Now that we have the TEA imposed board of managers in charge of the EPISD, let’s take a look at the people who compose the board.
We have a lady that was appointed by the TEA to be the EPISD monitor. We know little about her other than she is a career educator that seems to have made a difference wherever she was. Other than the fact that she is not an El Pasoan that was elected by El Pasoans I think her appointment was a good one.
We have a former Texas state representative from El Paso who voted to cut $5.4 billion in funding out of Texas public education. Actually I respect his vote, evidently one made on principle. For my part I would prefer that the state not get involved in funding education. Lower the taxes and fees that they take out of a community and let the local residents decide what their education system should look like. I certainly don’t think that the feral government should be involved. Of course I doubt that many would support my view on this.
The man who is most responsible for El Paso having one of the best water usage rates and capacities in the desert is on the appointed board. He is a well known, well respected force in the water community. He also operated as a tyrant with a “my way or the highway” approach to government. He evidently saw no problem with his government organization buying major construction equipment from one of his board members. Yes it was done legally, but that did not make it right.
The chief financial officer of the city, who is also on the The El Paso Firemen and Policeman’s Pension Fund board has also been appointed. It seems that with both of those organizations the public has had difficulty getting to the truth of their respective finances. Beyond that we will have the incredible conflict of interest between her duties to the city and to the school district. I know nothing of her intentions here but do feel that other people without her conflicts should have been chosen. How will she find time to do her many jobs?
The head of the Region 19 (it used to be Region XIX but during their period of existence public education declined to the point where they changed the name so that the public might understand it) head start program has also been assigned. I hope she does well. The matter of her conflict of interest in serving two separate institutions that frequently interact is another disappointment.
We know that government officials do not relinquish power easily. How long will they stay when we have elected a new school board? Your prediction is probably the same as mine. State law gives them two years. I know of nothing that would keep the TEA from appointing another board after that.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
It’s pitiful that this elite appointed Board doesn’t see the need to even be present at meetings. I believe Mr Archuleta missed the first few meetings, one at which he was even elected VP. Then this latest meeting there was a quorum of 3 out of 5 present which only needed 2 votes to approve the decision to allow the superintendent to hire his principals, etc., a controversial decision at which the 2 Yay voters didn’t have the decency or professional courtesy to table until the other board members could be present… a sign that Archuleta and Margo feel: “we will wield our 2 person majority power…come hell or high water.”
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Being named by the State to the EPISD board (and so many other local and state boards) has nothing to do with qualifications, service or commitment. As Mr. Margo once said publicly during a campaign, “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” More often than not board seats are awarded based on donations, campaign contributions and political connections. For too many of these folks, a board seat is just another boost to their ego and another line on their CV.
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The best part of them being on the board is it keep MS Canery and her cohearts from doing to much damage.
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