BREAKING: Meeting called to suspend SBCISD superintendent

By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com

Antonio G. Limon

Antonio G. Limon

A special meeting of the San Benito CISD Board of Trustees has been called by Board President Yliana G. Rodriguez to suspend Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón.

According to Limón, the meeting is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, at the John F. Barron Administration Building on 240 N. Crockett St. in San Benito, where members of the board are expected to decide whether the superintendent will be placed on administrative leave with pay. Limón also said that the agenda referred to the “possible investigation of the superintendent” but he did not know of any pending probes nor why investigative measures have been contemplated.

When asked why he believes his suspension is being sought by Rodriguez, Limón said, “They don’t want me to be on stage when my daughter graduates.” Limón’s daughter, a San Benito High School senior, is scheduled to graduate with the rest of her class on Friday, June 7. “This is just another way for the board members to embarrass my family; the whole issue is to prevent me from being on stage when my daughter graduates.”

“They could have waited until graduation, but they’re doing it now to prove a point,” he added, further noting, “To me that is the main reason for doing it.”

Also on the agenda for Thursday’s special meeting will be the discussion and possible action on employing an interim superintendent. All items will be discussed in closed session before the board reconvenes to discuss and take possible action in open session.

The school board has met to evaluate the super and discuss his contract on a monthly basis, specifically since December 2012, but thus far the only action that has been taken consisted of individual evaluations submitted by the seven trustees – a first for Limón, he said, in his nine years as the superintendent. However, the board has also limited his purchasing power this year by allowing him to sign off on purchases of up to $5,000 as opposed to the $20,000 he was previously authorized to approve.

Attempts to reach Rodriguez for comment were unsuccessful as of 2:45 p.m. Monday.

Want the whole story? Pick up a copy of the May 22 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2013/05/20/breaking-meeting-called-to-suspend-sbcisd-superintendent/

34 comments

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    • SusieQ_TX on May 24, 2013 at 3:33 pm
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    I’m just a teacher. Mr. Limon has gone out of his way to come over and give the kids pep talks about the required State testing. He went way out of his way to help me with a project I was doing with students last year. I’ve never met anyone who seemed kinder and more genial. When he is in the building with my boss, he still goes out of his way to greet any staff he comes in contact with. I like him and I’m pulling for him.

    • Sandra on May 24, 2013 at 2:35 pm
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    Why can’t we all get along!

      • Reform San Benito on May 24, 2013 at 8:00 pm
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      Because this, my dear Sandra, is San Benito.

    • Thinkaboutit on May 23, 2013 at 10:44 pm
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    sbperson for school board. Or are you one in the group you mention.

    • oooy coocooy on May 23, 2013 at 11:27 am
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    Wooow these new board members are really concerned abt our children education….. Sure sure now wht does maintenance have to do with our kids education. They have to pay back their voters. They slayed the dragon now there after the serpents I guess

    • Wake Up on May 22, 2013 at 11:07 pm
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    People of SB: Mr. Limon has displayed unprofessionalism, favortism, and disrespected his religious beliefs by retaliating against our district employees due to the recommendation the board has made. You people continue to fall for his sympathy tactics, mean while for the past 9 years and almost 1 million dollars later (of taxpayer’s money) our schools are some of the lowest academic performing schools in the valley. We have to thank Oscar, Sloppy Joe, Tumberlinson, De La Fuente, and Hector (mind you all these board members politically acknowledged their “satisfactory” evaluations of Mr. Limon) for unanimously appraising Mr. Limon in the last 8 years of evaluations. This has proven to be a total waste of taxpayer’s money and a failure to our kids education.
    It is sickening that one of our current board members (Ana) advocated during her campaign against Mr. Limon’s work ethic and proposed getting rid of him to better our district and better our kids education as her priority. Now it’s obvious that she has totally changed her tone to praising Mr. Limon and totally ignoring our kids education. Could it be that Ana, Oscar, and Hector could care less about our kids since none of them no longer have kids attending any of our campuses. It’s apparent that there focus has changed from “our kids” to their own personal gain.
    You same old bloggers continue to talk crap and try to protect your own. For example, the energy saving vendor. In the past week this issue has been all over the blogs and not enough people are getting credit for having this vendor in the bidding process..

