Reduction In Force policies among topics addressed

San Benito CISD candidates Oscar Medrano and June Aguilera are shown during the San Benito News "Meet the Candidates" Community Forum. (Staff photos by Francisco E. Jimenez)

 

By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

Approximately 50 people filled the board room of the John F. Baron Administration Building for the San Benito News “Meet the Candidates” Community Forum, which was sponsored by the San Benito Friends of the Library.

Managing Editor Michael Rodriguez served as the moderator of the forum, in which Place 6 San Benito CISD School Board Trustee Oscar Medrano and Pl. 4 challenger June Aguilera were in attendance.

Pl. 7 incumbent Manuel “Meme” Gonzales, Jr. declined an invitation to attend Thursday’s forum while Pl. 4 incumbent Joe G. Gonzalez and Pl. 6 challenger Fatima Huerta cited prior engagements. Attempts to confirm the attendance of Pl. 7 challenger Julian Huerta were unsuccessful.

The candidates were asked to list what they believed to be the biggest problems facing by the school district and to prioritize.

“Our biggest problem is growth. We are growing, mainly on the west and south side,” said Medrano. “The other problem is facing budget cuts. Predictions for the upcoming school year show budget cuts of $300,000. We did have an amendment appealed. Now we’re able to share and take advantage of stimulus money, roughly $1.9 million. Budgets cuts have been an issue, but I don’t believe in reduction in force.”

“The biggest thing to me is teacher budget cuts. There aren’t enough teachers in the schools,” said Aguilera. “We can’t afford to lose our teachers. We spend sometimes on things we don’t need. We need more money spent on buying supplies. We have so many students throughout district.”

Teacher incentive pay was also an issue addressed in which both candidates supported.

“Teachers are important and they don’t get pay how they should. They deserve a little bit more because they do a great job,” said the 19-year-old Aguilera. “People question my knowledge because I am young, but it’s because of my teachers that I’m here.”

On bullying, Medrano said, “Here at SBCISD we take bullying very seriously. I personally condemn any type of bullying that is prejudice, unjust, racially charged, or sexually oriented. When I think of bullying, I think of myself when I was younger. Bullying should not be allowed in our schools. We need to be vigilant, not only as parents, but as educators to make sure to identify when a student is being bullied.”

Aguilera said, “Bullying is going to happen even when we’re not looking. I think if we see bullying at school, the administration needs to call the parents right away. Parents are the ones that need to be notified.”

When asked about how they view sex education and prayer in school, both candidates were very vocal on both subjects. “It is no secret that teenagers are getting pregnant. Yes, I do believe in sex education. However there is a fine line of how sex education can be provided in schools,” said Medrano. “Prayer is huge to me. If it was up to me, I would allow prayer in school and football games right now. But it’s not up to me. I do believe having prayer in schools is key to success of students and school district.”

“Sex education is very important,” Aguilera said, adding that she has a son whom she is proud of. “A lot of kids are getting pregnant. I think we should have a class that teaches students what it’s like. It is good that we have sex education.”

Both candidates agreed that cutting educators is not an option when dealing with potential state cuts. “I don’t believe that anyone should have to lose their jobs. “I believe other departments can be taken first before teachers,” Aguilera said.

“I think we first need to review local policy in regards to a RIF (Reduction In Force),” said Medrano. “We need to advocate for change from our legislature.”

On the question of continuing to utilize the retire-rehire program, in which retired educators were offered to return to the district and paid using additional monies, Aguilera vented disapproval of the program and questioned veteran educators’ longevity hurting opportunities for younger teachers to begin their careers. Medrano, meanwhile, said there are misconceptions regarding retire-rehires, stating that those additional funds to pay the retire-rehire employees were state funds. Medrano also called it a “perfect opportunity” albeit admitted it was not a “perfect program.”

Moreover, both Aguilera and Medrano said they would support, if circumstances allowed it, teachers receiving two-year contracts as well as encouraging compensation for educators who tutor after school.

To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the May 1 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.