Southeast Bexar County Awareness: Newly Elected Board intimidated by Loren Brewer

As the outgoing members of the board were tied up in elections, there were items on three consecutive agenda's that they tabled and are required by law to be completed before the end of the school year.

• Contracts
• Employment of employees
• Renewal of employees
• Resignation of Employees

The "team" had the option to canvas the votes within 3 days to allow the incoming members to be briefed on the needed information to make an informed decision regarding the aforementioned before the deadline. Instead, following in line with their underhanded techniques, they voted on tabling the items and having them put on the Special Meeting agenda on the 20th of May 2015; at the time of induction for the newly elected members to make decisions on items that they had no background on.

is the question among members of the community of Southeast Bexar County. Some want heads to roll, others are concerned with the speed of the course of action and how it will affect the students and some are still looking to spread the malicious non fact based propaganda "sour grapes" attitude.

The actions of the board at this meeting will set the pace for what the board's agenda for the district will be.

The members of the board have started out by attending campus meet and greets, to introduce themselves to the staff and the students of the Southside ISD campus'. Not a violation and not micromanaging, but some perceive this to be such and therefore, the newly elected members must watch their steps and tread lightly as to not get involved in the day to day activities as the "team" was well known for.

The "team" chose to table the agenda item for Irene Martinez vs. Southside ISD after several posting on the agenda. Ms. Martinez was the Secretary for Dr. Juan Jasso when the "team" took over. Setting themselves up to micromanage the district, she was removed from her position. Ms. Martinez then filed a grievance, which according to the website is overseen by the Superintendent and then the board; both entities that were trying to have her removed in the first place and not getting a fair deal, Ms. Martinez filed a lawsuit against the district.

Ms. Martinez, having been on a leave of absence due to a brain tumor being removed then returning with a clean bill of health was moved without merit or cause. The 'team" then made an ignorant move firing this Hispanic woman, over 50, who had a pending grievance in her file.

Unlike Ms. Guzman who was suing the district and had a jacket of constant grievances, lawsuits, etc and was known in the district for being disruptive and divisive, Ms. Martinez's history has been of being a hard worker and a professional. From the agenda that states, "possible settlement", the community must remember, that this item was put forth by the "team" a few agenda's ago and chose not to take action, leaving it for the incoming board, to no doubt be used as an election tool and slander against the incoming board.

The Southside ISD website boasts of transparency, but only if you really look, do you see that they are hiding things.

Point in case:

In the year 2010-2011, prior to the "team" take over. The district expenses were, $51,740,298.02 for the year. Out of that money, $26,619,528.25 was for salaries.

In the year 2013-214, with the "team" in control, they put in a new football field, a score board, refurbished the dance team gym, added parking areas, etc. and their expenses for the year are fictional at best, $50,197,116.09. Of course, one month they did not claim any utilities bills; leaving it up to interpretation as to what else they left of the books.

Out of that money, $28,382,551.95 was for salaries, this is not completely accurate as they did not post any salary figures for the month of October.

The "team" created many high paid positions, paid extreme amounts to consulting firms for undisclosed items, monies paid to employees listed as "contracts" rather than including them in the payroll portion of the budget. Spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on charter buses for field trips, etc when the district owns a fleet of school buses (many with air conditioning). They spent over $100,000 to move 5 portable buildings. Spent over $50,000 to replace time clocks, which are in question as it has been said that the clocks they are using are still the ones that were purchased in 2006. Spent over $100,000 on new vehicles, which Mr. Brewer, Mr. Chavez were seen driving as their personal vehicles and a suburban that Mr. Vela used to drive the board members to away games. Thousands of dollars on travel for board members and employees as well as hiring additional law firms to support their agenda. J Cruz and Associates and Louis T. Rosenberg, while maintaining the law firm of Walsh, Anderson & Associates.

In an effort no doubt to finish the football field in time for the pending season, the board spent over a million dollars on a turf that will be damaged and need repair as they did not put in a retaining wall to keep the run off from damaging it's track and turf. Speaking to a reliable source, the original plans for the field called for retention walls to stop the run off into it's field area.

The newly elected board will have it's work cut out for it, trying to make heads or tails for the finances of the district. ESD#6 books were kept the same way.

The Superintendent's contract would be another item that was tabled. Not due to the efforts of the "team" who were trying to make sure that Mr. Ricardo Vela, the unqualified and non-certified Superintendent could get an ironclad contract before losing the votes to push them forward.