      • word is on May 23, 2013 at 1:07 pm
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      Word is the super’s move of principals was strictly based upon what the 4some were going to do or push for once he was ousted. He did so to gain favor with the 4some in hope of them not voting him out. True or not true, that’s the word….

      • Concerned on May 24, 2013 at 3:15 pm
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      If you spend time praying for people instead of talking about them, you’ll get better results.

    • hounds83 on May 22, 2013 at 10:46 pm
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    blah…..blah….blah

    • sbperson on May 22, 2013 at 7:48 pm
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    vote yliana, june and the huertas out, theyre unqualified for the job just like our mayor, san benito WAKE UP! let’s get some people who are qualified and can get the job done without doing their dirty work first.. and no previous members either

    • Reform San Benito on May 22, 2013 at 6:24 pm
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    This reall stinks of an illegal meeting. Hope Mr. Limon’s attorney seeks an injunction and restraining order at the eleventh hour before the hearing. Go get ’em, Mr. Limon!

    • amazing on May 22, 2013 at 10:50 am
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    Please some of those Board Members are a bunch of hoodlums… I really don’t understand how some of those people even became part of the Board… I am a Graduate from the San Benito High School and I loved my school but with people like those to be on the school board makes me think twice on letting my daughter attend that school….

    • all the wrong reasons on May 22, 2013 at 8:03 am
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    People are funny the board members followers are laughing n screaming for Joy .now that lemon is gone there’s no stopping their stupid decisions. Alot if ppl are going to feel that especially in maintenance

    • Juan on May 22, 2013 at 6:18 am
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    Have any of you board members,supt.,teachers,employees,vendors,and yes even students ever bothered to read a story by Dr.Seuss,called “The Sneetches”,its most relevant,it will give all something to think about.
    I’m pretty sure this is about 87% of the problem here.

    • senior analyst on May 21, 2013 at 8:20 pm
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    To Lisa, Vernonica, Parent, Juan

    The Supt. is not seeking any sympathy from the public. What I believe the supt. is relaying is true. The mental ability of these four board members. The issue that is so important that the board president has called a special meeting. EMERGENCY BIG TIME TO HER AND THE OTHER THREE!

    Don;t forget the infamous insurance letter Yliana had to retract. Don’t forget that they hired an attny to save money. Fired the one they hired. And now the district is paying this present more money than Lawyer #1 and Lawer #2.

    Don’t forget that an insurance employee was fired becuase of Yliana’s involvement in this infamous letter.

    Don’t forget that these four board members requested a credit card for their use.

    Don’t forget that these four board members are pushing for an energy saving company that will cost thousands just to do an analysis.

    Don’t forget that these four board members have been explained that the district has qualified personnel to perform the cost saving measures. Saving energy is no new concept.

    Don’t forget that these four board members will vote to hire this company which has paid plenty of meals for them.

    Oh, and Don’t forget to vote for the best qualified candidate next time.

    Don’t blame me, I voted for Bob, Wilma, and Ana.

    • It Will Be OK. on May 21, 2013 at 8:07 pm
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    Don’t worry, Mr. Limon…
    You will still be able to attend you daughter’s graduation…
    You will just have to park a half of a mile away, like the rest of us, and
    You will have to stand in line, like the rest of us, and
    You will have to rush to get a good seat, like the rest of us, and
    Unfortunately,now you will have to pay for your graduation photos, like the rest of us!

    • Leo Rodriguez on May 21, 2013 at 7:45 pm
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    I continue to be amazed at how Mr Limon can retain such a benevolent attitude despite facing the otherworldly 3 school board members and the Board President. Yliana and her cronies have never focused on what is needed for the school District, they are too preoccupied on their own personal vindictive agendas.

