New-look School Board plans special meeting to further mull superintendent’s year-long suspension

By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
& MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
San Benito News

Antonio G. Limón

Antonio G. Limón

Antonio G. Limón remains suspended as the San Benito CISD Superintendent of Schools after the Board of Trustees discussed his investigation, among other items, for approximately four hours in closed session on Tuesday and into the wee hours of the morning Wednesday.

“We anticipate that probably within this next week, another meeting will be held to come to a conclusion on this matter,” said newly-appointed Board President Arnold Padilla. “Every effort is being made to move this issue and this item forward. We understand the concern the community has had with it, but it is a serious matter – one that we do not take lightly and we take full concern of everyone involved. At this point, we felt the best action is a non-action, and we clearly will come back and revisit the issue within this next week.”

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/05/21/new-look-school-board-plans-special-meeting-to-further-mull-superintendents-year-long-suspension/

7 comments

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    • Leo Rodriguez on May 21, 2014 at 11:32 pm
    • Reply

    Jade, seriously? So what outcome would have pleased you, that upon hearing the evidence (?) the new Board would have immediately chosen to terminate Mr. Limon? I for one commend them for deciding to weigh information presented to them and insure no stones are left unturned before rendering a verdict.

    As for your transparency comment, unbelievable. I was going to offer additional comments on your tax dollars accountability comment, but let’s put that item on the “parking lot”, let me just savor this moment of enjoying a San Benito School Board President being available for public comment to our very own newspaper. It feels great.

  1. Smile Trouble!!!

    Sounds like the excuses have started to flow for the newly elected board members and nothing good will come out of this situation. People( board members) it’s obvious you guys have an agenda and your trying to figure out how play your cards and situate all the favors that where made before elections.
    Where’s the DA, they can’t come fast enough..
    @ worrier
    I couldn’t agree with you more, and typical San Benito, we don’t learn from the past situations just continue to get worse. Sad, everyone including Padilla, spoke about the previous Board Presidents actions but he can’t even follow simple procedures.. What a joke.. Thank you all 2k who voted for this guy, and the looks of it, he will be leading the disfunctional bunch to the pits.

    • Belinda on May 21, 2014 at 5:16 pm
    • Reply

    I think he deserves a chance just like everyone else did. Let them do their job before getting worried already. Stay postive. Negativity doesn’t get us anywhere. I agree with Reform San Benito.

    • Worrier on May 21, 2014 at 1:54 pm
    • Reply

    I voted for Arnold Padilla and all those who were installed, but I was a little disturbed that Parliamentary Procedures were not followed by the new board president last night. He didn’t ask for other nominations to each position, he didn’t ask for a motion that the nominations be closed. These are basic procedures for any meeting. And I also worry because a “rookie” was made president over several veterans. I don’t think that was a good idea. This new president has no background in the functioning of a school district or a school board. Now he is president. I thought all our worries were over. I am beginning to worry again.

    • Bad Dog on May 21, 2014 at 10:32 am
    • Reply

    Jade,

    Calm down. This is the best way to go about it. These newly elected board members need to look at the facts and make sure to reinstate or not. This was the right thing to do.

    It sounds like you like to create drama into this item on the agenda. Since you are suggesting that the citizens of this district attend this meeting on Monday. Transparency? Well I know for a fact that they will not be telling you or anyone else attending that meeting on Monday how they came about to reinstate or not to reinstate him. That’s why they will be going to executive session behind close doors to discuss this. All they will come out and stay either. “we the board will or will not be recommend to reinstate Mr Limon as discussed in executive session.” So whoever attends this meeting will NOT be able to ask questions to the board about their decision about what was discussed behind closed doors. That’s why it is called EXECUTIVE SESSION.

    Believe me this board looks like it has done the right thing, too wait. Stop being the instigator and bringing drama to this. Let them do their job without someone like you trying to make it worse. Eventually the board will release the story to the news and you along with everyone else will find out how they came about with their decision.

    Just to let you know, 6 out of the 7 CURRENT board members do have their interest in the children, employees and citizens of this community. So sit back and just let them do their job….Their NON PAYING JOB that is.

    • jade robertson on May 21, 2014 at 4:48 am
    • Reply

    A total of 7 individuals, with different points of views, agreed to retain Mr. Limon on suspension, can only mean that there was evidence collected by this firm, investigating Mr. Limon that prevented them from immediately reinstating him. Keep in mind the voters choose two new board members to make new changes and they also took no action on reinstating Mr. Limon after hearing what was presented by the law firm. That only brings me to believe that all along, the four board members that initiated this investigation, were in fact looking out for the best interest of the District.

    Now there is a meeting scheduled for Monday, I suggest and recommend, that the community attend this meeting and ask these 7 individuals especially the two newly elected board members, what was the evidence that prevented them from reinstating Mr. Limon on Tuesday night, May 20th. Transparency is one of the board of trustees major responsibilities to the community. As taxpayers, we paid for this investigation and under the open record requests, we can request this public information from the District.

    The priority is the Children and there is a sense of duty that should compel us all to have our questions answered by the board members we elect.. Eventually, sooner or later this information will be released and will reflect back on how these board members took action with the evidence presented to them on May 20, 2014 and the community will remember if no one implemented accountability for our taxpayer dollars.

      • Reform San Benito on May 21, 2014 at 9:47 am
      • Reply

      Quite comical, as an obvious supporter of the past majority, that you’d be demanding transparency and accountability when they offered none on this subject for an entire year. What a joke! The only deduction that can be properly drawn from the lack of action last evening by the new board is they’re acting responsibly in deliberating their action on this subject. I, for one, commend them for taking their time in evaluating their next move. There is a ton of ramifications and liabilities for the district and our children in their decision.

      New board members, the majority in this community trust you will make the right decision regarding this matter, that’s why we elected you. Whatever the outcome, we are grateful you’re not compounding the problem with a knee-jerk reaction in seeking a solution that is right and just.

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