By Juan Montoya
In the late hours of Tuesday's Brownsville Independent School District board meeting - and after heated discussions on how to weigh grades for students in this stilted school year and whether to award the delinquent tax collection contract to a different vendor - a strange vote occurred.
During the closed meeting where personnel matters are discussed, and at the request of two trustees (Du Brown and Dr. Prsici-Roca-Tipton), the board discussed the following agenda item:
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The unusual thing was that on motion to extend the contract, Phil Cowen, Drue Brown, Laura Perez-Reyes and Roca-Tipton voted to extend it and Minerva Pena and Eddie Garcia abstained from the vote.
Both Pena and Garcia's terms end this November when elections will be held. Were they afraid that giving away the district's money will draw opponents out of the woodwork?
In his initial contract signed in July 2019 after he replaced Dr. Esperanza Zendejas, Gutierrez was hired by the board and assured that of employment at $354,128 a year until July 2022, paid a $9,000 car allowance, and given a raise every July 1 equal to the average wage increase teachers will receive each budget year.
In the late hours of Tuesday's Brownsville Independent School District board meeting - and after heated discussions on how to weigh grades for students in this stilted school year and whether to award the delinquent tax collection contract to a different vendor - a strange vote occurred.
During the closed meeting where personnel matters are discussed, and at the request of two trustees (Du Brown and Dr. Prsici-Roca-Tipton), the board discussed the following agenda item:
But it was what the board members did after they emerged from the closed meeting after considering he item. Four board members voted to extend the contract and assure BISD Superintendent Rene Gutierrez another year at $354,128. after his 2002 contract year.
The unusual thing was that on motion to extend the contract, Phil Cowen, Drue Brown, Laura Perez-Reyes and Roca-Tipton voted to extend it and Minerva Pena and Eddie Garcia abstained from the vote.Both Pena and Garcia's terms end this November when elections will be held. Were they afraid that giving away the district's money will draw opponents out of the woodwork?
In his initial contract signed in July 2019 after he replaced Dr. Esperanza Zendejas, Gutierrez was hired by the board and assured that of employment at $354,128 a year until July 2022, paid a $9,000 car allowance, and given a raise every July 1 equal to the average wage increase teachers will receive each budget year.
Now that he is assured of another year at $354,28, will Gutierrez suddenly become an advocate of teachers' wages so he can squeeze a little extra gravy from the pliant board members?