Harlandale Independent School District Board of Trustees Regular ...

Harlandale Independent School District Board of Trustees
Regular Call Board Meeting
October 22, 2012
The Board of Trustees of the Harlandale Independent School District met for a Regular Call
Board meeting on Monday, October 22, 2012 at Schulze Elementary School, 9131 Yett Dr.,
San Antonio, Texas 78221. Mr. David Abundis, President, called the meeting to order at
6:17 PM.
Roll Call: Mr. David Abundis, President; Mr. Zeke Mendoza, Vice President; Ms. Velma
Ybarra, Secretary. Messrs. Jesse Alaniz, Joshua Cerna, Tomas Uresti, Members. The Chair
declared a quorum present. Mr. Alcoser entered the meeting at 6:43 PM during the Student
Spotlight.
Staff Present: Mr. Rey Madrigal, Interim Superintendent; Richard Hernandez, Assist. Supt. for
Business; Kathy Bruck, Executive Dir., Curriculum and Instruction; Fred Garza, Executive Dir.,
Human Resources; Leslie Garza, Public Information Officer, Robert Villafranca, Acting
Administrator for Operations; and Blanche Diaz, Recorder. Also present was Mr. Tony
Resendez, Walsh Anderson attorney.
The Schulze ES Boy Scouts troop presented the colors, led the pledges of allegiance, and gave
the invocation. Ms. Sylvia Tovar, principal gave the welcome and thought for the day.
Announcements and recognitions: College Night, Oct. 31 at Harlandale HS. HEF golf
fundraiser
Current Board President, David Abundis, presented a gavel to the immediate past Board
President, Zeke Mendoza, in appreciation of his service. Mr. Orlando Blancas, LULAC, helped
garner $1.25 million for McCollum HS over the next five years for Upward Bound students. All
HISD principals were recognized in honor of Principals Appreciation month.
Student Spotlight: Schulze ES and Wietzel Ctr. presented a video highlighting their respective
schools.
Citizens to be heard: Richard Martinez, United Public Workers of Texas Labor Union, asked
the board to address this issue. Carlos Martinez, HISD employee, asked to change his work
hours due to the heat problem. Michelle Vasquez asked the board to reconsider contracting with
the cheerleader choreographer. Gwen and Noel Garcia, mother and son, read a letter asking why
some campuses can wear costumes and not others. They asked for equality since their campus
will not allow costumes. Cathy Stein, HEA president, asked the district not to request class size
waivers and to grant autonomy to write curriculum. Mr. Jesse Alaniz presented Interim
Superintendent Rey Madrigal a commendation on behalf of the Karate Kids of America and
Master Eli Guerra for his support of the Just Say No to Drugs program. Juan Mancha stated to
not let any individual get away with letting things out of closed session. Lillian Zapata spoke on
behalf of Cassandra Rios. Oscar Garcia stated he had no problem with the situation, that his
daughter had attended that night and is now in the Navy.
A moment of silence was held in memory of Rachel Uresti, mother of board member Tomas
Uresti, who passed away one year ago today.
City Council Member District 3 Leticia Ozuna, City Council Member District 4 Rey Saldana,
Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Richard Perez, and Education
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Policy and Services Administrator for the City of San Antonio Rebecca Flores presented the Pre-
K 4 SA initiative. After discussion, Mr. Alcoser motioned to adopt the Pre-K 4 SA resolution
and Mr. Uresti seconded. Mr. Abundis made a substitute motion to go into Closed Session to
consult with legal counsel regarding possible action on the resolution and Ms. Ybarra seconded.
After discussion, all members present voted in favor of the substitute motion and the board
convened in Closed Session at 7:50 PM.
At 8:07 PM, the board reconvened in Open Session. Mr. Uresti pulled his previous motion and
made an alternate motion to adopt the Pre-K 4 resolution as drafted by the school district and
Ms. Ybarra seconded. After discussion, Messrs. Abundis, Alaniz, Alcoser, Cerna, Mendoza,
Ms. Ybarra voted in favor of the alternate motion; Mr. Uresti abstained and the motion carried.
The board took a break at this time.
Closed Session: After the break, Mr. Uresti motioned to move into Closed Session and Mr.
Alcoser seconded, to discuss agenda items
A. Regular personnel report
B. Harford Fire Insurance Co. v. Molina Architects, Inc., vs. Harlandale ISD, in US District
Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, Cause No. 5:11-CV-
00153 OLG
C. Employment of Cassandra Rios, McCollum HS.
The following speakers spoke on behalf of Cassandra Rios: Jessica Nieto, Col. of Dance Team;
Jasmine Lopez, McCollum HS graduate; Linda Beldon, parent. All members present voted in
favor and the motion carried. The board convened in Closed Session at 8:34 pm.
Open Session: At 9:47 PM, the board reconvened in Open Session. Mr. Uresti motioned to
approve the regular personnel report as discussed in Closed Session and Mr. Alaniz seconded.
All members present voted in favor and the motion carried.
Agenda item 9B – Mr. Uresti motioned to proceed as discussed in Closed Session and Mr.
Alaniz seconded. All members present voted in favor and the motion carried.
