Reprint from the Progress Times - May 16, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

Gerlach voices displeasure in MCISD meeting

 

In a regularly scheduled meeting of the Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) Board of Trustees, outgoing board members Dan Gerlach and Danny Carrera each had their final say. But before they spoke, Barbara Gerlach, wife of Dan Gerlach, made the most of the public comment portion of the board meeting.

“I met with Moises Iglesias and we both agreed that this has been a really hard and nasty election,” said Gerlach. “So it is with great pleasure and honor that we are forming a watchdog group. It will be designed to hold board members accountable for the decisions they make. It will be called ‘Save Our Schools,’ or S.O.S. for short.”

Gerlach went on to express her dissatisfaction with board practices and the recent trustee election, which her husband and Carrera both lost. According to Gerlach in her comments before the board, Mr. Gerlach and Carrera were the only two trustees who were required to ask permission any time they visited a campus. She went on to accuse the district of keeping the position of Director of Secondary Education open in order to allow an ex-board member to fill the job.

In his last statement to the board, Mr. Gerlach took the opportunity to pledge his continued efforts on behalf of the district.

“I want to thank all the teachers, administrators and maintenance people,” said Gerlach. “We have an excellent district. We’re here for you, we will remain for you and I will still help you in the future. It’s very important.”

Carerra expressed his satisfaction at running a clean campaign.

“I’m proud and honored to say that I never lowered myself in any candidacy to gain momentum by talking about anybody, including an ex-student who walked in my hallways when I was a teacher, Patty O’Cana,” said Carrera. “I have nothing to be ashamed of because it took courage to fight back.”

In other businesses the Board of Trustees received the internal audit quarterly report given by internal auditor Rebecca Magee. The report summarized the internal audit activities from January 1 to March 31 and is required by district charter on a quarterly basis.

According to Magee, the total fund balance amounted to $419,091 for the elementary schools, $158,226 for the junior high schools, and $264,106 for the high schools.

“Bryan Elementary has the highest ending balance of all the elementary schools,” said Magee. “Bryan is still planning on using their money for a new track.”

In addition, the total receipts came out to $493,156 for the elementary schools, $266,296 for the junior highs and $400,952 for the high schools. The total disbursements were $391,301, $189,674 and $417,064 for the elementary, junior high and high schools respectively.