Oliveira calls for TEA involvement in BISD probe

State Rep. Rene Oliveira on Tuesday asked the Texas Education Agency and the Texas State Auditor's Office to get involved in BISD's investigation of its Special Services Department.

On Friday, the Brownsville Independent School District Board of Trustees suspended Superintendent Hector Gonzales for 60 days pending the outcome of an investigation of BISD's Special Services Department, which is responsible for educating the district's more than 5,000 special education students.

The investigation comes amid allegations involving the amount of money spent on special education consultant fees, which reportedly tripled between 2006 and 2008, and other issues in the department.

Oliveira, D-Brownsville, said he asked TEA's Financial Audits Division and the State Auditor's Office to look in on the investigation "so that independent eyes are looking after the state taxpayers' interests."

Oliveira notified BISD and its Board of Trustees of his action at their Tuesday night meeting.

"Until the board determines how it will proceed with the investigation, it is impossible to say exactly how involved TEA and the State Auditor will become, but at the very least, I am asking that they monitor the investigation and actively provide advice and counsel to internal and external investigators," Oliveira said in a statement provided to the board and The Brownsville Herald.

Oliveira said he does not know the exact nature of the allegations that prompted the investigation and has seen no evidence regarding the issues, but "the fact that the board has initiated an investigation ... and suspended the superintendent indicates events are serious and raise numerous concerns. Among those concerns is that state money and federal money that passes through the state may be involved."

The meeting on Friday at which Gonzales was suspended followed weeks of turmoil at BISD that started when a new Board of Trustees was seated after the Nov. 4 general election.

"While I have great esteem for the board and the superintendent, taxpayers must have confidence in the investigative process, the impartiality of the results and a clear and transparent accounting of any state or federal money involved, so that everyone has confidence that a fair and unbiased investigation has occurred," Oliveira said in the statement.

He said he sought involvement by TEA and the State Auditor at the request of constituents and interested parties. "I am certain that, should circumstances warrant, the agencies will take whatever steps they deem necessary to protect the taxpayers' interests."

The Board of Trustees had been scheduled to consider Special Services Department budgeting and procurement procedures at Tuesday night's meeting. The item was pulled from the agenda under an agreement between attorneys for Special Services Administrator Art Rendon and BISD.

Rendon on Jan. 6 filed a lawsuit against BISD alleging breach of contract, violation of the Open Meetings Act, libel and slander. State District Judge Benjamin Euresti granted a temporary restraining order prohibiting BISD from firing Rendon or taking action affecting his contractual status. A hearing on a permanent injunction had been scheduled for today, but the two sides agreed to drop Tuesday night's agenda item and reschedule the hearing for the first week of February.

Tuesday night's meeting also included recognition of chess champions. Individuals and teams from Egly Elementary, Paredes Elementary, Vela Middle School and Hanna High School were recognized.

The district's chess programs have put Brownsville on the map internationally, board member Dr. Enrique Escobedo said.

The meeting started with recognition of the Board of Trustees for School Board Recognition Month, which is January. Schools throughout the district brought appreciation baskets containing gifts for the trustees, as is traditional in January.