It was the incoming board members that saw the writing on the wall and quickly filed a restraining order to keep them from doing so and in turn costing the district a large sum of money. Mr. Vela has acted as though he was above the law since becoming Interim Superintendent, defying the policies and regulations set forth to hold the position. Therefore, he has not met the requirements under the waiver to hold the position he does; something the "team" would overlook in giving him a $10,000- $15,000 bonus for doing a "great" job aside from his extremely overpaid salary.

Case Information for Cause #: 2015CI07864

KENNETH E BOULDIN JR ET AL vs LOREN BREWER ET AL

Name :LOREN BREWER

Litigant Type :DEFENDANT

Date Filed :05/12/2015

Docket Type :OTHER CIVIL CASES

Case Status :PENDING

Court :285

5/12/2015

KENNETH E BOULDIN JR ET AL
AGENT:
AMOUNT: 100000
SURETY: CASH DEPOSIT IN LIEU
REASON: TRO
FORM: CASH

5/12/2015

PETITION

P00002

CIVIL CASE INFORMATION SHEET

5/12/2015

REQUEST FOR SERVICE AND PROCESS

5/12/2015

REQUEST FOR SERVICE AND PROCESS

5/12/2015

SERVICE ASSIGNED TO CLERK 2

P00007

5/12/2015

HEARING/TRIAL CRT REPORTER ASSIGNED
TP TRACY PLUMMER, 407TH DISTRICT CRT

5/12/2015

JUDGES DOCKET NOTES

5/12/2015

NON-JURY
SETTING FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
*DROP*
COURT: 109 TRIAL DATE & TIME: 5/26/2015 9:00 AM

5/12/2015

ORDER
GRANTING APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER 05.26.15

5/12/2015

CITATION
LOREN BREWER
ISSUED: 5/12/2015

5/12/2015

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
LOREN BREWER
ISSUED: 5/12/2015

5/12/2015

CITATION
ALMA GUZMAN
ISSUED: 5/12/2015

S00004

5/12/2015

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
ALMA GUZMAN
ISSUED: 5/12/2015

5/12/2015

CITATION
DANIEL RODRIGUEZ
ISSUED: 5/12/2015

5/12/2015

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
DANIEL RODRIGUEZ
ISSUED: 5/12/2015

5/12/2015

CITATION
JOHN WOOD
ISSUED: 5/12/2015

5/12/2015

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
JOHN WOOD
ISSUED: 5/12/2015

S00009

5/12/2015

CITATION
NORBERTO CHAVEZ
ISSUED: 5/12/2015

5/12/2015

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
NORBERTO CHAVEZ
ISSUED: 5/12/2015

Mr. Brewer in all his grandeur may have been removed as board president, but he held control of the meeting from its inception. Pleading with the newly elected members to stop from making a hasty decision when it came to removing the law firm that has been on record for the district for several years. He pleaded that they needed to to give things time. The board acquiesced and agreed to hold on to the law firm to transition into a new law firm. However, the board can still hire another law firm to work in conjunction with the current firm as Mr. Brewer clearly knows, since they had J. Cruz and Associates and Louis T. Rosenberg both working for the district for the last two years or so.

While this was not a bad decision, it was ironic that the comments that came from Mr. Brewer were made with the best interest of the district as it was Mr. Brewer who has done everything in haste when it came to school board decisions. The Interim Superintendent as most will remember was discussed and appointed on the same night, having been hand picked by Mr. Brewer and his "team", the decision to remove Dr. Jasso was done in haste as well. The appointment of Mr. Brewer's "team' was done immediately after the seats were vacated without taking time to allow members of the community to apply for the positions.

The Superintendent was given a reprieve until the next meeting and the only item that was discussed and approved was the deadline item of employee contracts. The media reported that Mr. Vela's contract had been extended for a year, which was incorrect as the only item approved was the aforementioned. The only way it could have been approved would be for Mr. Brewer and the "team" to have re designated Mr. Vela, so that his contract was included in the aforementioned agenda item that was passed. If that should be the case, then the "team" would be in violation of the temporary restraining order.

Mr. Vela announced to the coaching staff that they had been approved for extensions and were not losing their jobs before the board returned from closed session and also gave a thumbs up to his supporters, letting them know that he was not out for the count, yet.

The newly elected board was timid and unsure of themselves, lost control of the meeting from its inception, this because they have not been on long enough to attend board training and policy and procedures. Their supporters were very disappointed by their actions, but must understand that this was their first meeting and the newly elected members will need to do some serious training and not allow themselves to be bullied by Mr. Brewer and Mr. Chavez, something they are very good at to those who have followed them through the ESD#6 and archives of Mr. Brewer's previous term on the Southside ISD school board.