    June Aguilera & Yliana Rodriguez provided statements to KGBT, but were not available for comment to our own local newspaper, yet they claim they are not mean spirited. I think this in itself tells you something about their personsl characteristics.

    Let’s face it folks, these four board members(as if I have to name them) have sought out to remove Mr Limon from office even before they were sworn in. These
    board members know they stand no chance whatsoever of being re elected in 2014, so they are determined to bag the big one before they lose their seats.

    These board members are not displeased with Mr Limon’s leadership attributes, or the successful measures and programs he has put in place, and they certainly can’t point the finger at him and say the school district is bankrupt, as many other school districts are. In essence, they collectively fabricate or come up with
    vague generalities, like “we don’t feel he is doing a good job”.

    Mr Limon could have merely accepted the 9 month severance and be done with dealing with these young, immature board members. So please ask yourselves why doesn’t he? I will summise to you why he doesn’t, which is just my own personal opinion. No one wants to leave an integral
    Position when you know in your heart you are doing a good job for the students, the administration, and to the community. You leave on your own terms, not when a vindictive majority board wants to replace you with a close friend of theirs.

    Hang in there Mr Limon, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

    Can’t wait till 2014 so we can vote these four low life’s out of office.

    • Lisa on May 21, 2013 at 4:56 pm
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    COME ON PEOPLE I THINK THIS IS DUMB!!! ok if you were so concerned about him not doing his job well WHY DID YOU HIRE HIM in the first PLACE!!! AND MOST OF ALL if he was doing such a bad job I WOULD BLAME THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR NOT DOING THEIRS and getting RID OF HIM!!! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS RIGH BEFORE HIS DAUGHTER IS GOING TO GRADUATE?? All I can say that tomorrow you better have a good reason why you are doing this. BECAUSE IF HE WAS DOING A BAD JOB I think you would have gotten rid of him a long time ago!!!! AND HOW DARE YOU SPEND THE MONEY TO PAY out his contract and PAY ANOTHER SUPER TO DO HIS JOB!!! we so get you kick off just because your killing our budget on another SUPER!!! you SELFISH PERSON YOU SHOULD KEEP HIM AND SPEND THE MONEY ON OUR KIDS EDUCATION. AND ONE MORE QUESTING WHY AT THE END OF THE YEAR ARE YOU DOING THIS AND WHY DIDNT YOU DO IT IN THE BEGINNING!!!!!!!!!!

    • DelaSera on May 21, 2013 at 3:51 pm
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    This is so vindictive and illiana has no soul. Huertas and June do not go along with her or you will be guilty as well. You can make a difference. Veronica, you and folks like you and mostly illiana are the reasons I am assamed to be from San Benito. I wish I could move. SB will is under a brain drain and Harlingen is benefiting. It will take a mandate from the voters to restore confidence in SB. Sorry to say we have to wait until next elections.

    • Henry on May 21, 2013 at 2:02 pm
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    When does TEA get involved?

    • Parent on May 21, 2013 at 1:34 pm
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    The School board needs to work together. Some of the board was voted in because they believed that the district needed a change. Seems like that change is being done in some of the wrong ways and their main focus is not on the teachers, students etc.. They really need to focus on some of the most important things that the school needs like boosting teacher moral, raising student scores, etc… People need to really have their facts together before they can get rid of anyone. Grudges will not do you any good it only makes people bitter.

    • Rebecca on May 21, 2013 at 11:41 am
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    This is what is wrong with the eductaion system in general. People are always out to get other people due to personal reasons.
    Too many people in sbcisd are in their position not because they deserve to be there due to their credentials, actual experience and degree but because they got “hooked up” . There is too much “who you know”: going on.

    What should happen like many other school districts have done is a full house sweep starting at the bottom and work to the top. If this means school won’t start August 2013 so be it. Go school by school, employee by employee. What is going to happen alot of people will be gone!! Hell TEA should get involved.

    Stuff like this is what makes San Benito have a bad reputation as one of the worse districts in south texas.

