Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Heretofore reliable sources are reporting that Marilyn Burns Elementary Principal Alma S. Garza and her secretary Jasmine Leal have been removed (suspended?) pending an investigation into alleged theft of about $4,000 in cash collected during the April Bandit Bunny Run Fundraiser.
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And as the investigation into that heist continues, a second incident involving another alleged theft of about $1,000 from a fundraiser in September dubbed the Chicken Run has been revealed. This time, the sources say that the signature of a teacher was forged on a bank deposit slip.
Assistant Principal Leticia Bohn is reported to have been placed as an interim principal.
Area superintendent Dolores Emerson is said to be overseeing the day-to-day operations at the school.
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Sources say the district sent in workers to change locks to the principal's office and were seen hauling off computers from the principal's office.
There is no indication who is suspected of allegedly stealing the money and requests to the district have been met with refusal to release anything dealing with the investigation. The first incident is said to have been in April and the second one in September.
The funds gathered during the September fundraiser were to be used to purchase Christmas giftsand decorations for students, sources say.
In response to an information request on the alleged theft by El Rrun-Rrun, the BISD attorneys responded with a letter stating that they had petitioned the AG to allow them to withhold evidence of any criminal wrongdoing at the school.
In its response, the district lawyer wrote us that our request for "(1) all reports by the BISD administration its police department or any campus or district correspondence concerning the alleged theft of funds from the Burns Elementary Bunny Run Fundraiser; (2) any referrals made to the Brownsville P.D., the Cameron County District Attorney or any other law enforcement agency concerning this alleged theft; (3) copies of any disciplinary actions generated in the case" would be left up to the AG.
But why do we say cover up? Because the district claims that "there is no information responsive to Item #2 and #3," indicating that they have kept everything having to do withe the alleged theft to themselves for nearly seven months and have not concluded the investigation.
"The requested information is part of an investigation by Brownsville Independent School District Police Department," they wrote. "The law enforcement agency is investigating potential criminal activity."
And they cite the Texas Government Code Section 552.108 dealing with exceptions dealing with "Prosecutorial Information, Certain Law Enforcement, Corrections, and
(a) Information held by a law enforcement agency or prosecutor that deals with the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 if:
(1) Release of the information would interfere with the detection, investigation or prosecution of crime; and
(b) An internal record or notation of a law enforcement agency or prosecutor that is maintained for internal use in matters relating to law enforcement or prosecution is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 if:
(1) Release of the internal record or notation would interfere with law enforcement or prosecution.
"As stated previously, the District's Police Force are investigating suspected criminal activity. The requested information pertaining to Item #1 is part of the criminal investigation. At this time, the investigation remains active by the BISD Police Department. The information made the subject of this request is part of the investigation and we believe are privileged and excepted from disclosure under the section of the Act.
"The District provides an affidavit of the lead investigator in this case who swears the matter continues under investigation by the department and "that release of information regarding this case at this time would hinder the investigation and prosecution of this case" (Exhibit E; Affidavit of Sgt. Patrick V. Gabbert)."
Heretofore reliable sources are reporting that Marilyn Burns Elementary Principal Alma S. Garza and her secretary Jasmine Leal have been removed (suspended?) pending an investigation into alleged theft of about $4,000 in cash collected during the April Bandit Bunny Run Fundraiser.
And as the investigation into that heist continues, a second incident involving another alleged theft of about $1,000 from a fundraiser in September dubbed the Chicken Run has been revealed. This time, the sources say that the signature of a teacher was forged on a bank deposit slip.
Assistant Principal Leticia Bohn is reported to have been placed as an interim principal.
Area superintendent Dolores Emerson is said to be overseeing the day-to-day operations at the school.
Sources say the district sent in workers to change locks to the principal's office and were seen hauling off computers from the principal's office.There is no indication who is suspected of allegedly stealing the money and requests to the district have been met with refusal to release anything dealing with the investigation. The first incident is said to have been in April and the second one in September.
The funds gathered during the September fundraiser were to be used to purchase Christmas giftsand decorations for students, sources say.
In response to an information request on the alleged theft by El Rrun-Rrun, the BISD attorneys responded with a letter stating that they had petitioned the AG to allow them to withhold evidence of any criminal wrongdoing at the school.
In its response, the district lawyer wrote us that our request for "(1) all reports by the BISD administration its police department or any campus or district correspondence concerning the alleged theft of funds from the Burns Elementary Bunny Run Fundraiser; (2) any referrals made to the Brownsville P.D., the Cameron County District Attorney or any other law enforcement agency concerning this alleged theft; (3) copies of any disciplinary actions generated in the case" would be left up to the AG.
But why do we say cover up? Because the district claims that "there is no information responsive to Item #2 and #3," indicating that they have kept everything having to do withe the alleged theft to themselves for nearly seven months and have not concluded the investigation.
"The requested information is part of an investigation by Brownsville Independent School District Police Department," they wrote. "The law enforcement agency is investigating potential criminal activity."
And they cite the Texas Government Code Section 552.108 dealing with exceptions dealing with "Prosecutorial Information, Certain Law Enforcement, Corrections, and
(a) Information held by a law enforcement agency or prosecutor that deals with the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 if:
(1) Release of the information would interfere with the detection, investigation or prosecution of crime; and
(b) An internal record or notation of a law enforcement agency or prosecutor that is maintained for internal use in matters relating to law enforcement or prosecution is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 if:
(1) Release of the internal record or notation would interfere with law enforcement or prosecution.
"As stated previously, the District's Police Force are investigating suspected criminal activity. The requested information pertaining to Item #1 is part of the criminal investigation. At this time, the investigation remains active by the BISD Police Department. The information made the subject of this request is part of the investigation and we believe are privileged and excepted from disclosure under the section of the Act.
"The District provides an affidavit of the lead investigator in this case who swears the matter continues under investigation by the department and "that release of information regarding this case at this time would hinder the investigation and prosecution of this case" (Exhibit E; Affidavit of Sgt. Patrick V. Gabbert)."