October, 2009
Volume 18, Issue 2
EYES ON THE BOARD
CHANGE FOR ALL OF US!
The McAllen ISD Special Meeting began at 1 p.m. yesterday and ended at 7:30 p.m. on October 26, 2009.
Atlas and Hall were again selected as legal firm for the district. Dr. Caporusso questioned a $25,000 charge by Atlas and Hall in June. It was explained away by saying that this was for the investigation of a possible superintendent. A former FBI agent and his son were hired to investigate possible superintendents regarding their payment of taxes, experience record, being bought out and any other possible objections to their employment.
Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins, and Mott in a partnership with attorney John David Franz was selected as the delinquent tax attorney. At the October 13 meeting, the Board voted to renew their delinquent tax account with Line-barger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson. Then on October 19 the Board rescind the vote. Why the change? It seems that Linebarger gave the district a check for overcharging delinquent taxpayers $78,000. The check was for overpayment plus interest. Now 1,200 delinquent account holders will be repaid from this check. The school district will be reimbursing those taxpayers. It seems there was a communication breakdown between MISD and Linebarger.
On Friday, October 30, 2009 there will be a dedication of the Facilities, Maintenance and Operations Building at 1 p.m. and at 1:30 p.m. the new Central Kitchen.
Ms. Lopez, Assistant Superintendent for Business, will be the Custodian of Records in place of Dr. Mike Barrera.
The Health Plan changes were approved. They are as follows:
1. Dental—Align the dental plan calendar year maximum to the industry standard of $1,000 per member to effective January 1, 2010.
2. Pharmacy—Amend current pharmacy benefit plan design to require generic dispensions when a generic equivalent is available effective January 1, 2010. Implement an appeal process to allow for exceptions on a case-by- case basis for medical necessity.
3. Employee cost sharing—Adjust employee medical plan premiums by 6% effective with the December payroll for January 1, 2010 effective date.
On October 19, 2009 the McAllen ISD Board of Education met in a special meeting to discuss the Linebarger vs. Perdue (John David Franz) Rebid of Collection of Delinquent Taxes. The meeting started at 5 p.m. and it was nearly 10 p.m. before it was over.
This meeting was a detailed discussion of Delinquent Taxes. After presentations on each side, there were two (2) rounds of voting. The two rounds ended in a tie as Mr. Vela had to abstain (either related to someone in the firms or a business interest kept him from voting). It was suggested that they draw lots from an envelope (done before). Linebarger refused. Then each company was given the opportunity to give a 5-minute presentation. Then the board voted again—a third tie.
Finally, Mr. Moore (MISD Board President) said there would be a black out (no contact between board members and the two (2) firms). On October 26, the board will try to vote again and authorize a contract.
Mr. Saldivar, Dr. Caporusso, and Mr. Kent did an outstanding job asking questions. We were especially pleased with the detailed questions Mr. Saldivar asked. Saldivar had read the documents carefully. He let everyone who wished to ask questions to go before him—then he went through the background details like a lawyer.
When board members failed to follow Robert’s Rules of Order, Mr. Saldivar called their hand on the violations. When Mr. Saldivar made his points, he was polite but firm in getting his points over.
The McAllen ISD Board met on October 13, 2009 from 4:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. The meeting is now called a briefing. All the topics on the agenda were discussed in detailed. There were a few items that were voted on. We were there for the entire meeting.
Rolando Garza was selected at the Asst. Principal at Fossum.
The health insurance was discussed. Beginning January 1, 2010 the dental benefit will be cut by $1,000. Generic drugs will be the standard and there will be a case- by-case appeal process (a very detailed process must be completed by the employee to be successful). Premiums will go up 6%.
Rio Grande Regional, Edinburg Hospital, and the Heart Hospital in McAllen will be pushed as they are giving the biggest discounts—bids will go out on the one hospital concept. PCI, the health clinic that McAllen AFT got for you—with $5 copay, will be taking more of the load employee wise. The PCI Clinic is giving the district a 65% discount.
The Board has pushed all summer to increase employee cost participation. The Superintendent has said that the plan is too rich.
During the District Insurance meeting last week we voted no to the health increase and changes—the other professional organizations voted yes. Retirees cannot use the clinic—sorry, we ask. The Board will vote to implement all the changes on October 26, 2009. A detailed report was presented concerning transportation. It seems that the employee complaint concerning lack of interest for employees triggered an in depth discussion of what was going on in transportation. The big concern from employees is the unfairness of working hours—some employees get more bus driving hours than others.
The PTO from Gonzalez gave the school $42,900 for technology, field trips, etc. Many bill were discussed including payments for the three (3) new activity centers at each high school.
Presentation to MISD
Board of Education
October 26, 2009
Good evening. We represent employees from the teacher to the bus driver. With the increases in health insurance rates to all the employees will you still be an A+ district? With the changes in the health plan will you continue to attract the best employees? With the cuts in benefits will you be Fulfilling Your Promise?
Our members continue to be concerned about the teacher/student class load in high school. The quality of instruction is being affected. We know that large numbers of English teachers have left McAllen ISD because they truly felt they were not able to give the best instruction with such a heavy student load. Mathematics and Science teachers are telling us the same thing.
We continue to ask that curriculum programs recommended by Region I be reevaluated on a regular basis. Our experience with many of these programs has not been good. We brought this to the attention of many of the Board of Education members previously and ask that you continue to focus on the evaluation process of these varied programs.
With swine flu and crowded school classrooms especially in elementary schools and middle school in McAllen, is the district doing enough to protect the children and staff in the district?
Dr. Bryan Smith, Texas Department of State Health Services, at a recent McAllen Citizens League meeting stated that we would see the worst of the Swine Flu outbreak in January, February, and March of 2010. Have you done everything possible to keep our children, staff, and families safe?
Thank you.