Thursday, May 10, 2018

BISD RETIREE: SHADOW FOUNDATION NEEDS ACCOUNTABILITY

Special to El Rrun-Run

Two years ago with much fanfare, BISD Superintendent Dr. Zendejas announced the creation of the Brownsville School District Centennial Foundation. It was formed as a non-profit corporation with two goals, to provide college scholarships to BISD students and award grants for BISD student and teacher initiatives. 

The Superintendent made site visits and personally asked all BISD employees to donate to the Foundation through the district's payroll deduction system. Many employees answered her call and contributed to what they thought would be a worthwhile cause.
Many school districts have established foundations but BISD employees are starting to ask questions about how these funds are being used. Lacking answers, some have even stopped their payroll deductions.
Dr. Zendejas handpicked the Centennial Foundation Board with yes people and she has largely run this non-profit herself. Foundations of this kind are generally established as separate from the school district, with an impartial board and an independent director who is not the superintendent. 

Even with one of the members who abruptly resigned a few months ago from the BISD, she insisted on keeping him on since she knows he will be a yes person.

The majority of the Centennial Foundation funds have come from BISD employees combined with a few outside donations. The Foundation fund totals have never been publicized. BISD donors have no idea how much money is quietly building inside the Foundation's coffers. 

The general feeling among the employees is that the Foundation is a shadow organization with no accountability that is designed to support the Superintendent's personal agenda and nothing else. 

What is known is that district employees are often asked to work on Foundation activities during their regular district working hours. 

Activities include preparing for the Foundation's annual gala and publicizing the Dr. Zendejas One-Woman Show, which was somehow tied to the Foundation.
School district foundations are a good thing if they are transparent and operated in an organized manner, with clear goals and independent oversight. BISD employees and the Brownsville community deserve to know how much money the Centennial Foundation has raised and how those monies have been spent. 

Only an independent audit can begin to satisfy the questions that continue to build. This non-profit corporation is bigger than any one person. It is time to follow the path of most school district foundations and establish an independent board and director separate from the BISD Superintendent.

This will probably fall on deaf ears as the current Board majority led by Joe Rodriguez enjoys carte blanche from Dr. Zendejas. November can't come fast enough!

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

So much for good intentions.,Wouldn't have given her a penny.Speak up lady can't hear YOU.

Anonymous said...

Texas state law mandates that non profit financials must be open to the public upon request. Otherwise, they lose their non profit status and get audited by the IRS. File a complaint with the IRS on them, Juanito.

FERNY said...

TWO WORDS FOR DR.ZENDEJAS ...
FUCK YOU !!

Anonymous said...

Zendejas is doing the same thing Elizondo did with the firefighters PAC!
IF THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH Bisd, she is illegally using taxpayers dollars having donations done thru Bisd payroll deductions. This is a gift of public funds, totally illegal!!!

Anonymous said...

Your days a coming up bitch !

Anonymous said...

Espy and Joe deserve to wear orange jumpsuits

Anonymous said...

So who is post 8:07 pm? Joe Rodriguez, Dalia Aguilar or Terry Alarcon? All of you are an embarrassment to the BISD district! None of you are not worthy to serve the students of this community!!!! You are all shameful, corrupt individuals!

chucky said...

juan sounds like a scam to get money for joe rodriguez and company of ratas we have at bisd, also coach chavez has been around too damn long needs to go and retire him to pasture

Anonymous said...

Joe Barguiarena is coming, (Joe Rod) beware, this man has a name and support. He will beat you hand's down. We are with Joe B., enough of you...Go Joe B..

Anonymous said...

Money money money that's all they want. Doesn't matter how they get it Legally or illegally. Time to vote ALL the BISD board OUT.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, helluva party the foundation throws at ambassador event center every year!

Anonymous said...

And what dies Rodriquez, Alacron abd Aguilar have to do with this. Show up or shut up.

Anonymous said...

We are with Joe B !!! Educator's with Joe B! Hey Joe B, let's do it, let's do something good/the right thing. Let's beat the district, help us Joe B.

Anonymous said...

What do we know of Joe B.? He has two Master degrees in education and worked in the U.S. Congress and has post graduate education. we are with Joe B. against Joe rodriguez if he decides to run..Thank you

Anonymous said...

The function is not a hellava party! It is just a boring sit-down dinner not worth the $25 for the plate, but it is good to see several students and teachers benefit from the foundation. Just like they used to take United Way funds from our paycheck, they can do it for any non-profit, if the board approves it, so what's the problem? I guess it has come to the point if Zendejas says it is blue someone will say it is purple-blue. Espy, no matter how much you try, there are gachos who just bitch for whatever.

Anonymous said...

They are part of the problem parents and taxpayer's are fed up with these 4 no confidence in there ability to take BISD forward.

FERNY said...


Zendejas, no one likes you in BISD.
The people that follow you are kiss ass people.
They just want to kiss your ass just to get promoted.
That's why BISD is in the situation it is in because you promote people with no fucking experience at all.

STOP BEING A BULLY BITCH !!

Anonymous said...

(BISD IS SO CORRUPT WITH YOU AND JOE AND PLEASE STOP BEING A BULLY, IF )

There's a motel headed west on the expressway, just passed Olmito, where those two frequent together, on a regular basis. Don't really know what they are even up to. And I'm assuming Joe gets his tongue and face all smeared, PERIOD.
Elchuko.

Anonymous said...

All you people that constantly complain shoukd speak to the super in person instead of bashing her all the time. Nothing is ever good for you all. Dont be a follower. If you're so concerened be a part of the solution. Some of you especially one of you (R). Stop whinning and making false accusations.

Anonymous said...

Amen to that. No one gives her credit for anything she does. All you protesters, get a life. Yoy must be terribly miserable . God sees,all.

Anonymous said...

I've talk to the super in person and nothing happens.
She does not like to here the truth.
She's Joe's puppet !!

Anonymous said...

Joe B got a degree on skirt chasing with a certification "God's gift to Women" or so he thinks. He messed up some young lady bad some time back and he just sat back and laughed in her face. In Congress, did he learn from
Oliviera tricks?

Anonymous said...

Coach Joe can't even drive that far to Olmito, buey! What were you doing at that motel?

Anonymous said...

Did she let you even speak? Unless you are complaining about someone she hates — she won’t listen

It’s tome for her to go...nobody is fooled anymore

Anonymous said...

To post May 13, 2018 at 5:10 AM....back then Joe B..was single and able to date different women..Did he break some hearts, yes ! Did they break his heart, yes. That's life, life lessons. I know Joe B, he loves his daughter, is well educated and has a good business background. If you have never made a mistake, throw the first rock. We educators/business people are with Joe B, has he made mistakes, yes, like you and I. Maybe your just a jealous/envious person,because you haven't accomplished what he has. God bless you anyway, we hope he decides to run for BISD Board. We are working hard to recruit him, he has the qualifications, he knows education and business. Have a Godly day sir.

Messenger said...

If you are so up on your facts. Come forward and accuse face to face.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Terry Alarcon FOR LAST MINUTE INVITE.

Anonymous said...

Fire Zendejas. arrest Zendejas and put her in the worse maximum women prison, Esperanza you may get away with your crimes but you won,t escape two things, death and personal tragedy.

rita