Sources deep within the district say the at least six votes are already there for her suspension or placing her on administrative leave and they are saying Area Assistant Superintendent Dr. Dora E. Sauceda might be named as an her interim replacement.
At least two top administrators – Payroll Dept. Director Keneth Lieck and CFO Lorenzo Sanchez – are said to have already turned in their resignations.
And still other sources say that the board majority is leaning toward offering the job permanently to Dr. Filemona Leo, an educator for over 30 years who retired as the Superintendent of Schools for La Joya ISD. She most recently served as an interim super at the San Benito ISD.
As is usually the case, Zendejas' fate was cast by the results of the last election when three of her majority – Cesar lopez, Joe Rodriguez and Carlos Elizondo – left the board. Lopez did not seek reelection and both Rodriguez and Elizondo were defeated in the election.
Her most recent tenure began with her appointment as interim in February 2015 and she was named superintendent. She was then named superintendent in June. She was the BISD's chief executive from 1992-1995.
When she was named interim superintendent, trustee Joe Rodriguez and the board promised that the community's input would be sought for a nationwide search for a permanent superintendent.
There was extended discussion on establishing a community advisory committee to help the board in its choice. And Rodriguez even suggested a consultant from the Harlingen ISD to help the committee.
All that was forgotten and Zendejas – who handed in an outline of her resume – was named as a permanent superintendent without the niceties of a selection process or even a consideration of any other candidates.
From there on, the board majority and Zendejas did as they saw fit, sometimes to the detriment of taxpayers and students, and often the embarrassment of the community. The board even approved an 11.25-cent tax increase on a vote without putting it out as a referendum to the voters or seeking public input.
More recently, she was caught making an unauthorized $421,000 payment to the vendor of the $1.4 million scoreboard at Sams Stadium even after the board declined her recommendation to accept the project as "substantially complete" for payment and directed her to return with answers to their questions on the warranties.
To their surprise, two days later the district issued the vendor the check without board approval.
As the spearhead for the board majority, Zendejas set about making personnel changes including principals and coaches. Many BISD staff complained that many of those changes were not made with the improvement of the district in mind, but rather to reward personnel who were allied with the board's majority.
As is often the case in the careers of school superintendents, you live by the gun and you die by the gun.
24 comments:
Yes medical leave ...
How about Teri Alarcon resignation letter
This is a slam dunk because Sendejjas admitted she made a mistake paying one of Joe Rod’s vendor without board approval. That was a serious no no. She openly admitted she screwed up. That scoreboard really was a bad purchase. No HD capabilities and in poor condition. The lights go out on it and the time clock skips. Spectators booed when the Veterans Dance team danced without any music because the sound wouldn’t work. This angered everyone at all the games. Why would Zendejas pay the vendor when all these things were defective? At porter Uresti purchased equipment that the kids couldn’t even use. Why purchase 3 jumping apparatuses that run in the thousands and not return it when the coaches noticed they didn’t work. Brand new equipment sitting in storage. BSN sold Uresti that equipment. Uresti part of a dying Joe Rod click that is finally coming to an end. If that principal is smart she rids herself of this crony once and for all. Instead of demanding the money back Uresti decides to hide the jumping equipment so Joe Rod doesn’t have to give back his cut. Not fair to those kids at all. You would think after the ring and jacket debacle that principal would have kept a closer eye. No one does anything because he is backed by Sendejas. Just like Tom Chavez is backed by Sendejas and allowed to run that program in the dirt. Our kids suffered enough under her reign.
I bet if you and your family were running for your lives, a measly 50' wall wouldn't stop you. Trump has convinced you that you're a frightened cowards like him. Most Americans aren't all scared shitting their pants like you lol. That's where the "home of the brave" part comes from. Not some rich, soft-handed coward. He is making a fool of you. If right-wing Americans had the money they spent on four wheelers, beer, bad tattoos, Rottweilers, Rottweiler chow, NASCAR memorabilia, bullets, Confederate flags and Chinese made Trump hats, they'd have nothing to complain about.
If people were changed it is because they failed to do what they were being paid to do. Changes in positions resulted in improved scores at that particular school. Those who toes she stepped on were guilty as sin and were so upset for finally getting caught doing nothing. That happened the first time that Dr. Z was here and she was known for making use of her duties as a superintendent. But the micromanagement from the board who sided with friends for having been rejected or moved, are now coming back at her. Why did Minerva not wait until Tuesday's meeting to do this - because in a special=called meeting the public is not given the opportunity to comment.
Minerva, make sure Rita is at the meeting so both of you and Sylvia can pat each other in the back with your "vengeance accomplished" smile. You better have a just cause and let the public know why you are doing this besides your personal vendettas.
It is about time! This bitch has been worse than worthless. Can any name any positive impact she has had on the education of BISD children?
We can only hope the Trustees send Zendejas on her way. The corruption and poor academic performance during her tenure have failed our community and our children. Zendejas allowed "Coach Joe" and his cronies to run rampant and spend on their pet projects....a $1.4 million scoreboard at Sam Stadium, $1,000 sports rings (both expenditures providing commissions to "Coach Joe"). The poor academic achievment in BISD has caused many students to move to Charter Schools or private schools to achieve their academic goals. The children from Mexico that enter BISD, and whose parents don't pay taxes, has required teachers to dumb down the system. Now, to make up financial losses, BISD, under Zendejas, seeks to "annex" areas that are now part of Los Fresnos School District and Port Isabel School District.....its all about expanding BISD taxing area to increase finances....to overcome the failures of Zendejas and the former Board of Trustees.
BISD should replace her with Terri Alacron
Here comes the lawsuits. Firings have comcequences. But who cares, it is only taxpayers' money. BISD board is totally incompetent.
