Band Booster Club given ultimatum: Cooperate with Limón probe or face suspension from school functions

By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com

SBCISD

SBCISD

San Benito CISD Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ismael Cantu has issued an ultimatum to the Band Boosters: cooperate with an independent law firm’s investigation into the suspended superintendent or be ousted from school functions.

A certified letter signed by Cantu and addressed to the president of the San Benito High School Band Booster Club requests that the organization provide a copy of its bylaws, 501c(3) status, 2013 federal income tax returns and bank statements—this as per the request of attorney Sarah C. Dionne from Houston-based law firm Guerra and Farah PLLC.

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/03/28/band-booster-club-given-ultimatum-cooperate-with-limon-probe-or-face-suspension-from-school-functions/

39 comments

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    • the answer is under your nose on April 10, 2014 at 6:50 pm
    • Reply

    There is too much blame being put on people that are not to blame.
    travelgentshub.com/usa/texas/san_juan/wilpertoperez.html

    • joevette on April 6, 2014 at 4:29 am
    • Reply

    at our next band booster meeting we would like to have you present Micheal Rodriguez to take notes for your next story MAY 5 2014 San Benito High-school band hall

    • WeThePeople on April 5, 2014 at 12:17 pm
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    So far all I am seeing is innuendo. If there is wrongdoing here then why doesn’t the Chief Administrator of the District, (the Superintendent), call in a third party, (TEA)?
    WHY???? I will tell you why…he is dancing to the tune of the board majority or other forces unknown (you decide); PERIOD. End of story. Shame on HIM.

    “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

  1. @ six and sixth sense;
    Dumb people are the people that want to ignore this situation. I hope there’s very few people that think like you, if not our town, children and hardworking taxpayers will continue to get taken advantage of at the expense thieves..

      • yeah on April 10, 2014 at 7:35 am
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      Taxpayers – yeah, get rid of the 7 board members and interim. lots of my hardworking money going down the drain. that chuy guy too! if he wants to be so involved and persuasive, let him do it the right way. run for school board.

    • Sixth Sense on April 4, 2014 at 8:30 am
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    ME TOO!

    • six sence on April 3, 2014 at 3:59 pm
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    I see DUMB PEOPLE!!

    • What about on April 3, 2014 at 7:49 am
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    What about the band director last year that lost (fired, let go, resigned, whatever you want to call it for technicality purposes) his job because of missing funds (in the thousands) accumulated from a band (student) fund raiser? Was he ever held accountable? Fired (let go, resigned, whatever you want to call it for technicality purposes), yes; but did he pay back the missing money? Held accountable, apparently not if he does consultant work for the band. Hmmm….

  2. @ Leo Rodriguez
    I agree with some of your points, especially the ones pertaining to the hardworking parents and citizens that dedicate their efforts for a great cause. Several months ago when this whole issue came out , there was a few board members ( Oscar , Anna, Leal) that openly called out the school owing the band director 30k plus for some recent trip taken by the band. They fought and fought for the money to be paid by the district to PEREZ ,because the band booster had not met the needed amount. So let’s give credit to the people who brought this issue to light ( Oscar,Anna,Leal) and let the investigation began.. Thank you board members for interfering with band booster and protecting PEREZ… Total embarrassment !!! Peace

      • truth be told 2 on April 3, 2014 at 11:37 am
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      What a lie!!

    • Promises on April 2, 2014 at 3:19 pm
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    Does anybody know what any of the school board members have done for the school district? What they have promised? What the candidates are promising? Nobody ever talks about it. It’s never about that. It’s just who knows who. And that’s the problem.

    • now I know on April 2, 2014 at 1:30 pm
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    Know I know why this city will never progress too much negativ
    ity. People need to unite and vote for financially educated individuals that are fit for this positions. Not because they are your friends or because they promised you something.

    • Cup of TEA on April 2, 2014 at 8:38 am
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    http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/state/article_962b90c2-a0a6-558d-a6f3-60f0a371c842.html

    Interesting article. It is probably not in the best interest of the SBCISD or City of San Benito (community, parents, & students), having the TEA come in and do something similar to what they did in Beaumont doesn’t sound like a bad idea. The community, parents, & students shouldn’t have to tolerate and put up with the nonsense the School Board, Interim, and Chuy have turned the SBCISD into. It probably won’t be an easy process. It will probably stir up many difficulties. But at this point, it sure would be better than what is in place now.

      • GPS on April 3, 2014 at 9:57 am
      • Reply

      ATTN: T.E.A.

      San Benito CISD
      240 N. Crockett Street
      San Benito, TX 78586

      Please plug those coordinates into your GPS.

