Reprint from the Progress Times - February 16, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

Restriction On Who Can Run For Board Debated

Sparks flew briefly when La Joya Independent School District trustees placed a new restriction on who can run for the school board.

Approved at the Wednesday, February 7, meeting for incorporation into the district's policy manual was the following new rule:

"Any La Joya Independent School District employee that wants to run for a position on the board of trustees must take a personal leave of absence without pay upon announcing his or her candidacy for that position."

Long-time board member and former board president Elma Garza expressed strong opposition to the measure, noting that it was discriminatory and a violation of civil rights.

Trustee Rita M. Garza-Uresti responded, "That's your opinion and you're entitled to it."

At one point she told Garza not to scream and she responded strongly, "I am not screaming."

Garza is a school librarian in the Rio Grande City School District and her job would not be a conflict under the new policy.

When the vote was taken, board president Joel Garcia joined Garza in voting no on the policy change.

On another matter concerning elections, the board approved a joint election agreement with Sullivan City.

Under the agreement, the district and Sullivan City will hold elections jointly on Saturday, May 12. The agreement adds, "The parties to this agreement desire that a joint election be held that is cost effective and convenient for the voters of the entities."

Terms of the agreement specify that Sullivan City's polling place will be the fire station, both on election day and for early voting. While that will be the sole polling place for Sullivan City, the school district will have its regular additional voting sites.

The agreement also provides that Sullivan City shall assist in the general overall supervision of the election and provide advisory assistance in connection with decisions and actions by officers responsible for holding the election.

The school district also will be responsible for procuring for Sullivan City's election the necessary ballots, election kits and ballot boxes.

La Joya ISD also agrees to assist in the general overall supervision and provide advisory services in connection with decisions to be made and actions to be taken by officers responsible for holding the election.

The agreement was signed by Mayor Gumaro Flores and City Manager Rolando Gonzalez on behalf of Sullivan City and board president Garcia and board secretary Adolfo Salinas for the school district.

Terms of trustees Garza and Arturo Gonzalez Jr. are expiring this year. Neither has announced yet whether they will seek new terms.

On another matter, Superintendent Dr. Alda Benavides reported that the phenomenal growth the district experiences annually shows little signs of slowing down.

She noted overall the district has 916 more students than it did at this time last year, climbing from 24,568 to 25,484.

The district's 19 elementary schools and 11 secondary schools had close to the same growth numbers - 480 at the elementary level and 436 at the secondary level.

With the addition of Camarena Elementary, which has 878 students, enrollments at many elementary schools dropped from last year. The biggest drop was at Patricio Perez Elementary, which was down by 212 students, falling from 870 last year to 658. Also showing a decisive loss was Seguin Elementary - 729 this year and 910 a year ago, a 181 drop.

The biggest increase at any of the elementary schools was at Gonzalez, which was up by 81 students, rising from 769 to 850.

Showing the biggest increase at the secondary level was Juarez-Lincoln High School, which went from 1,505 students to 1,679, a gain of 174 students. The Alternative Center for Education was close behind with a 152-student gain - 418 this year and 266 a year ago.

Nellie Schunior Middle School had the biggest drop, falling from 737 to 656, a loss of 81 students.

A major portion of the meeting was spent in executive session, with 12 closed-door items on the agenda. No action was taken after the closed session.