So, as you say it, Coach Joe is responsible for the mess in BISD. Who approved the purchases? The board did! She only recommended! Minerva voted her way before Atkinson came in, but now she waits for Sylvia to pull her strings and actually punch the button the way she wants her to vote. I can not believe that Minerva now sits most of the time without moving her motor mouth and Piggy is the one that does all the talking now. Dr. A , Dr. A, Dr. A is all you hear at any meeting. Put her as superintendent if she is so good. That is what she is after. Sauceda was my principal at Cummings and she was a no show around campus. The kids didn't even know who she was. She left and went to Dallas to fill her pockets and was dismissed and she comes back to Brownsville and they hire her. Those who are resigning or retiring are doing so for as professionals, they will not tolerate the behavior of the current dictators on the board. How about getting rid of Salazar who is part of the conspiracy. Collution, collution
collution!
All I can say that it was time to make changes.i agree that Alarcon needs to be replace. What happened with the teacher at Hanna that violated a student? We have not here anything hello we demand answers. Todo la suciedad la ponen debajo del tapete
Sorry, Juan, but the last interim job Dr. Leo held was at Donna ISD. I do not think she is that desperate to take a job in Brownsville - with dictators and micromanagers all over the place at all hours of the day. Oh, and by the way, can you check to see if Atkinson and Tipton marked themselves absent from TSC yesterday that they held meetings until the wee hours of the morning?
Maybe Adela was in the audience?
All you people that are saying all those negative comments on this thread are not well informed. Some of you people on the board do it only fir recognition. You think the public couldn’t see how you all were grabbing the trophies from the superintendent hands to take a picture with the student? It was ridiculous. The grabbing of the trophies. I’m glad the Science Specialist finally asked the Superintendent to take a seat so that she wouldn’t be part of that ridiculous event. So don’t say you are about the kids. Also do you know how many times she takes kids to lunch. On her own. Why? Because they did well in an event. Study her actions before you say she should go. And if the board has so much again there. Then why the closed doors. Open it to the public. Let the public hear what she did wrong. But last and nit least. You might be doing her a Davy because working with a board like you. She is better gone. And what the district go down.
Filemona Leo??? Are you kidding me??? The former superintendent of one of the most corrupt districts of one of the most corrupt cities in the valley and former interim superintendent of SBISD? Please, remind me: Isn't San Benito in shambles? What did she do for the district, besides cashing a healthy check? Is that what our super board is recommending, is that what you are endorsing? What a f.....g improvement.
This city, our politicians and you guys who are supposed to be the watchdogs and whistle blowers are nothing but a joke......
MACHETE!!!
To 8:15 am...
If the supt violated policies , should the board ignore those violations? When students, teachers and administrators violate policies there are consequences. Sometimes there are consequences for NO violations (other then friendships).
If there are violations, is your recommendation to ignore those violations?
The board majority lost -the community has spoken.
IF there are violations then act accordingly. If there are not move on....
However to blame board members or target them for doing what they were elected to do ---is not the answer. The community voted out the majority because it was tired of the perceived abuse.
Terry Alarcon would be worse than Zendejas. A kiss ass should never be trusted. She need to get demoted and moved to the Bus barn.
Zendejas should be fired and the BISD Trustees should go outside the Valley to find a competent superintendent. We don't need another "former" superintendent who was fired or incompetent somewhere else in the Valley. We need someone who is energized by success, not by corruption that puts more money in her/his pocket.
Hey "Anonymous" at 10:51 AM....So Teri Alarcon does her job, is smart, honest, loyal, and impartial to a fault and you think she is worse than Zendejas?? Clearly you don't know a leader when you see one!!! If there is anyone at BISD that is above reproach it's Teri Alarcon. Maybe you are just jealous of her success...which is understandable!
Teri Alarcon is not honest or loyal its all about her her her.
I've read postings from BPD, BFD and BISD and I would be ashamed if I could'n write just ONE comprehensive sentence. The “red pen of death” shapes this community and the experience of an "academic culture of humiliation" along with the "culture of corruption" go hand in hand.
I know this is a blog and highly informal but PLEASE GIVE ME A BREAK!!!
Aaaahhh "Anonymous" at 11:03 PM....it seems like you've been on the wrong side of right and may have come up against Teri Alarcon which explains your sour attitude. Teri Alarcon doesn't hesitate to make the tough call for the good of BISD. One day, maybe when you grow up, you'll know what kind of sacrifice it takes to be a leader in the face of all kinds of evil corruption.
That's exactly what I tell Dr. Zendejas, blogger at 2:35. After all she has done for the district some idiots reproach her, it is to her benefit to let them sink and tell them to take their job and shove it. She does not have to take the unprofessional behavior of this so-called elected officials. And SA has the audacity to say that all of them are certainly there for their concern for the district and have no personal agendas.
She is full of it and everyone that knows her and the whole Atkinson family know that is true. Why is everyone so scared of them? Do they not remember that they also used to "go to the piscas de algodon?" Just because she's got a doctors degree doesn't make her less stupid. It is all just piled higher and deeper.
I agree with Dr. Zendejas being suspended and hopefully fired. But what about "Coach Rod". Why was he allowed to profit while a board member. It's not like he hid it. Everyone knew "Coach Rod" received kick backs from sports equipment purchased by BISD. I'll never forget when as a new coach at Brownsville Veterans he approached to congratulate me and gave me a card from a vendor and told me "You should buy your equipment from these guys". I quickly found out how it worked and after speaking with other coaches realized that you do as "Coach Rod" says or I would not be coaching for long. I am now embarrassed to say that I did as "Coach Rod" said even though it wasn't the best deal.
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