“You Spin Me Right Round, KISD, Right Round, Like a Record”

KISD Blog by Elizabeth Ramos 11/20/2019

I should start calling KISD, Run Around Sally. Here are some updates. These are the games KISD plays. I enjoy a good game. Even though I may lose, I try and have a good time playing. Ya know, try to be a good sport! If I have to run around the field till I pass out at least I can say I tried.

Prior to KISD I have only requested less than a handful of Open Records Requests that the Public Information Act allows. Two of those hand full of requests were to a previous school district at Brownsville, ISD. They were extremely prompt in getting the information I requested. KISD doesn’t have the staffing to handle as much as was thrown at BISD. KISD is probably less corrupt than BISD or just less on the corruption level so BISD has to be on their toes. They also have more money for legal services. Their current lawyer gets paid close to $30,000 a month just to show up to board meetings. That isn’t counting time litigating and other legal matters such as correspondence.

KISD has hired O’Halon, Demerath & Castillo as their representation. They are a hired firm from Austin. Attorney, Maddox, is the normal face of the company for KISD and is at all meetings.

Not long ago I put in a request which I shared with you asking how much Bera’s resolution cost KISD. I received a letter from the lawyer stating the decision to release that information will go through the Texas Attorney General’s office first. Whatever. So sad. Let me cry a river. I just wanted to see how they responded. I knew they would “kick the can,” because KISD is so good at doing that.

On 11/1/19 I put together another Open Records Request asking the following: Item D. Please provide salary paid to Elida Bera for the month of September this fiscal year, 2019.

Item E. Please provide salary paid to Elida Bera for the month of October this fiscal year, 2019.

I was excited to know the possibility that information would not be withheld because I have received this type of information in the past. Exhibit 1. I filed on June 28th, 2019 a request for the following:

Item G. 2019 Salary for superintendent, Elida Bera. Please provide agreed upon contractual yearly salary for job

Item H. Salary for Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services.

Item I. Salary for Superintendent secretary, Enda Garcia.

On July 8th I received that information without problem. Here are the results, given with ease and quickly. So why would I have a problem getting an answer to when she was paid in Sept and Oct?

Here is the attorney’s response to me wanting monthly salary paid to Elida Bera. Exhibit 2.

If you look at board policy, I should be entitled that information. See Board Policy GBA (Legal) Public Information Program Access to Public Information. Exhibit 3 allows me to get the salary information of any employee and information relating to receipt or expenditure of public funds (IE your tax dollars).

See Exhibit 3, board policy, information that must be disclosed.

It was perfectly ok for the district to give me information pertaining to Bera’s salary when she was employed, but not after a board voted ‘resolution.’

How much did the board agree to pay Bera? Or let me better word that question. How much did Garza Jr., Prado., Garza Sr. and Coufal agree to pay Bera to leave the district? Enough to repave potholes in HM King parking lot area and roads? Enough to hire more security? Enough to hire a licensed social worker?

I am going to do a contest! I want ya’ll to guess how much money you think was spent on this resolution including any attorney fees paid to Bera for costs incurred to represent herself. I will buy a $100 gift card for anyone who can guess the correct amount or the closet to the amount by $50 without going over. Once the information goes public after expiration of contract with Bera, this offer will not be valid. They are trying to put us off till then. If and when I get that information or if I ever make it to a seat on the board I will give the person who voted correctly the money. If you obtain the correct amount from a board member (board driven rumor), offer is not valid. I won’t give you the run around and I will pay up immediately. I am good on my word. I am a straight shooter. I won’t play games with you, unless you got some card game. Spades and Gin Rummy are my faves. (Fine print. Contestant must be a registered voter in the City of Kingsville.)

For fun I got a response from KISD concerning both grievances against the grievance process and Board of Trustee, Nick Prado. KISD made a decision to develop and implement new internal regulations to consolidate the grievance sheets to the extent allowable by law and policy. They will also, "the department (or departments) that holds the complaint forms will have dedicated staff member(s) to assist individuals who wish to file a complaint." This is a great resolution but they gave me no opportunity to a conference. They had 10 days to respond and they didn't. I filed a Level II grievance asking for conference and the policy and procedure to which they changed.

As far as the Nick Prado grievance, I got another promise to a Level III grievance, which may be dismissed because they like to "kick the can" to protect board members. I asked for Level III to be heard in open session and they also were late in responding.

Time will tell. How much will this be spun or kicked around?