SBNEWSPAPER.COM EXCLUSIVE!
By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
San Benito CISD Place 4 Trustee Joe G. Gonzalez is shown as well as challenger June Aguilera. (File photos)
Candidates for the Place 4 seat on the San Benito CISD School Board recently tackled key issues central to education and spending.
Longtime incumbent Joe G. Gonzalez, who is being challenged by newcomer June Aguilera, said he’s “always been pro-students.”
“They are our future,” Gonzalez said. “We’re trying to provide them with all the tools they need to be successful. The board does its part. It’s up to the students.”
The 1969 graduate of San Benito High School who among his accomplishments lists the construction of Bobby Morrow Stadium, the acquisition of the former U-TEX building at the industrial park which now serves as a consolidated facility housing maintenance, transportation, the food and nutrition program as well as other school district departments praised the work of San Benito CISD Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón.
Gonzalez’s one comment pertaining to the superintendent’s performance was the following: “He needs to keep the board informed. He needs to be on top of things. I think he already is.”
Aguilera was not as impressed with Limón as she believes the superintendent’s sole contribution to the district was his role in the hiring of Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Spencer Gantt.
“I think (Limón) did a good job with that one. I think that was his one good decision, hiring Coach Gantt,” said Aguilera. “But with the superintendent (overall), I wouldn’t rate him that well.”
Citing recent concerns regarding a potential statewide education shortfall in the billions of dollars, Aguilera said she’d work to prevent the cutting of educators if elected, but if absolutely necessary she would consider cutting retire-rehire teachers.
“If necessary, I would do everything possible before I start cutting educators, because we don’t have as many as we need. But if it was necessary, it would probably be the retire-rehire’s, especially the ones that aren’t doing their job,” Aguilera said. “Like I said, I’ve been in that school for a long time and there are a lot of people who have been hired just on the spur. I want to hire people who have the background, because we are always being compared to other schools … that we don’t have the intelligence of other schools. Why is that? I want to hire the best of the best so that we are one of the top schools, not just at the high school but at the other schools.”
Although Gonzalez commented on the potentiality of education cuts, he was reluctant to respond to questions concerning the possibility of teacher lay-offs and how he’d address the matter if reelected.
“I cannot answer that question because we do not know how big of a shortfall it’s going to be. I really don’t think it’s going to be $10 million (for San Benito CISD). For us it will be between $3 million and $10 million,” said Gonzalez. “I really don’t think that it’s going to be that drastic for us. The superintendent already knows, he has heard from the board, we are against any cutting of any teachers. I don’t think it’s going to get to that, but the only thing is that we are at the mercy of the legislature until about June. I’m always the optimist, I’m not even going to think negative as far as this goes. So I’m not going to answer that; it would be unfair because we have no idea what it’s going to be. I’m just thinking that it’s not going to get to that point where we would have to cut teachers. I think that’s out of the question.”
A 2010 graduate of San Benito High School and daughter of Jesus “Chuy” Aguilera of Chuy’s Custom Sports, himself a candidate in the school board elections before dropping out, June Aguilera said she seeks to be the voice of the educators as well as the younger generation, citing her recent experiences at the high school as motivation.
“I’ve lived here all of my life. I was born and raised in San Benito,” said Aguilera. “I was involved in sports in high school, I do volunteer work, I’m a CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) teacher at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, and I’m also a third generation member of the Catholic Daughters of America. I’m all about this town.”
While Aguilera is seeking her first shot at public service, she said that her natural leadership is one quality that will help her if elected.
Early voting will be held from May 2-10; Election Day is scheduled for May 14.
To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the April 3 edition of the San Benito News.
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