More details revealed in super search

By ISABEL C. GONZÁLEZ
Special to the NEWS

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Additional details in the search for a new superintendent of schools to lead San Benito CISD have been released, including the application deadline and start date.

The SBCISD Board of Trustees is currently seeking a proven educational leader to serve as its new superintendent, and leading the nationwide search is Waterford School Services Inc.

On Thursday, July 17, the Board conducted a workshop with Waterford. During the workshop, members of the Board and search consultants Dr. Felipe Alanis, former SBCISD superintendent, and Dr. Jess Butler collaboratively reviewed the search process, finalized the superintendent search calendar and discussed the qualities and qualifications that they want to see in a new superintendent.

In the district’s advertisement, officials seek a letter of application indicating qualifications and reasons for interest in the position, a brief description of major accomplishments, a current résumé, college/university transcripts and letters of recommendation. Candidates must also have or be eligible for Texas certification. Application material will be treated confidentially and applicants are requested to not contact the superintendent or members of the Board. Each applicant will be informed of the Board’s selection and appointment of the new superintendent. The final selection and appointment is the sole responsibility of the Board.

A competitive salary and benefit package will be provided to the applicant selected based on experience and record of success. The application deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 7, and the Board prefers that the new superintendent begins work in January 2015.

“I am tremendously pleased with the commencement of the SBCISD’s search for a superintendent. Our priority is to attain the most qualified and progressive individual to move this district forward and, thereby, assure that San Benito students receive the best educational opportunities in our Region,” explains Arnold Padilla, President of the San Benito CISD Board of Trustees.

According to Waterford School Services Inc., the Board of Trustees will soon be scheduling community forums designed to receive input on the search for a superintendent. The forums will serve to encourage parents, students, school faculty and staff, civic leaders, and all members of the SBCISD community to help develop a profile of leadership qualities for the new Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Alanis, former SBCISD Superintendent of Schools, will be leading the community forums.

“This board expects the absolute best from us. Dr. Butler and I have a personal interest in finding the most qualified candidates. Our goal is to assist the board in hiring a superintendent who will lead and guide the district with sound fiscal and academic standards,” explains Dr. Alanis. “We will seek a leader whose mission is to provide all students with an opportunity to reach their full potential. It is my privilege and honor to work with San Benito CISD once again!”

Padilla and Alanis equally encourage the local community to assist in the search process by participating in scheduled forums and completing related surveys.

Committed to receiving input on the superintendent search from all members of the SBCISD community, the Board of Trustees will be posting a “Superintendent’s Profile” survey on the District website. The voluntary survey will be available in English and Spanish, distributed at the various community forums, and made available to all campus and department personnel.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/07/22/more-details-revealed-in-super-search/

38 comments

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    • SAD 009 on August 10, 2014 at 12:31 pm
    • Reply

    To SAD 3: You seem to have a very short memory my dear. As you say “Yiliana” doing what is right? Boy are you wrong. She told Mr. Limon for years what to do… didn’t come in on time to sign the agenda items, didn’t go to the required Board Pres traiining in San Antoinio and went on sight seeing trips with her family in Chicago to name one, told Mr. Limon who to fire and the list goes on…. don’t believe me, just ask her and her relatives.. they enjoy talking about san benito cisd.
    So, before you go and crown her as the one who cares about the kids, I strongly suggest that you not forget what she did for years to this district.
    The people of this community have spoken and two more will be out in May….
    One last thing, who do you think “lined their pockets” with $?
    Be careful…. we all know the truth

    • Old ignorant maintenance worker on August 10, 2014 at 9:10 am
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    Sad 3, why do you forget to mention the insurance letter and that SIG was getting same are more in commissions than Bob Trevino. Why don’t you mention SIG allegedly paid for Yliana ‘s campaign and she tried to pay him back just days after her election. Why don’t you mention she opposed this board going out for insurance because she wanted to protect SIG. I could go on, but you know all that better than I do.

