By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
SBCISD
Legal services provided to San Benito CISD by O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath may be terminated on Tuesday, when a special meeting will be held to consider acquiring the services of another law firm.
San Benito CISD School Board President Yliana G. Rodriguez and Secretary June Aguilera called the meeting, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, inside the John F. Barron Administration Building Board Room on 240 N. Crockett St. in San Benito.
Of the five items on the agenda, three read as follows: “Discussion and possible action to terminate legal services of O’Hanlon, McCollom & (sic) Dermerath, PLLC;” “Discussion and possible action to select (sic) law firm to provide legal services through the RFQ process;” and “Discussion and possible action to select a law firm to provide special education legal services through the RFQ process.”
It was in June when trustees approved the Austin-based firm of O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath following the termination of Gus Acevedo as the district’s attorney, whose last day was June 28. As previously reported by the San Benito News, the board had voted in May to terminate Acevedo’s services.
Aguilera said the proposal to terminate the O’Hanlon firm was as the result of concerns shared by other board members, including her own. “The board members want to discuss certain problems we’ve had with the law firm,” Aguilera said. “We need to speak to Limón about that.”
Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón said the legal services provided by O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath are specific to the Board of Trustees. “But our dealings with them have been satisfactory,” Limón further remarked about the law firm.
Still, Aguilera said issues that arose regarding the O’Hanlon firm consisted of the time in which services were performed.
“Sometimes we had problems with getting things serviced in a timely fashion,” Aguilera said. “(There were) different problems with time and professionalism. That’s what we need to focus on. We have to discuss the different things that we’re dissatisfied with.”
Kevin O’Hanlon of O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath could not be reached for comment as of presstime Friday.
Attempts to reach Rodriguez for comment as well as Board Vice President Anna Cruz and fellow trustees Fatima Huerta, Julian Huerta, Hector Leal and Oscar Medrano were also unsuccessful as of presstime. It should be noted, however, that Medrano is currently recovering from a “mini-stroke” that his family said was brought on by vasculitis.
Read this story in the Feb. 10 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
25 comments
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Trust me, Chuy couldn’t spell Cat even if u spotted him the C. Don’t get too worked up folks, we will vote the “4” out of office in next election.
The GREAT CHUY and I say GREAT because he is playing a lot of people like a fiddle.Why do people believe CHUY is running anything.The only thing CHUY is running is his mouth.Well let me just say the SBCISD has THE GREAT ONE and the city has KING JOE. Good Luck to all.
It is sad to see such a continuous public display of political power plays that has no relevance about the well-being of the District. The law firm that was terminated is very qualified to do the work of SBCISD.
Is it possible that certain members of the Board, (or their kinfolk), discovered that they couldn’t manipulate them?? Shame on all of them. Send in the clowns!
Reform SB you are so right. It is now a political machine. They have the power in both school and city. I heard there are lots of votes coming out of one political members home. But real reason for Ohanlan being fired is because he did not take action on a certain (now former) employee who was doing work after work for other firms. She wanted to take away this employees ability to earn money after work. Since it was not improper, Ohanlan took no action. He has now resigned as he is making more money doing programs from his home and no longer needs his job. He is no longer with the District so why not move on? Because she wants attorneys who are puppets to her vengance? Good possibility and likely. Now they want Oscar out. That is below the belt. But not surprising. It is too close to his reelection to spend money on another election so she will want to appoint another puppet.
Why does everyone think Chuy is calling the shots? All he is doing is running interference, distracting the publics’ eye from those really calling the shots. In the mean time, he’s picking up fat printing contracts from the school district while the community’s focus is on him and not the group pulling the strings. And this group is happy everyone is thinking Chuy is the mastermind.
Think back to last election, when this entire city took a turn for the worse. Remember the mayor’s lawn and the political signs on it? Penney and Joe D. Gonzalez for commission, and SBCISD candidates Fatima Huerta, Anna Cruz and Board President Yliana G. Rodriguez. Willing to guess that the new attorney will be Morado (with a slight conflict of interest), and the board will be moving out Limon in favor of Joe D. Let’s just see how this plays out…
Don’t blame me; I voted for Bob, Anna, and Wilma!
The ohanlan law firm is the best in the business. That BOARD PRESIDENT WHO IS AN ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL IN LOS FRENSOS, just wants to CONTROL the SUERINTENDENT. “SHE” will bring in HER NEW SUPT., LAW FIRM , and FINANCIAL DIRECTOR. Just watch…. HER SHOW AND THE CHUY SHOW begins tonight at the SPECIAL BOARD MEETING. Mrs. Cruz works and has traveled out of town. What is so SPECIAL that a board meeting could not wait until she returned?? Sounds pretty fishy to the tax payers.
