rodriguez – who wanted only a three-member committee and not 14 (two per member) eventually joined the rest to vote unanimously for 14.
Hector Chirinos said that the search should be done nationwide and said "we must not close the door so fact" on the search. "This search is going to take time."
However, with the posting for the superintendent's job for the next school year due to close in four days and limited to BISD employees only, all this seems to have amounted to no more than lip service.
In fact, the posting indicates that the selection of the new school year superintendent is limited to BISD employees. "Internal Applicants Only! Closing Date: May 24, 2015 (this Friday)," the posting states.
During that February 16 meeting, just about all the trustees expressed their support for a committee made up of community residents.
Board president Peña emphasized that "we do need community residents to participate in the choice," and suggested two per board member.
Catalina Presas Garcia also chimed in with support for a committee and made a motion to do it. Trustee Joe Rodriguez – who wanted only a three-member committee and not 14 (two per member) eventually joined the rest to vote unanimously for 14.
Hector Chirinos said that the search should be done nationwide and said "we must not close the door so fact" on the search. "This search is going to take time."
However, with the posting for the superintendent's job for the next school year due to close in four days and limited to BISD employees only, all this seems to have amounted to no more than lip service.
5 comments:
Violation of open meetings act. A decision was made to not search nationally, limit to internal applicants, not appoint a citizen committee, and set time parameters. Never on an agenda. Never discussed publicly. It's a lawless school district.
Surely this can't be a surprise to anyone who follows the BISD School Board Circus. Obviously back room deals have been made, which is par for the board, and most likely totally against state regulations. But then, little things like following the regulations governing school boards isn't a concern for our elected board members. They ran for office so they could implement their own agendas, certainly not to make good decisions based on the needs of students and staff.
Anyone want to bet we're going to see Zendejas2.0 anointed for another round as hatchet woman...ready to dish out personnel decisions based on the petty wishes of the board members?
Nothing new. However Juan, Dr. Espy has brought some change to the District that none of those current AA's could even imagine on doing to fix such corrupted District. Yes, she's got her own agenda, but hey, BISD was going down the drain fast. Also, no AA there is qualified nor has had any vision in the last several years that Monty was there. They were all puppets trying to hire in their families to high positions or their compadres. No one really cares about working hard at the District nor they Believe in BISD because all those AA's don't
amount to one like Dr. Espy. I vote Dr. Espy to stay and let her finish her job. At least she's getting some people to work...SOME, not all. Please not BP...that person should retire YA!
These new board members are sure making a difference! If you don't have anything to gain personally, why would anyone vote for any of these people?
My disappointment is on board trustee is on carlos elizondo. His platform. Was "for the kids" hes voted on nothing for the kids but rather joined the other self served corrupt board members.
Post a Comment