DID ALL THESE PORTER PEOPLE PAY/RETURN $995 RINGS?

By Juan Montoya
As the Joe Rodriguez/BISD Ring Gate scandal festers at the school district, questions have popped up over the 11 non-players who received the $995 rings from Herrf Jones, a ring maker.

Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas and BISD trustee Joe Rodriguez each received a complimentary $995 ring from Herrf Jones, a sister company of BSN Sports, for which Rodriguez is a registered vendor.

Zendejas and Rodriguez were given a free ring as a "credit." (Click on bottom graphic to enlarge.)
As such, they were not included in the $31,025 total that the company listed on its invoice. Did they return the rings or did they keep them since they were gifts and not included in the total?

However, the $25,060 for the rings given to the 29 soccer players in the 5A Soccer championship team has not been paid and the BISD board is trying to figure out how to "fix" the problem. UIL rules prohibit student athletes from receiving any gift over $50 at the risk of losing their amateur status. Coaches who accept anything over $500 can be suspended. If the entire team is guilty, the team can be suspended from competing in UIL-sponsored competition.

It is obvious that the district does not want to go back and ask the players for the rings. And Zendejas has stated on the record that all the non-players have paid for their rings. Really?

It would be interesting to know if the following individuals at Porter and the BISD have shelled out the $995 each for the rings that they received. Have they?