Trustees approve changes to Superintendent’s Contract

Protest Vehicle
Pictured is Jesus “Chuy” Aguilera’s vehicle, present during Tuesday’s meeting, decorated with a San Benito News story on Carman’s severance pay request.
(Photo by David Lopez)

By J. NOEL ESPINOZA
Special to the NEWS

The San Benito Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the addition of a clause to the superintendent’s contract during a special board meeting on Tuesday.

After deliberating behind closed doors in executive session, SBCISD Board of Trustees President Michael Vargas spoke in open forum about Section 7.6 under the “termination without cause” portion of the superintendent’s contract.

In an email from SBCISD Public Relations Director Isabel Gonzalez, she states that it is incorrect that “the superintendent will be compensated $1 million in the case he is removed from the contract.”

Gonzalez’s email further states that Dr. Carman would be paid a lump sum payment commensurate to “the entire value of all salary, medical and health benefits, all stipends to include longevity stipend, and supplemental payments to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas,” due under the remaining term of the contract.

According to the new agreement, however, Carman’s new contract, which was extended to end Sept. 4, 2023, could be worth around $1 million or more since he currently earns $202,776, not including benefits.

The email from Gonzalez comes nearly two weeks after Sept. 12 when the NEWS requested she confirm the $1 million severance reported after multiple sources confirmed that it was discussed behind closed doors.

At Tuesday’s meeting, after consulting with the school attorney, Vargas said section 7.6, which is not in the Superintendent’s Dec. 2018 contract, deals with paying the superintendent a lump sum of money if he’s terminated without cause.

In addition, Vargas said the district agrees to reimburse Carman’s incurred attorney’s fees.

SBICISD Board of Trustees Vice-president Orlando Lopez made the motion to approve the changes to the contract, seconded by Secretary Janie Silva, and supported by Victor Eloy Rosas and SBCISD Board of Trustees President Michael Vargas. Board member M. L. Garcia voted against the changes, Angel Mendez abstained, and Sonia Weaver was absent.

Editor’s note: This article has been edited for length. To read the full story, click here or make sure to grab a copy at one of our various newspaper racks.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2019/09/26/trustees-approve-changes-to-superintendents-contract/

6 comments

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    • Jane Vidales on September 30, 2019 at 6:48 pm
    • Reply

    It is ridiculous! Teachers should ask for extra money for their retirement as well. Do teachers get additional money to pay for their cell phone ? Some teachers use their personal phone to contact parents. Does the Superintent thinks the $100 he gave teachers in the beginning of the year is sufficient to pay for the yearly expenses. Dr. Carman and his circus are benefiting themselves and not the students at SBCISD.

      • Ouch it Hurts on October 5, 2019 at 2:09 pm
      • Reply

      Janie Vidales is SPOT ON!
      I truly BELIEVE IT NOW, Carman TOOK THE SCHOOL TAXPAYERS TO THE CLEANERS. THE THREE AMIGOS EGO keeps feeding the BEAST!

    • Resident on September 28, 2019 at 9:53 pm
    • Reply

    Only 2 elementary schools got A’s and 1 of them was the 1 from last yr all the rest of schools got C’s, B’s https://txschools.gov if you want to see for yourself. Huge concern is the ex superintendent Esperanza Zendejas of Brownsville ISD that was recently hired to come work at SBISD at the HR department earning 80,000 that lady went from making over 300,000 to 80,000 c’mon word in Brownsville ISD she was caught stealing yet Brownsville ISD allowed her to resign. unbelievable, now we have another rata In the swamp!

    • Jerry Leigh Louis on September 27, 2019 at 8:38 am
    • Reply

    Shame on, Sonia Weaver

    Same on, Janie Silva

    Shame on, Orlando Lopez

    Same on you, Victor Rosas

    Michael Vargas has already brought enough shame on himself and city hahahaha

      • Fake News on September 27, 2019 at 4:46 pm
      • Reply

      It’s pathetic.. he prob giving himself credit for all the fake As that the district schools got.. how ironic that some that were at Cs last year ended up with As..who did they pay off at the testing center in Austin ??…

    • Raymond Moncivaiz on September 26, 2019 at 8:42 pm
    • Reply

    Stupid.moronic,& sophomoric!! Thanks to the inept SBCISD school board , San Benito got raw deal !

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