How much is this going to cost us now? As an employee, I see NO RAISES in the FUTURE. SAD, SAD!!!
Wow! how convenient setting up a special meeting when they know Ms. Cruz is out of town (work related). I guess they know how to plan there meetings. Tells you what kind of board members they are. I hope they realize what they’re doing. Especially when this law firm has an outstanding reputation. What part do they not understand: “O’Hanlan was the Texas Education Agency’s chief attorney.
They’ll recommend hiring some local firm who has ties or one (or few) of the board members, or their families. Small town politics, people in position looking out for themselves and/or their families. If they “get theirs”, thats all that matters.
It is a sad day when Chuy is calling the shots. The damage this board is going to do will take years to recover from. Forget about children that is not even in the equation. It is all about power hungry Chuy.
Once again,board and supt.”,we’re only here to help the students”,and of course the employees,yeah right.
Better get your pockets full,while you can.
The ohanlan law firm is highly regarded by school districts across the state of Texas. No surprise that SBCISD board members rather have an attorney say what THEY WANT TO HEAR. It begins tonight…. Voters, to include school employees, should be paying attention.
As taxpayers and parents of this community, all of us should be holding each board member responsible for their vote, especially the board president who is a principal at Los FRESNOS. She and her puppet, June, are the ones who want this new law firm. Just watch who gets chosen tonight. Where are Ms. Cruz, Mr. Leal and the Huerta family? I hope the SbNews reports this tonight online.
The board votes tonight. Watch who has had lunch and dinner with the new attorney. The trail begins..
Voters of San Benito:
Do not forget the actions of these barrio board members!
If you stay informed with what goes on with SBCISD, then you should know why they are getting rid of this wonderful law firm!!
It’s a shame!! So sad for San Benito!
One thing’s for sure, the board president and the “new guy” attorney will get along just faboulously!!
I also noticed in this article about possible discussion to provide legal services to Sp Ed!!
hmmmm, I wonder if that has anything to do with Chuy Aguilera being in the Sp Ed department with the director wasting time chatting away!!
Hellooo, shouldn’t TEA be involved by now!! The father of a school board member meeting with directors during the day, working hours!! Pretty suspicious!!
Again, San Benito is going down!!
Citizens don’t forget!!
yes because im junes papi- chuy
Yes chuy, you are junes papi and you will always be…
However, june WILL NOT always be a board member!!
And the only thing that YOU and JUNE will ever be known for in this community
is the embarassment you brought to SBCISD. Your delusioins of power and wanting to rule and reign have gotten you nowhere and NEVER WILL! Poor chuy, you are definitely a miserable, sad, angry little man!!
Define the “problems”.
What based your decision on the termination other than what the media has written?
Is it because you and yours’ do not find the firm to be adequate to your personal preference? It is well known and factual that this firm has an outstanding reputation and validated through its remarkable reviews. I really hope they know what they’re doing if this firm has a contract.
Where is the evidence that supports the problems you based your decision of termination?
That those 4 want someone else is NO SUPRISE!! How much is NOW going to cost the district? Those 4, lead by that principal at Los FRESNOS ISD board president, has someone already in mine… She keeps talking and talking….
The board (4) doesn’t like the answers the attorneys provide, so they are hiring someone who will tell them what they want to hear.
Acquiring the services of another firm? Why board members? Is it because you want to “clean house” and this very respected law firm does not want to play your games? The money of SBCISD will slowly dwindle and more cuts will continue in 2013-2014 and it will not be because of the superintendent. It will be because of the Majority 4 or is it now 5? We miss Mr. Medrano as he was the voice of reason. He listened to the taxpayers. You certainly provide good talk in this town.
If June’s dad is at the building, do they have cameras there? Who is he seeing and don’t those employees work or are they taking 2 hour lunches? Only in this town!
Since Miss June is now the spokeperson for this board, can anyone answer the question as to why June’s daddy is always at the SBCISD Administration Building? Is he a new employee? Does he sign in every time he is there?
No one available for comment? Boy, that’s new, NOT! The attorney is directly hired by the members. The firm works for the board. How many more trainings does June need to attend to understand that concept. I can’t sell my property fast enough in this town. I am a taxpayer, are the board members? Every one of those board members are spending OUR TAX MONEY for their personal benefit. If you do not think that is so, ask them who has taken them out to dinner lately. With all the wheeling and dealing this board is getting ready to do, I SURE HOPE THE EMPLOYEES are paying attention. Your RAISES are walking right out the door.
Professionalism? She has got to be kidding. This law firm is highly regarded by many, many school districts in the state of Texas. The “circus” continues for SBCISD.