Board may reinstate superintendent’s purchasing, hiring powers

By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

SBCISD Superintendent Antonio G. Limon

SBCISD Superintendent Antonio G. Limon

The San Benito Consolidated Independent Board of Trustees on Tuesday, July 15, discussed updating Policy DC (Local) and Policy CH (Local) to reinstate powers stripped of Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón in November 2012.

The matter was presented by members of the Board’s Policy Committee.

School Board President Arnold Padilla said, “For the Policy Committee, I appointed: Angel Mendes, chair; Ms. Ana Cruz; and Mr. Oscar Medrano. They had a meeting to go through the documentation (existing policies) and find potential changes.”

“The Policy Committee asked to put (these items) on the agenda,” Limón said of the items addressed by the committee.

One proposal made by the committee is a change to Board Policy DC (Local), which discusses district employment practices. The committee requested two specific changes in the policy. “The first change will encourage current employees to apply for open positions within the district,” said Limón.

The second change proposed to Board Policy DC (Local) would set a maximum of two years on contract recommendations made to the board by the superintendent.

Finally, the proposition made to update Policy CH (Local) will alter the superintendent’s powers of purchase and acquisition. “The proposed change,” said Limón, “would change the limit on purchases not requiring board approval from $5,000 to $25,000.”

The superintendent expanded, saying that the committee’s review of surrounding districts shows that most districts in the Rio Grande Valley and surrounding areas have a $25,000 to $50,000 limit on the superintendent’s purchasing power.

In November 2012, then-SBCISD trustees voted unanimously to lower Limón’s purchasing power to a mere $5,000, which at the time forced the Board to meet on a near-weekly basis to approve purchases needed for every-day operational purposes that are commonly up to the superintendent to authorize.

However, some members of the committee expressed need to seek more information on the policy updates before action is taken.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/07/15/board-may-reinstate-superintendents-purchasing-hiring-powers/

5 comments

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  1. I disagree with him being reinstated he is a disgrace to the education program and to the SBISD. He is liar and if he has any respect left in him he would not accept ( Limon )

    • Barb on July 16, 2014 at 9:47 pm
    • Reply

    Did they accept the $600k consulant?

  2. I disagree with you on one thing, Arnold is showing all his cards and proving to us all exactly what his made of. This mess was foreshadowed durning their election just look at who was backing ( Chon, Lorenzo Sanchez,Ronnie Garcia, Tumberlinson, Bob Trevino) so that explains the corruption in our school district. Arnold aka Super Puppet will fold and Anna Cruz, Medrano,Mendez and Leal will seat back an watch with a smile. Meanwhile, our school district is going down fast and financial will be broke with all the consultants that have been hired by Limon. It’s simple folks ask for public information request and you will get a list of the consultants and their credentials along with their charge.. That’s where our tax dollars are going .. Thank you useless board!!!

    • The Obvious on July 16, 2014 at 6:59 am
    • Reply

    Mr Padilla is feeling the heat and is no dummy. He doesn’t want to be the one to blame for the New insurance debacle, so he gives Mr Limon his purchasing powers back. Mr Limon will now have to do what is told by Daddy Trevinio and Mr Padilla gets to wipe his hands free of this corrupt play that the board is making. Going out for bid on the insurance services and compromising the Managed Care Plan is not the best interest of the employees, dependents or tax payers. Putting the Newbie Mendez, Anna the Clown (makeup) and Oscar the unstable mentally/financially stable to serve, as leaders of the policy committee is a joke. They will create policy that will only require more vendor services that only benefit and line their pockets. A sad day for Mexicanos and San Benito.

    • Barb on July 15, 2014 at 9:24 pm
    • Reply

    Did the supt get his purchasing power back?
    Did the board approve the $600,00 consultant/teachers request?

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