Monday, December 16, 2019

LOOSE ENDS ON JOE ROD'S SUPER-DUPER $1.4 MILLION BOARD

By Juan Montoya

Remember the extravagant $1.4 million scoreboard for Sams Stadium that Rodriguez ramrodded through the board of the Brownsville Independent School District?

Well, that sordid tale is still not over, apparently. If you remember, then-board member Rodriguez had already picked out the vendor in advance and knew exactly what he wanted. The board was going to give him $600,000, but he badgered them and the administration (Super Esperanza Zendejas and CFO Lorenzo Sanchez) until he got the remaining $800,000 more for his board.

In addition to that, it seems that when the board approved the purchase of the scoreboard it entered into a job order contract.

A job order contract (JOC) is a contract for a fixed term or maximum dollar value, whichever occurs first, in which a contractor is selected based on a competitive bid to perform various separate job orders in the future, during the life of the contract.

 Procurement for this type of contract must still follow the requirements of Texas Education Agency; it is a contract, not a purchase order. Jon order contracting is not allowed when doing new construction. It does apply when there are recurring repairs, such as painting or partial roof repairs. Yet, Pharr ISD and the BISD used job-order contracting to purchase their scoreboards.

According to board counsel Baltazar Salazar, the purchase should have been done with sealed competitive bids even though the company which sold the BISD the board was part of a cooperative in another region. Instead, the BISD board told the superintendent to get three quotes (not sealed) and she did. Will TEA accept that instead? Or might there be sanctions?

After all, a mess up in a $1.4 million purchase is nothing to sneeze at.

Failure to follow theTEA provisions can result in a void contract and/or criminal penalties. Contract award is based on the bid adjustment factor which the contractor will multiply against “pre-priced” unit costs (compiled in a project task catalog) which is part of the contract. The adjustment factor represents all of the contractor’s costs (indirect and direct) and profit not included in the pre-priced unit costs.

According to some board members, the BISD administration found out it had erred in the contract for the board and self-reported it to the TEA when it became clear that the laws had not been followed. Apparently, Pharr ISD has not seen the light and has not self-reported thier mess up to the TEA.

The TEA is still investigating the BISD purchase, a long and time-consuming process and it has been more than a year since the BISD self-reported the snafu.

When Rodriguez was pushing for the purchase of the expensive board, he argued that it would pay for itself in advertising. But since the beginning, BISD staff has had problems making it work correctly and at time it has gone dark on them.

But Big Joe got his board and his athletic department the prestige of spending more than a $1 million on a scoreboard. Did anyone else get theirs, too?

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Noting new here. That piece of shit walking skeleton aka as Joe Rodriguez has literally stolen thousands of dollars from BISD and funneled it through his sham sporting goods business. He needs to spend the rest of his days in prison for stealing from our children and their futures.

Anonymous said...

Now, now...is this a way to take attention away from bribery case? Or so it looks like it. The score board did an excellent job of showing students at graduation. As a parent, it was about time they fixed old scoreboard issues. Did Sylvia pay you for this? If she did, was it with federal monies?

Anonymous said...

Not on this subject, but have you heard about the pissing contest going on between the Children's Museum and the Costumes of the Americas Museum? As you know, they are in the same building. Today, the Children's Museum, acting like children, blocked the entrance for entry into the Costume's Museum. On Wednesday the city is calling a meeting to deal with the issue. Seems the Children's Museum is growing and wants the entire building and wants to force the Costumes Museum out of the building. The cooperation that has been cordial for years, has suddenly cause these adults to act like children. Interesting that the city is offering the ladies of the Costumes Museum another location, but when the Mitte Cultural District was formed, the Costumes Museum was a requirement for the Mitte family contribution. So, is this the end of the Costumes Museum????? If the city can't deal with a rock in Washington Park, how will they deal with this cat fight.

Anonymous said...

The witnesses against Trump have all made sworn statements, as a matter of official record, in public, and under oath. While the witnesses in favor of Trump have all refused to testify.

That simple fact says so much.

Anonymous said...

Did the Sucios, as consultants, se mocharon con mordida?

Anonymous said...

Anyone wonder if the FBI maybe put the screws to Joe Rod about the scoreboard and got him to wear a wire and do the dirty work on SPA in exchange for freedom

Anonymous said...

The Children's Museum needs a bigger building.

Being together may have been good in the past...but now one serves a growing population....

I hope the city gives the children's museum a bigger place and the costumes can have the entire building to store their costumes.

It's simple for this tax payer...look at how many people come in and visit both of them.

Anonymous said...


Gladys Porter Zoo and the children's Museum need more space.