    • I c all on May 21, 2013 at 10:51 am
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    Drama drama drama now that’s why San Benito will never succeed. No one is united

    • veronica on May 21, 2013 at 9:29 am
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    Well sorry to tell you Lilly I don’t know much about Gonzalez daughter but my point here was that people don’t like it when the tables are turned. nobody is out to embarrass Limons family he took it upon himself to got to the press and say the things he said about his daughter and her special night. If he really cared of his position he would worry more about that not if he can hand his daughter her diploma or not. Yes it would be a great honor but if his job was important to him why make the fuse only about the graduation and not talk about what he seems to have accomplished and plans on accomplishing for this district instead of it falling to shit. and you can not blame it on the board members themselves because san benito cisd is made up of the whole community but since some people don’t seem to care about the school district they don’t make their opinions heard. The people voted for a reason and a;; these board members won to make change and I for one don’t see them making any wrong changes so far. and yes I have children and their education is the most important to me. and at Jay if you want to making fun of the way they run things why don’t you put yourself out there next election and run so how you can handle making important decisions for our district. the problem is that you people ike to talk so much crap but yet don’t do anything about it. Cause I know when Im unhappy with something I do something about so I suggest you do the same if things bother you so much. also what do the board members family have to do with the work the members are doing? its people that assume stupid crap that start stupid rumors.

    • Jay on May 20, 2013 at 9:32 pm
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    To: Veronica like the New Board Members are doing any good!! & “WHAT”!!!!…. it’s never been done before REALLY!!!! HaHa!! The Ex-Super was stealing Money From the SBCISD & Donna CISD….As For the Huerta’s well I thought at least the one of them would be smart enough to make her own decisions but She continues to be a follower & a Puppet along with The Brother….. To Yliana Rodruiguez & June Aguilera(HaHa) She’s Always lost in all the Board Meeting asking “The Board President” WHAT Where we discussing??(HAHA)

    • Lilly on May 20, 2013 at 9:22 pm
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    Why bring up the previous supt. Mr. Gonzalez? He has been gone a long time. The focus needs to be on academics not on who pays back who… if you want to know who is paying favors… just look that who has been getting huge contracts lately. Those 4 members are UNBELIEVABLE!
    How interesting that you bring up Mr. Gonzalez’s daughter Miss Veronica. Guess you know more that you are typing.

    • zzzzzzz on May 20, 2013 at 8:54 pm
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    How about them apples. Ylianas father was caught sleeping on the job but heaven forbid anything happen to him A little spank on the wrist and off you go. Heres a raise and a promotion! Barrio board forever vato.

    • Juan on May 20, 2013 at 8:34 pm
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    Good question Veronica,why is Tony the Tiger seeking the sympathy of the press,before it wasn’t necessary,why now ?
    All these changes the supt. has announced,no new faces,same faces different places.These same faces is what has caused the public education system to slide backwards,for years,be it Tony,or Gonzalez.The same old same old.Looks like now the TEA is watching and taking action,right now,enough of this playing games,the tax payers have had enough.
    And the free ride all of these teachers/ education majors have been enjoying is just about up.All need to make sure your union dues are paid,as the funds will be in dire need for the bail of your ultimate leader,President O’bama.

      • TwoCentsWorth on May 20, 2013 at 10:51 pm
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      Again, Juan, you are “whistling in the wind” and have no earthly idea of what you speak. No new faces? You make it sound as if these “new faces” are sitting on the shelf at Walmart at discount prices. Any “new faces” wanting to come to SB, in all probability, have “excess baggage,” and you want them coming to SB? Same faces cause our public education system to slide? You have no idea what our teachers and administrators are faced with. You’re correct in stating that the taxpayers have had enough–enough of having the board president meet with her three puppets, and I mean puppets. We work our fingers to the bone to educate our children and further their college education . . . with our public school system under the auspices of 3/4 of the board majority without a college degree. Sad, Sad, Sad. Still interested in what kind of superintendent evaluation training Iliana’s puppets had prior to evaluating Limon. Cruz, Medrano, Rodriguez, and Aguilera have been heard from. We haven’t heard a “burp” from the Huertas and, surprisingly, Leal. As they say, “It’s better to remain quiet and be considered a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”