  1. @ old maintenance worker,
    I expected that ignorant response from you and nothing else. Let’s go back when your buddy Anna Cruz got elected she voted for Bob Trevino and his expensive insurance crap and horrible service. By the way, Bob Trevino made $100k of thousands of dollars at our expense for years and you know that. I’m moe than sure he supported Anna Cruz’s campaign as well and that why she’s loyal to him.You want to throw Yiliana under the bus, she had the guts to go against all you ignorant people and came out ahead simply by doing right thing and looking out for us employees and their family’s with great affordable insurance.. So continue to protect your political connection that lines your pockets, but we know the truth and your bull Sh** is getting old.. Anna Cruz is out this next election… I assure you..

    • Janie on August 9, 2014 at 11:10 pm
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    @ Sad 2: don’t be all upset with Anna. Three other people voted for the program. And that board member who is an elementary principal needs to learn how to respect other people. Because she sure doesn’t.
    By the way mr president, why did you ask the principals in the room for their opinion?all over the district that they didn’t know what to say and you caught them off guard. Board procedure 101, you ask those questions to the supt not audience.
    Like someone said earlier, how did he become president? The supt is in charge not the wanna be supt in the room.
    May The Lord help Hess board members

    • Old maintenance worker on August 9, 2014 at 12:49 pm
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    Sad, I agree that it was sad that Trevino and SIG were allowed to collect that much for so long, but we finally have a board willing to do what is right! If this board hadn’t stop it Yliana would have continued the abuse while enjoying the perks. Ask Yliana how many perks she got from her computer purchase. The principals didn’t get anything but a useless program.

  2. @ old maintenance work,
    How do you figure 10k when there was 3 consultants working in the insurance deal. Please, we the people are not that gullible anymore. 1)So you saved 270k you say, but Bob Trevino was allowed to make that pluses more for 12 plus years. The reason Bob was not chosen is because his products are way to expensive and poor services. 2) your also saying that the Anna Cruz’s $800k program is great.. Who you kidden your just protecting your friend Anna Cruz from making the worst purchase ever. It’s simple people, the principles and staff don’t buy in to this program why buy it.. It’s simple because Anna Cruz out it on the agenda 3 times that’s why and she probably gets her pockets lined with $$$$$, who you kidden.. 3) the program Yiliana recommended last year was awesome because we- staff and principles wanted it. It was done right and the staff agreed it was needed.. Don’t blame Yiliana for Anna,Mendez, puppet Arnold , Medrano’s stupidity..
    Continue protecting your coalition old whatever you are your probably part of the political favors…

    • Old maintenance worker on August 8, 2014 at 3:14 pm
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    Sad your figures are wrong. District saved 200 K on commissions plus 70k in lower fees for 270k savings plus savings to employees in their voluntary products. All it cost the district was 10k . Not a bad deal. Good job board! Now SIG gets a fair commission instead of the huge amount for doing nothing. The unwarranted 800k goes well with the unwarranted 700k Yliana spent on the computer software she purchased from her friend! At least with this one we get people that can make a difference! It is a researched based program that works !

  3. The special board meeting last night was interesting to say the least. The board voted 6-1 to keep our current insurance provider after the insurance committee voted unanimously SIG number 1 on their ranking. Unfortunately, Mr.Limon and the board members who wanted this item to go out for bid spend $30k tax payer dollars to find out it was the best product for us employees. It took 3 consultants and $30k to confirm what everyone already knew. Just a waste of tax payer dollars to Lorenzo Sanchez and Granado.. Good job board for allowing that to happen.. Secondly, Anna Cruz and puppet Super Arnold passed the useless, unwarranted $800k program that principles were totally against. My understanding of the board is to oversee the districts process not micromanage and shove expensive programs down their throats.. This program is useless and waste of tax payer dollars for Anna Cruz’s gain.. Anna must go!!!!! Super Arnold should just step down!!! Horrible coalition