BISD needs to GIVE the property to the ZOO. Don't sell it...give it.
Give it to the zoo and let them build a parking lot a hotel or whatever else they want to do.

BISD has lost enrollment and over paid lawyers, superintendents etc etc, scoreboards..etc..etc.

Don't pretend to care about the precious tax dollars...that ship has sailed---And it is insulting to us to even have to listen and after last week NOBODY believes you anymore. Just do something good-give it away.



The children's museum needs a bigger space...either move the costumes or move the museum. But either way...the children's museum has reached it's capacity.
Costumes could go downtown..another draw to the area...or the airport--welcome to Brownsville..or to charro days.

OR BISD give the museum an empty school for $1.00 a year.

The zoo and the museum are two of our greatest treasures...time to invest in them.

el artista taxpayer said...

Juan no seas asi dude, joe got his bribe just like everyone, it is the boards fault for going along with this scam and ultimately voting to approve an allow it. so if you want to point the finger at anyone its the entire board fault, but in the end like always its the taxpayers who foot the bill. oh well back to the drawing board.

Anonymous said...

"the children's museum has reached it's capacity" WHAT, we as taxpayers have reached OUR capacity we are at the edge and tired of all this chananigans. There are more pressing needs.
Whoever wrote that must be riding a bike and using the bike trails. No pot holes no traffic jams no traffic lights no flooding and no bus shelters etc etc etc etc......

Anonymous said...

So the children are NOT one of our greatest treasures? Now I know where your mind is at, starts with a c and ends in an l...

Anonymous said...

3;06 ..I see your point...and I don't ride a bike. But I hear you, i just think it's time we invest in areas that are utilized. And streets would be included...but we need to seriously upgrade our zoo and children's museum.

Anonymous said...

Seriously? In a list of 1 to 10 one being the most important your request ranks at 12... at 4:26pm. Seriously!

Anonymous said...

So, the TRE was pushed by the board and Dr. Z to the community and to the employees of BISD. We were told what was included in that, were two band halls for porter and Pace, some tracks for other schools, AstroTurf for all high schools, and a PAC (performing arts center). BISD purchased that land for the PAC. Plans were drawn up for the PAC and they were Presented to all fine arts faculty years ago. Dr. Becky Rendon and Paul Flinchbaugh did an outstanding job of getting those beautiful plans going. But, Joe and the former CFO has other intentions for the money. The scoreboard and other things that were not originally part of what was sold to the community. Joe got what he wanted. He and the cfo pushed out Rendon and the fine arts PAC has gone up in smoke. No mention of it anymore. BISD owes it to the community to get the PAC going. Six high schools with amazing fine arts programs and yet districts with fewer schools have amazing PAC’s for their students and community. Quit trying to undo what was done. Get the PAC going!

Anonymous said...

6:21
Yes seriously ! I believe the zoo needs space and I believe the museum needs space

Cummings is a underutilized and would be better served belonging to zoo for parking or expansion

And yes I believe the museum could be bigger and better

Stand by it - absolutely

I can see it- you keep looking at whatever it is you are looking at

Anonymous said...

6:21 yes. Seriously.

Anonymous said...

Now look into past BISD board members voting patterns, especially those of BISD board member "La Rata" Carlos Elizondo and "Octopus" Joe Rodriguez. Gonna Gonna Squick Squick down the creek!!! Just saying

Anonymous said...

At the end of the day, if the purchase of the scoreboard was illegal, why did they board vote to approve it? Check out those who voted, those who signed the checks, and those who may have also worn wires! Wires connected to the puppeteer of SPA.

Anonymous said...

Where are the thousands of dollars that we’re supposed to be generated by ad sales from this ridiculous billboard?

Anonymous said...

The zoo and the museum should stand on its own the city has enough gimme gimme organizations. Maybe salaries at the zoo should reflect what the average citizen here makes this is not Toledo or san diego. Quit complaining and get to work..

If they get any buildings the next request will be for remodeling, furniture, re-wiring, plumbing, roof repairs and of course parking. Maybe even request their salaries to be picked up by the city. Carpeting anyone?

Anonymous said...

They had ordered the bill board with a permanent zero on the home side of the score board but the company couldn't figure out how to do that as it had never happened before bola de gueyes

Anonymous said...

Why does the city have to come up with monies that they don't have to stop a cat fight. UNBELIEVABLE close both joints down and sent everybody to the unemployment line where they belong or to the landfill more appropriate.

Anonymous said...

Go generate some traffic go outside and ring bells or dress up as a clown do something or close the circus down you people are always on a break drinking coffee and eating donuts.

Anonymous said...

Hint! Dress as a pig they're in season you'll have all bisd at ya alls door steps

Anonymous said...

LOL pigs lol smh and kma

rita