    • veronica on May 20, 2013 at 5:53 pm
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    Why is it that once the tables are turned Mr. Limon runs to the press to get pity? Yes he has education like you say but where has it gotten him now involved in the Villalobos scandal along side old school board member De la Fuente.. Everyone is upset with the new board why because they are cleaning house from all the mistakes the old members made. Just like when Limon hired the old principal from Frank Roberts with all his prior convictions of money laundering. Now hes also saying that they are hurting his family by taking him off the floor when his daughter graduates seriously it sucks when tables turn on you now he knows exactly how Mr. Joe D. Gonzalez felt when him and the old board members got rid of him when his daughter was going to graduate. everyone has dirty laundry and when the time is right everyones dirty laundry is aired out so let the board member do their job and keep doing it right.

      • WeThePeople on May 20, 2013 at 10:32 pm
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      As for taking revenge … the Bible states: “Return evil for evil to no one. Provide fine things in the sight of all men. If possible, as far as it depends upon you, be peaceable with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.’” (Romans 12:17-19) When we follow such counsel, our life will be more peaceful, and that will increase our happiness.

      “Be peaceable with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath.” (Romans 12:18, 19) Let God determine when and upon whom vengeance is to be brought. He can do so with full knowledge of the facts, and any retribution originating with him will reflect his perfect justice.

      “Be wrathful, and yet do not sin; let the sun not set with you in a provoked state, neither allow place for the Devil.” (Ephesians 4:26, 27) A person might justifiably become angry on occasion. If this does happen, he should not remain “in a provoked state.” Why? Because this could incite him to do something evil, thus allowing “place for the Devil,” resulting in Jehovah God’s disapproval.

      “Let anger alone and leave rage; do not show yourself heated up only to do evil.” (Psalm 37:8) Unrestrained emotions lead to uncontrolled acts. If a person gives way to rage, he or she is likely to say or do things that will hurt everyone involved.

      (Items gleaned from the web, the Bible and other places)

      • This side on May 21, 2013 at 7:43 am
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      Funny you mention the Frank Roberts Principal. If TEA said he was clear to work, then he was clear to work. People make mistakes in life. You are NOBODY to judge. The children were never in any type of danger. This man did his time and the good Lord gave him a second chance. I’m proud to say that Mr. Limon is a Christian man and sees the good in people. That is the type of person you want as a Superintendent. Not somebody that is going to corrupt the system and create fake businesses to be able to pay his friends kick backs. Not somebody that creates unnecessart jobs at taxpayer expense so he can give his buddy the job. There’s a BIG difference between previous Superintendents and Mr. Limon. You want to talk about corrupt? Let’s talk about Ms. “No Commer” who is certainly not qualified enough to do certain jobs but yet will get the job because she along with three other board members have given contracts to certain vendors. Since you seem to know that camp pretty well, make sure to tell that person to tread lightly. She may be the next one being investigated by the FBI.

    • ART on May 20, 2013 at 4:56 pm
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    Seriously??
    This is really getting out of hand!
    Voters come and vote in 2014 and let’s get those 4 barrio board members out of here!!

    SBCISD has fallen!!

    • Joevette on May 20, 2013 at 3:15 pm
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    The ones that need to be removed from the board are all the Trusties the are no longer backed by the community they are all together in this to get Mr.Limon out of office. These Trusties have lost all respect from the community because none of them have an idea to what they are doing on the board these people need to removed they are just giving the District a bad name Board President Rodriguez needs to back off of these meetings before someone brings up her dirty past. As for the rest of the Idiots on the Board they all need to realize what they are doing Fatima, Julian,and June need to back off they should not even be talking or be on the Board .None of these people have the Education or will they ever achieve Mr. Limons level of success that he has had in his lifetime.

    good luck Mr. Limon the city has got your back.

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