    • Leo Rodriguez on April 2, 2014 at 8:17 am
    • Reply

    I’ll reserve judgement on this matter until more information is made available. What’s troubling though is that the interim superintendent is basically stating the Band Booster organization has not been cooperating in the investigation of the suspended superintendent, and is hereby being placed on notice that failure to cooperate will lead to the Band Boosters being ousted from school functions.

    Mr. Interim Superintendent, may I remind you, we are paying your salary, not the majority 4. It’s becoming most apparent, at such an early juncture in your tenure, that you are playing right into the hands of these four individuals. Should the board have hired an independent interim superintendent as well?

    Here’s a tidbit for you Mr. Interim Superintendent, free of charge: The people in this community appreciate the hard work, support, & dedication of the Band Boosters, & of the Quarterback Club. These folks work long, exhaustive hours before, during, and after athletic events. If you ultimately decide to oust the Boosters from school related functions, you will witness a substantial decline in attendance & participation in athletic events, many citizens will join the Boosters in picketing against you and the school board outside of these venues.

    I hope, for all concerned, this matter is resolved in an expeditious, non-partial manner.

    Sin Fin.

    • WeThePeople on April 1, 2014 at 4:03 pm
    • Reply

    WOW. This move is outrageous and deserves investigation by TEA. All of this smacks of political retribution and compadrismo. Unbelievable.

      • Coincidence on April 2, 2014 at 8:16 am
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      Truth Be Told, We The People have spoken. Reform San Benito. Clean it up. Get a clue, Rita. I love my city, Booster Dad. Does anyone else Need To Know 2? Then make damn sure that your are heard and go out and vote come election time.

  3. @ coincidence
    It’s very apparent you don’t know or follow the UIL rules. If you read the newspaper article regarding this issue you would understand that the school has every right to ask for financials. Why simple because the ALL BOOSTERS use the school property and school sanctioned events as a way to make money, that being said, I feel ALL BOOSTERS should supply a financial statement frequently to see the money’s being generated and spent by these organizations.. It’s bothers me that people actually have a problem with this request…

      • Coincidence on April 1, 2014 at 4:16 pm
      • Reply

      @Need to know 2
      I don’t have a problem with the request for documents. I have a problem with the manner in which said documents are being requested. Yes, maybe ALL booster clubs need to make their financial statements readily available or maybe even post them on the schools and/or clubs website/webpage. At the same time, why not also release the so called LIST OF ALLEGATIONS.

    • Truth be Told 2 on March 31, 2014 at 8:09 pm
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    Those that speak out the most about accountability are those that have never lifted a finger to help! It is easy to throw stones from your lazy boy!

  4. The community that supports all the different boosters should know where their money’s go. It’s obvious that theirs lack of supervision and accountability in the boosters. The same parents have been complaining about the boosters liability and responsibility for years. We as a community need to do a much better job of uniting not dividing our town at the expense of our children!!!

    • DJ Jazzy Jeff on March 31, 2014 at 12:08 pm
    • Reply

    lol (=^;^=)

    anyone here have myspace

    • Coincidence on March 31, 2014 at 8:54 am
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    Maybe, just maybe, if everyone who has anything to do with this so called investigation would come clean and publish and/or release what the hell is being investigated such as the so called “list of allegations” then maybe, just maybe, there would be some cooperation from everyone and no more finger pointing.

    Oh and Truth Be Told, to put it nicely, quit trying to be a brown-noser. We know who you follow and don’t try to lump “the community” in with your views. I speak for myself not the community and until we see the list of allegations then nothing is right and this is all a vendetta by the left against the right or vice versa

    • Clean it up on March 31, 2014 at 8:39 am
    • Reply

    This move by the majority board members is nothing more than an attempt to try and find something to fire Mr. Limon. Since they could not find anything they are scrambling to come up with whatever so they can justify why THEY, the Fab 4, suspended Mr. Limon. Way to go board members. Thanks for wasting our tax dollars on your pathetic personal vendetta!! I can’t wait for election day, better yet, I can’t wait for the FBI to come down on you 4 for all the crap that you have done in this school district!!

    • Not Cho Cheese on March 31, 2014 at 8:25 am
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    What about the money from the concession stand during the softball games? Where do all the items for sale come from? Where does all the money made from the concession stand during the softball games go? Chuy, do you know? Julian, do you know? President, do you know? Interim number 2, do you know? Board members, do you know?

