By HEATHER C. COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
It’s the last leg of what has been a cumbersome race for reinstatement, as former risk manager Janie Gonzalez awaits the decision of Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón regarding whether she will once-again be gainfully employed with San Benito CISD.
In a Tuesday meeting, school board trustees with Limón met to discuss Gonzalez’s grievance, which had risen to the penultimate Level IV. A vote of 4-3 in Gonzalez’s favor yielded the board’s suggestion to the superintendent that Gonzalez be reinstated.
Initially, Limón said he would like to formulate his decision by Monday, October 15; however, in a phone interview with the News on Friday, he said, “Although I had earlier indicated that I would make the decision on Monday, I won’t be ready to make it then. It will be another week or so before I can sit down and review everything, before I can finalize a decision.”
Limón shared that he wants to take his time and carefully review all documentation, including Planner/Evaluator Ruben Franco’s written six-page written response to Gonzalez’s grievance, which also contains 12 exhibits of documentation and 10 SBCISD exhibits which support Franco’s decision not to reinstate Gonzalez.
Also included in Franco’s response were documents indicating that Gonzalez allegedly lied to the superintendent, regarding Gonzalez’s denial of having written correspondence with Robert Champion, Jr. of Salazar Insurance Group. Furthermore, Franco included documentation of e-mails between Gonzalez and Champion which were discovered when SBCISD went through Gonzalez’s school e-mail account, which according to the superintendent is SBCISD property.
Among board trustees who voted in favor of Gonzalez’s reinstatement are School Board President Yliana G. Rodriguez. Gonzalez accused Rodriguez of directing her to draft a letter, now infamous, which would have immediately terminated the school’s present insurance agent and instated Champion and SIG.
Gonzalez’s attorney, Cindy Garcia, also claimed that, “The school board president asked Janie to appoint a new insurance agent.” Such an action would be in direct incompliance with board policy, which states only the board as a collective whole can make such a decision.
Accusations of Gonzalez and Garcia, coupled with the fact that Rodriguez elected to reinstate Gonzalez, do not provide clarity regarding the question: who chose to draft the letter and why, nor do such actions rectify the breaking of board procedure regardless of the purpose and intent.
In addition to Rodriguez, Board Trustees June Aguilera, Fatima Huerta and Huerta also voted to reinstate Gonzalez, with Anna Cruz, Oscar Medrano, and Leal voting against.
Limón alleged and in his written response to Franco that Gonzalez was terminated for dishonesty regarding communication with Champion. Franco included copies of the actual e-mails exchanged between Gonzalez and Champion. However, not all of the board members seemed to legitimize the decision made by superintendent.
Comparatively, Limón said, “I respect the board’s decision. They voted 4-3 to recommend that I reinstate Janie Gonzalez.”
Three board members and Franco opted against reinstatement, while the board president and three trustees vote to reinstate Gonzalez. This leaves the superintendent, who initially fired Gonzalez, with the final word, and he explained, “That decision isn’t made yet. I’m giving myself time to review and evaluate all possible ground for such a reinstatement.”
Attempts to contact School Board President Yliana G. Rodriguez for comment were unsuccessful.
Read this story in the Oct. 14 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
1 comment
Of course attempts to contact Yliana were unsuccessful! She has nothing to say, her actions speak louder than words….
Regardless of how we feel about Janie Gonzalez or this insurance debacle in the school district, she blatantly lied to the Superintendent of Schools. She disrespected him and the integrity of the SBCISD.