  4. I agree with the blogs that feel the Board should be held accountable for ignoring the lawsuit against Limon and reinstated him. Super Arnold has proven to everyone that his more focused on paying back political favors than protecting our CHILDREN AND STAFF.. Anna Cruz, Medrano,Mendez and Celeste are pushing for this $800k program we don’t need. Board Members With BRAINS do the right thing and take care of your staff and quit wasting our tax dollars on programs for your gain. I speak for several people and we all feel you guys have done a horrible job trying to do what’s right. Typical San Benito Politics, the puppets get their pockets lined with cash and the hell with our children and staff… We voted ignorant and now we have to eat CROW!!!! can’t wait for 2015, Anna Cruz out FOR SURE………

  5. I applaud of administration not including Mr.Limon nor Celeste and our staff for continuing to have faith in a broken unappreciated work place. The moral is low as well as our academic standards because we’ve never had leadership. This new board is worthless because their so focused on paying back political favors that we( staff) and our children are left out to dry. It’s sad but Super Arnold has been the biggest disappointment of all the board members. His basically a puppet for Anna, medrano, Mendez and all their personnel agenda that will waste a lot of tax payer dollars; for example, Anna’s $800K program that is completely useless, Protecting father in laws from stealing, and hiring of several consultants to review insurance bids and hire new clinic provider. Simply put, just a total waste of tax dollars. Super Arnold should also be investigated for bringing Limon back after he knew about the law suit against him . Shame on you… I have faith in out justice system and it will be served soon… God help us, please..

    • Don't hold your breath on August 5, 2014 at 9:43 am
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    Suggestion…don’t hold your breath, Pay Raise. Looks like the new board is contemplating pay raises but only at the cost of increasing taxes. First item on the agenda…purchase of school buses. You ask why? Well, it just so happens that Super Arnold’s brother is a bus driver and deserves to drive in style. Reeks of personal agenda!!!
    So if there’s money left after bus purchases, then maybe employees can count on a pay raise.

      • CAVA Supporter on August 8, 2014 at 3:38 pm
      • Reply

      Looks like a few things are beginning to stick to Teflon Arnold.

    • PAY RAISE on August 3, 2014 at 8:48 pm
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    As reported in the other newspaper, the Harlingen school board has approved cost of living increases worth $2 million for teachers, administrators and hourly employees such as janitors and bus drivers.
    The increase will not result in an increase in property taxes.
    Please, please SBCISD Trustees pay attention to what our North school neighbors are doing. When are we as school employees getting a raise?
    I stay in San Benito because this is my community and I CARE ABOUT OUR FUTURE. I teach here because I CARE!
    When are you going to care SBCISD Board?
    Please put your political agendas aside and DO THE RIGHT THING!
    And to think we have several members with degrees… a lot of good that does when they can’t even think about the employees or students

  6. Only in San Benito would a School Board allow a super to come back to work after an ordeal at this capacity. The new board knew this back in May and still reinstated Mr.Limon with a 2 yr contract.. That is just wrong but that again the new board members don’t have children attending our school district. There lies the problem people, we need to protect our children not out them in harms way. Looking back I applaud the previous board for investigating Limon because this was one of the several allegations against him. Those people were not puppets just there for the betterment of our district . Moving forward people what’s the excuse now we voted these guys in and this is exactly what we get incompetent people serving in our board… This board members must answer to some agency and be held accountable for putting our kids in harms way…

    • Same Old Same Old on August 3, 2014 at 12:01 am
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    To Really, It is the same old same old story of SBCISD Board of Trustees. You must be new to town, because what this board is doing is the same thing the other board did the past years, when they had the majority. I am sure you can read all about it in the back issues of this respectable newspaper.

    It is a shame that we, as a community, cannot get level-minded individuals to be elected. Just goes to show you the true picture of San Benito.