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  5. Interesting how all of a sudden there’s fingers being pointed everywhere. It seems to be very simple,if the investigation attorneys feel they need to question people why not. Voters want the truth and honesty and we get back lash and negative comments. That’s why our town will never progress because people are not open minded. I applaud the board for investigating the situations in our district that has been plaquing us for years. In addition,for years there has been negative comments about a few boosters who have no accountability and politicians having access to the funds or their best friend running it. Come on people this is a total shame and more accountability needs to be inforced, so the supports know where their hard earned money goes.. I hope this gets resolved and party’s at be get exposed because this is becoming a nightmare for your community/town..
    The truth will be told, if not exposed!!!

    • Get A Clue on March 30, 2014 at 6:22 pm
    • Reply

    Sorry it is Get A Clue. ha ha my boo boo. Maybe I should get one. Gotta love that education though.

    • Booster Dad on March 30, 2014 at 6:21 pm
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    If the board thinks that we will be intimidated by a bunch of school yard bullies, they are mistakened. Don’t forget that we are hundreds of parents that vote. And I have a question…Where does Julian Huerta stand in all of this? After all, he does have a child in the band. It’s so sad that he is up for re-election yet continues to ignore the band and doesn’t even participate. How many meetings have you attended, Sir?

    • Gat A CLue on March 30, 2014 at 6:20 pm
    • Reply

    Just curious……The Band Booster is a 501c3,right? So that means they are none profit, right? so that means that anyone from the public, including lets say a band parent can ask for those records under open records, right? Just want to make sure I got this right, right?

    • Reform San Benito on March 30, 2014 at 6:07 am
    • Reply

    Band boosters need an attorney.

    • I love my city on March 29, 2014 at 8:37 pm
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    Why don’t they do some investigating of the precious Quarterback club?? They’re the ones that have no accountability. Fair is fair. Have all booster clubs go through an audit on a yearly basis. People need to be held accountable.

    • DelaSera on March 29, 2014 at 4:24 pm
    • Reply

    I enjoy visiting the concession stand every game and can see the hard work the parents do. There is nothing that they do that has to do with an alleged investigation, Leave them out of this political vendetta. Illiana at it again. I am ashamed of all of her supporters.

  6. They’re using you as thier puppet Superintendent, with all the degrees you have (if any) why don’t you get that?
    Don’t do their dirty work..the previous one didn’t stand for it, why would you?

  7. @ Rita,
    We the community appreciate all you guys do for our children. I applaud you guys for dedicating your time away from your family’s for the betterment of our children, thank you. Continue what your doing and don’t let anything or anyone discourage you guys. Go Band Boosters!!!!

    • Bored Member on March 29, 2014 at 12:03 pm
    • Reply

    Isn’t the 2013 Federal Tax Return due on April 15th? Seems irrational to request the document before the Federal Government requires it to be done. On top of that the club can file for an extension and not have to submit their return until October.

    • Need to know on March 29, 2014 at 11:28 am
    • Reply

    Truth Be Told or Lie Be Told? Since when is the band program being investigated? “fix all the internal issues that have been covered up for years.” What an insult to all the hard working honest volunteers. Your dislike of the “Band Directors working history” is clear. You have learned from your mentor Chuy Aguilera (Mil Mentiras) well he also dislikes the band director. Speaking of which why doesn’t somebody ask the question on how all these pro football players are being paid to show up for his football league. In your words we need to “fix all the internal issues that have been covered up for years” Being paid by the school district ?

  8. It’s should be an interesting investigation, especially with the Band Directors working history. I know that finally our board is making headway and trying to fix all the internal issues that have been covered up for years. We the voters/ taxpayers know exactly who voted for the investigation and what a great move it’s going to turn out to be. The children in our district will be in a much better learning environment and the guilty parties at be will have to pay the piper.. Good luck to those who thought they would never get caught its time to face the truth..

    • joevette on March 29, 2014 at 1:31 am
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    Ismael Cantu does not know how these parents work volunteering their time to help the band and contribute time making the football games more pleasurable with people that know how to treat visitors to all football games and keep them coming back and parents that work these stands are hard working individuals who without hesitation arrive ready to support their band students Mr. Cantu you have no say in this if you dont even know how to be a superintendent and nobody likes you anyway.

    • Rita on March 29, 2014 at 12:37 am
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    As a parent of a Band Member I ask one question, What does the Suspension of Superintendent Limon have to do with The Band Booster organization. Since when did The San Benito Band Boosters Bank statements become part of the Suspension of Superintendent Limon. From my knowledge and understanding Our School District has never funded any money to Our Band Booster Organization for our children’s needs in band. Intern we as parents have had to volunteer and put in many hours of hard labor for our children’s needs. What Our San Benito CISD Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ismael Cantu false to see is that this organization is made up by numerous Board members not just The President so why would they send A certified letter addressed only to The President. Since when did it become The Presidents decision to turn in financial information without approval of the entire Band Booster Board Members!!!

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