Community Voices Support for S-T ISD Superintendent Belmarez

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Skidmore-Tynan ISD was held Monday, November 13, 2006 in the S-T ISD Cafetorium. An overflow crowd forced the meeting from its normal place in the District's board room.

Community members taking the podium in the Public Comment portion of the meeting included John R. Scott, Joe Henry Hanus, Mattie Hicks, Thomas Mengers, Dan Christian, John Salinas, Daren Wilder, Terri Hall, and Alice Gonzales. In general, the speakers expressed concern about recent and pending board actions and voiced support of the District's Superintendent and administrative staff. Coach John Salinas asked that the board and community focus on positive developments within the District. "Negative talk affects the kids," said Coach Salinas adding "The last three years at S-T ISD have been the best in my 13 years of employment by the District." Speaker Daren Wilder agreed that S-T ISD has one of the best school systems in the area. "We have an excellent Superintendent, administration, and staff," stated Mr. Wilder, "Please put aside personal agendas and do the right thing." S-T ISD students, Cory Markham and Kristina Cavazos, also spoke in public forum on behalf of a group of fellow students voicing support for District Superintendent Dr. Brett Belmarez.

Two items involving consultation with the District's legal counsel regarding Superintendent's contractual "terms of employment" and a possible FERPA Department of Education complaint and investigation were pulled from the meeting agenda for lack of timely filing.

The board took action on the following items:

• Consideration and Possible Approval of DAEP Contract with Beeville ISD. This item was approved by unanimous vote.
  
• Consideration and Possible Approval to Pay Bills for Legal Services. This item involved payment for legal services rendered by the District's attorney who, in a previous board meeting, was directed to communicate with the Texas State Attorney General's office regarding an ongoing investigation. This item was approved by a 4-2 vote with Mr. Haggard and Mr. Petrus dissenting.
  
• Consideration and Possible Approval of Second Reading and Adoption of Updated (Local) Policy 78. After discussion of the merits of one section of the new policy regarding administrative authority to make employee "pay grade" adjustments, this item was approved by unanimous vote.
  
• Consideration and Possible Discussion to take Action on Declaration of Surplus Property -Tractor (Mr. Rick Olivares). The board voted unanimously to remove the tractor from the list of surplus property as recommended by administration.

A scheduled closed session item, Discussion and Consideration on Initiating an Independent Investigation on the Breach of Security/Theft of Internet Based Passwords as reported by the Superintendent of Schools to the Board of Trustees. (Mr. Ysrael Salinas), was pulled from the agenda.

The next meeting of the S-T ISD Board of Trustees is scheduled Monday, December 11, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. in the S-T ISD Events Center Board Room.