Agenda item 9C – Mr. Tony Resendez, attorney, stated that no action would be taken at this
time. He also stated that this item was still in front of the administration and they would be
working to resolve it.
Information and/or discussion only: Ms. Samantha Gallegos, Secondary Director, presented
the update on the School Improvement Plan (SIP) progress of Harlandale Middle School and
Fenley Transition Middle School. Ms. Katherine Pena, principal of Harlandale MS and
Elizabeth Stewart, assistant principal, completed the presentation. A question and answer period
from board members followed and board members thank them for working hard every day to
achieve this progress.
Mr. Richard Hernandez presented the District Superior Achievement Rating report and stated
that this is the 10 th consecutive year the district has been awarded this rating. This year the
district received 68 points out of a possible 70. Board members thanked him and his department
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for their hard work and stated that Mr. Hernandez’s late nights working is a big reason that the
district was turned around financially.
Mr. Madrigal reported the gifts accepted on behalf of the board – $1,853 monetary and $ 150
non-monetary for a total of $2,003.
Mr. Uresti motioned to table item 7A – Sept. 17, 2012 board minutes to the next meeting and Mr.
Abundis seconded. Messrs. Abundis, Alcoser, Cerna, Mendoza, Uresti, Ms. Ybarra voted in
favor; Mr. Alaniz voted against. The motion carried.
Consent: Mr. Alaniz pulled item 7D, 7H and Mr. Uresti 7I for further discussion. Mr. Abundis
motioned to approve by consent items 7B, C, E, G, J and Mr. Cerna seconded:
B. renewal of the contract/agreement for the 2012-13 school year for radKIDS
C. submission of the following grants: Toyota Foundation (Gillette); H-E-B Healthy Campus
(Terrell Wells); 2012-2013 Student Success Initiative Grants to Schools; 2012-2013 NCLB
Title 1 School Improvement Grant (TWMS)
E. budget amendments to the General Fund and General Fund’s sub-fund for the 2012-13 fiscal
year
G. renew RFP 110902 for work and safety footwear
J. renew RFP 120901 for pumping and hydro jetting of grease traps service
All members present voted in favor and the motion carried.
D. Mr. Abundis motion to approve the submission of a State Waiver Request for maximum Class
Size Exception and Mr. Cerna seconded. After discussion, Messrs. Abundis, Alcoser, Cerna,
Mendoza, Uresti voted in favor; Mr. Alaniz voted against; Ms. Ybarra abstained, and the
motion carried.
F. Mr. Abundis motioned to approve organizations meeting the guidelines of board Policy GE
(Local) Relations with Parents or Parents’ Organizations for 2012-13 and Mr. Uresti
seconded. After discussion, all members present voted in favor and the motion carried.
H. Mr. Abundis motioned to renew the RFP 110903 for refuse disposal service and Mr. Cerna
seconded. During discussion, board members asked staff to have a discussion with waste
management regarding the driveways after their trucks uses them. Messrs. Abundis, Alaniz,
Alcoser, Mendoza, Uresti, Ms. Ybarra voted in favor; Mr. Cerna was not present during the
Vote; the motion carried.
I. Mr. Abundis motioned to renew RFP 111016 for charter bus service and Mr. Cerna
seconded. After discussion, all members present voted in favor and the motion carried.
8A. Ms. Ybarra motioned to file a complaint and call for an investigation involving the release of
the superintendent’s evaluation and Mr. Alaniz seconded. During discussion, Mr. Uresti made a
substitute motion to convene in Closed Session for legal advice and Mr. Alcoser seconded.
Messrs. Abundis, Alcoser, Cerna, Mendoza, Uresti voted in favor of the substitute motion; Mr.
Alaniz and Ms. Ybarra voted against. The motion carried and the board convened in Closed
Session at 10:54 PM.
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At 11:05 PM, the board reconvened in Open Session. During discussion, Ms. Ybarra amended
her motion to file a complaint and call for an investigation with all pertinent investigative
agencies including the local authorities, DA’s Office, Texas Rangers and TEA involving the
release of the superintendent’s evaluation and Mr. Alaniz seconded. Messrs. Abundis, Alaniz,
Cerna, Mendoza, Ms. Ybarra voted in favor; Mr. Alcoser voted against; Mr. Uresti abstained,
and the motion carried.
8B. Mr. Abundis motioned to re-solicit the five firms who responded during the last RFQ and
narrow them down to three and then select a firm, and Mr. Alaniz seconded. During discussion,
Mr. Uresti made substitute motion to retain Walsh Anderson for the next 12 months and then go
out for an RFQ and Ms. Ybarra seconded, then she withdrew it. Mr. Alaniz seconded his
motion. Mr. Uresti made a substitute motion to hire Walsh Anderson, Brown, Gallegos and
Green, P.C. as counsel of record and Mr. Alaniz seconded. Messrs. Alaniz, Cerna, Mendoza,
Uresti, Ms. Ybarra voted in favor; Mr. Abundis and Mr. Alcoser voted against. The substitute
motion carried.
There being no further business, Mr. Uresti motioned to adjourn and Mr. Cerna seconded. The
meeting adjourned at 11:38 PM.
______________________________ _________________________
Velma Ybarra, Secretary David Abundis, President
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