BOY, AREN'T WE GLAD BISD AIN'T GOT BALTY SALAZAR NO MO'?

By Henry Rodriguez

To: Valley Morning Star

Dear Editor,

Once again, it seems the district is giving the Valley Morning Star newspaper information that is not exactly true. The neighboring town's newspaper has taken the word of the school district's legal counsel, Baltazar Salazar, instead of first verifying with Berkley Surety Insurance, regarding the status of the $40 million construction disaster which was supposed to produce a natatorium and auditorium.

The last time this happened, Berkley Surety found out about Salazar's claims to the newspaper (March 26) and wrote a hot letter (April 3) to all board members informing them that the information their legal counsel had given to the newspaper was in fact, incorrect. 

Nancy Manno, vice-president of Berkley Surety writes “many of the statements in the [VMS] article are incorrect and reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of Berkley’s obligations, if any.” 

 Even after hearing Berkley Surety Insurance's denials, Salazar still maintained his claims, his fantasies were printed again in the VMS (April 5), as the truth…Deceiving the San Benito residents. To add insult to injury, Orlando Lopez, SBCISD board president, stood by Salazar’s comments, with Lopez, telling the NEWS that he was repeating the information provided to him, district officials, the rest of the board, and the public during the March 20 meeting by, you guessed it, Baltazar Salazar.

I have a question for Lopez. When you received the letter from Berkley stating Salazar was untruthful, you did not pursue a meeting with Berkley and your attorney to get to the bottom of where our claim with the surety stood? The school board is supposed to focus on fiscally responsibility and keep the community in the loop, especially when it impacts out students and tax dollars. 

Sir, you need to step aside and let someone else lead the board. Someone that will advocate and protect our children’s educational opportunities and taxpayers’ money. I’m not certain if there is anyone on the board with that capability, but surely Mr. Lopez, it is not you.

Then June 17, another story appeared in the VMS stating, "Berkley Surety is running tests on soil samples the company's construction consultant and geotechnical engineers took on March 14 and 15 at the project site, Baltazar Salazar, the district's Houston-based construction attorney, said." Based on Mr. Salazar's track record with the truth, did the newspaper verify with Berkley Surety that this was in fact the truth?

I'm assuming NO because in the July 26 San Benito News, editor Alexandrea Bailey states, "A representative for Berkley Surety said the company was not involved with any soil tests at the construction site and has yet to decide as to whether it's obligated to payout on its policy." Another verification of the lies being told to the public who are indebted with a $40 million careless obligation. Doesn't that phrase "and has yet to decide to payout on its policy" scare you? This is not the first time the Insurance company says that.

To top it all off, "the District is still waiting for feedback from legal counsel (Salazar) concerning any updates. As of today, (July 26) there has not been an updated report from the district legal counsel. The last written statement was provided to us on January 29," according to SBCISD Public Relations Director Luis Gonzales in the San Benito News article. So no truthful updates from the district's legal counsel Salazar, yet he tells fabrications to the neighboring town's newspaper, which then get exposed as lies by the insurance company.

Ms. Manno also states in her letter of April 3 that "the performance and payment bonds do not double the amount of the actual construction of these two facilities," contrary to what Baltazar Salazar says in the VMS article of March 26 and June 17 articles.

In the June 17 article, Salazar is quoted, "For weeks, Salazar's stressed the school district is 'heavily insured,' with payment bonds and performance bonds while the project's bond money 'is protected.'" Yet Berkley Surety is quoted in SBN July 26, "A representative for Berkley Surety said the company... has yet to decide as to whether it's obligated to payout on its policy." Who do you believe?

Then Salazar also says in the VMS June 18 story, "The results of the soil samples... should be made available to the SBCISD soon. We're moving forward. The SBCISD board continues to cooperate with Berkley to move this project forward and will keep the SBCISD community updated as soon as the new geotechnical results are shared with the SBCISD." How can this be if Berkley Surety LAST WEEK said, "A representative for Berkley Surety said the company was not involved with any soil tests at the construction site." Who is lying?

Board members, are you listening? 

You have this man on payroll who apparently lies to the newspaper because his words get proven false over and over? He also hasn't provided any feedback on the status of the project in over 6 months and yet we're still paying the bills for the $40 million bond and we're paying him for WHAT? 

 For over 6 months he hasn't given the board a report, and we are still paying him? That reminds me of another man we paid and paid and didn't build the buildings he was supposed to build. Is this all we know how to do in SB? Wake up board, you were elected to protect our interests, not allow lies to rule the district. This is an embarrassment.