A reader sent in a letter to the superintendent and requested that I post it. He indicates that he has not had a response yet.
I asked for an explanation of the acronyms and received this:
The e-mail
From: Xavier Miranda <xmiranda5@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 30, 2013 at 10:04 AM
Subject: Education Issue for EPISD
To: Xavier Miranda <xmmirand@episd.org>,
The letter
October 24, 2013
Dear Superintendent Cabrera,
The following concerns and questions were to be broached at this month’s DEIC meeting. Unfortunately, circumstances did not allow for you to meet with us, therefore, I am submitting the following queries on behalf of engaged district employees, parents, and community members:
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Full authority granted by the Board of Managers to the superintendent to hire and fire is of significant concern, given the previous culture of intimidation.
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Employees’ sentiments regarding Superintendent Cabrera’s lack of credentials: demeaning educators’ certification requirements.
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Acknowledging that networking typically entails golfing with local politicos and business leaders, it is requested that equitable time be given to educators to solicit authentic education reform and subsequent implementation of viable policies and practices.
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PROACT process query:
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92 Highly Qualified Applicants dismissed, despite a community-based process was developed.
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Selection of a non-certified finalist; how was this derived?
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Connection to Houghtin Mifflin publisher remains a concern. Please update.
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Connections to Dee Margo and Board of Managers
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The Board President has historically shown to be “unfriendly” to education, e.g., voting to cut the education budget; promoting charter schools.
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Transparency and accountability is lacking.
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No accountability to constituents.
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Lack of community input by placing limitations at Public Forum.
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The Board of Managers has initiated a merit pay model for administrators, which undoubtedly will influence teacher performance and dictate curriculum focus. SImilar exploitative practices were in place with the previous superintendent.
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Not all Managers attend the monthly meeting, giving the impression that our district is not of high priority.
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It is assumed that your business approach to “fixing” our district will entail realignment of resources; i.e., 116 staff at the C&I division alone, when CCRP requirements indicate that personnel could be better utilized on campuses.
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The possibility of restoring the site-based management model?
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Will campuses have the latitude to determine bell schedules and class requirements for students?
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Determine the number of periods teachers are assigned.
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Extending the school day.
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Dr. Steinhauser’s presentation at Coronado indicates that a test-driven instructional model is hindering the critical thinking thinking process of our students. Teaching to the whole child should balance the curriculum-centered instructional approach.
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
Respectfully submitted,
Xavier Miranda
Coronado High School
elpasospeak 
The list of current job postings for EPISD is enlightening, especially since it includes a number of “professional” positions, including:
–Chief Financial Officer
–Chief Operations Officer
–Deputy Superintendent of Academics and School Leadership
–Area Superintendent (3 openings)
http://www.episd.org/employment/professional.php
How many superintendents does one school system need?
The building of a new empire has begun.
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With you teaching at an affluent school I give you about a 40 percent chance of getting something back from the super. Consider yourself lucky, if you were teaching at a barrio school the percentage would be zero.
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Seems Mr. Margo responded, quite arrogantly and threatening if you ask us. And they said Lorenzo Garcia imposed a culture of intimidation and subterfuge? Hellooo… guess with the death of democracy and elected trustees, they are free to rule without accountability and respect for democracy.
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Ah yes, the response from our illustrious head honcho of the ruling junta… er, board of managers (sorry…. Freudian slip). is below. Gotta love the threatening tone (and copying the principal, to rein in her teacher perhaps or else perhaps?), and the part about community input “where desired,” or maybe his inability to man up and instead of being a condescending boor about the “Constitutional mandate” [sic], admit he influenced that so-called “Constitutional mandate by voting to slash education funding (and which probably served to cost him the votes of 1000s of parents and educators in his reelection bid).
Oh, and Mr. Margo & co., if you are offended by the public posting of your insolent response that is offensive to many of us in the community– parents, educators, TAXPAYERS and VOTERS– and perhaps think of retaliation (no way, right?), remember that Texas’ Sunshine Laws would make your missive a public record. Let’s just say we saved the taxpayers and some peeps a dime or two. No need for a TOR. 🙂
Again we ask, how is theis different from the other boor and the culture of intimidatio and subterfuge that allowed him to commit his shenanigans and compell others to do the same and get away with it for so long unstopped? Yep, we deserve better!
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From: “Dee Margo”
To: “Renee Desantos”
Cc: Teacher [redacted] “Juan Cabrera” , “Blanca Enriquez” , “Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria” , “Judy Castleberry” , “Ed Archuleta” , principal [redacted]
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 4:52:51 PM
Subject: Re: Question for the Superintendent
Mr. [redacted], I’m not quite sure how to respond to your email, but I will attempt to address the questions posed to the BOM only.
Superintendent selection process–as stated previously and publicly, we determined thru our vetting process the most qualified and capable candidates, interviewed accordingly, received input from the community and included all elected Trustees in the process with the BOM. We believe the right decision was made.
Board President “unfriendly” to education appears to be your opinion without foundation. The Legislature can only pass a budget with revenues determined and certified by the Comptroller (see Texas Constitution) and that is what the 82nd Session did to fulfill its Constitutional mandate.
Transparency from the Board–all actions including personnel issues are made public excepting closed session deliberations.
Public Forum–last two meetings has occurred at 6:15 and 7: 15 respectively if my memory serves me and agenda items have public input where desired.
Regarding incentive compensation–we have stated publicly that we simply want to find a way (exclusive of test scores) to reward committed teachers who have positive outcomes with their students. We have said this will be studied and vetted by all parties.
BOM attendance has been consistent by all with only two exceptions for travel and health that I recall.
Our “business approach” however defined, is simply to put the majority of resources in the classroom with higher levels of authority at each campus starting with Principals .
I’m not sure what else you require Mr. Miranda so if further clarification is needed, please call on me. I’m optimistic you’re expending this same passion and energy in your classroom with positive outcomes.
Dee Margo
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