Attorneys working to resolve Rendon lawsuit

Attorneys for BISD Special Services Administrator Art Rendon are working with the Brownsville Independent School District to resolve the lawsuit filed by Rendon to halt alleged attempts to force his ouster.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the state's 107th District Court. It alleges several civil violations in regard to how four members of the BISD board of trustees handled an agenda item concerning disbursements of federal, state and local funds for special education. The lawsuit claims breach of contract, violation of the Open Meetings Act, libel and slander. Rendon's department is responsible for educating BISD's more than 5,000 special education students.

The lawsuit had sought a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction to remedy the situation. However, attorneys are now working on an agreed order in the matter.

"Progress already is being made," Brownsville attorney Ben Neece said. Neece and co-counsel Star Jones filed the lawsuit on Rendon's behalf.

The lawsuit names BISD Superintendent Hector Gonzales in his capacity as the district's chief executive officer; Mike Saldaña, who serves as BISD's counsel, and board members Rolando Aguilar, Joe Colunga, Ruben Cortez Jr. and Rick Zayas. It alleges an orchestrated attempt by the four board members to discredit Rendon during an information-gathering session at the Dec. 2 board meeting. Questioning during the session "implied and insinuated that funds had been illegally disbursed" and that Rendon was guilty of malfeasance in office, according to the filing.

Attorneys met Thursday morning with District Judge Benjamin Euresti and agreed to work out an agreement in the case, Neece said. The agreement was incomplete Thursday afternoon.