By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
SBCISD Interim Superintendent Alfonso Obregon
San Benito CISD Interim Superintendent of Schools Alfonso Obregón’s tenure was supposed to last for another three months while the district investigated suspended Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón.
Although Obregón’s contract was extended for 12 weeks, a recent tragedy may have dramatically shortened his time with the district.
“In August, when the trustees talked about the extension, I mentioned to the board that my commitment was for three months being here, and my three months would be over by Aug. 30,” Obregón explained on Wednesday. “If they didn’t have anyone available in September I’d stay. Although they did extend the contract until Nov. 30, I did indicate to the school board that I was perfectly willing to accept a transition in late September or early October.”
Obregón’s wife of 43 years, Teresa Obregón, died on Thursday, Sept. 5 at a San Antonio hospital following a heart attack earlier in the week. Obregón took some time off to mourn the loss of his wife, but he returned to work on Friday, Sept. 13 with a change of plans.
“Having said that, my personal situation has changed to the degree of the passing of my wife,” Obregón said. “I’ve indicated to the school board president, only, that she needs to bring this issue back to the board to consider a transition plan that would allow me to move on with my life with the rest of my children, and the board can successfully appoint another interim to carry on until that time that a settlement is agreed upon for whatever conditions the suspended superintendent has agreed upon.”
In Obregón’s absence from the district, there was much speculation about whether Obregón would return to work in the wake of such a personal tragedy.
“There is the obligation of professionalism,” said Obregón. “Although I know that I can handle the day to day operations, as I am doing right now, I think that the timing is adequate to prepare for a departure, being that my personal situation has changed and my time is required somewhere else.”
He explained that while given his current situation, it would not be in his best interest to leave the district and return to retirement without a smooth transition for his replacement, be it interim or permanent.
“I would not leave the district dangling, or without an interim superintendent, so it would behoove the school board when they meet,” Obregon said. “I think their next meeting is the second week of October, and during that time they need to make a decision as to what they want to do. I am prepared to exit. I’ve had a good tenure here. The staff has been very cooperative with me. Central office and all of the principals have been very professional. The district is working well. It is in good hands, so any type of transition, the district can handle it. But as far as I am concerned, I am prepared to move on.”
On whether he felt obligated to return to the job he had already recommitted himself to just weeks earlier, Obregón said that it is his approach to professionalism that played a part in his decision to return to work. Prior to being approached for the interim superintendent position in May, Obregón had been in retirement after 42 years in education.
“I’ve always taken a strong approach to professionalism, and as such it’s been my longterm goal—decades of my career—to focus on the job that I am entitled to do,” Obregón said. “My immediate role is to try to bring closure to my assistants in the school district and try to make it the best possible for all concerned, specifically the employees and the students involved. To make any type of transition in a positive manner to anybody else who is going to take over the district in the near future.”
“It is difficult to continue with work, with life, with social activities, with anything that involves human existence, primarily because of the sudden loss of the companion that’s been in my life for the past 45 years,” Obregón continued. “But understand that death is part of life, and we have to carry ourselves to move forward, and do the best we can with the existing position that we have. It is difficult.”
2 comments
It is time that we the taxpayers, of which most of the board members are not, stop SPENDING $1.400 a day!! Our students deserve better!
My condolences to the Obergon family.
Now, to the brain wave SBCISD President and her three puppeteers! Bring back Limon and let him finish out his contract! As for the allegations, there are none!