    We need to worry about the education of the students of this community. All the surrounding districts are passing the kids by on their educational growth and here we stand not being able to do anything to help them because mature lacking individuals have their own personal agenda. At least that is what is looks like to me.
    Please place your attention board members back on the students. Time is running out…….
    There are enough “clowns” in this community that can apply to that Big Circus Company.

      • Laughing Stock on August 5, 2014 at 10:00 am
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      At Same old Same old: looks like you resort to nothing more than just finger pointing. The problem lies in not holding people accountable starting at the top. It’s obvious that our district is the laughing stock of the valley simply because Mr Limon fails to do his job day in and day out. He is such an incompetent individual and lacks the energy, knowledge and common sense to lead. And what’s worse is that the new board majority (Super Arnold and his sidekick fools) condone the bad decisions he makes in his pitiful attempts to lead this district. So sad and all at the cost of our children.

  7. @old maintenance worker
    Who are you kidding, look at this coalition and the mess they’ve done Ina short period of time.. Let me help you, they hired (2) additional insurances consultants to review the insurance bidding process, (1) additional accounting guy named Lorenzo Sanchez to help McAll because she’s just to busy and hire Celeste Sanchez at $75 hr for consulting services as well. If this is not a total joke I don’t know what is.. Bye the Lorenzo is getting paid $750 per day, really that’s what a super makes but just because he supported the coalition his getting his favor paid back.. Plus, giving Limon a 2 yr contract really please.. Hands down this bunch of clowns are much worse than what we’ve had in a long time.. What a joke people..

    • Joke on July 31, 2014 at 10:09 pm
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    If our teachers could teach our bilingual students, then why are there so many problems? It is not the teachers fault nor the students, it is the SBCISD system. It has been this way for a long time.
    The “joke” is that those school board members are clueless on what this district needs to advance our children.
    Ms. Cruz is at least trying to help the teachers.

    • Old maintenance worker on July 31, 2014 at 5:24 pm
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    What a waste, take is back a little. What a waste when the terrible four were running the district granting favors and politician principalships to Yliana’s friends. Many good people left because of the four. 4-2= 2. Next election 2-2=0 . Then finally the district will be free!

      • Belinda on August 7, 2014 at 3:52 pm
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      I agree with you old maintenance worker. Many people in San Benito were disappointed in the vast majority of choices the previous board made. Believing that fraud was involved in the voting is a way of showing unsportsmen like conduct. Where is the proof? Are they still working on it? One of the candidates lost by over 1000 votes and others with less. I think the voters spoke. But now that’s in the past it’s time to figure out all the mess that was done, spending, hiring/and opening up positions for unwanted personal, making some administrators do their jobs etc. Working together without the arrogance and childlike attitude presented in some of these board meetings could make a difference in moving the school district in the right direction. It’s about working together and learning to agree and disagree instead of running to whoever listens and spewing out hatred when you don’t get your way. I think it will take time to clean up some of the damage that was done. I pray that the school district will come together as one.

        • TBT on August 8, 2014 at 7:50 am
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        You better believe that they are working on it. There are major jaw dropping discrepancies that will soon be revealed and by the way, this current majority isnt making many astute choices either. Take the UT deal for instance, how motivating to our teachers and principals. Our current majority just proved that they do not have faith in our teachers and principals in their ability to lead and teach our kids. When is the morale going to improve?

          • Belinda on August 8, 2014 at 9:44 am
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          You better believe that Moral will improve once Yliana is removed. I think that people have seen and listened for themselves to the things that she has done. She made a bad mark for herself on her own. It’s going to be long hard process for her to regain that the confidence in alot of people. They say first impressions are the most important. I guess we”ll just have to wait for these jaw dropping discrepancies on the voting irregularities. As for the UT deal- faith is what they have in many of these teachers and continuing to believe that San Benito has always had and always will continue to strive for a better education for the children. That Faith was lost a few years ago and that faith is what we need now. Once again, working together and learning to agree and to disagree is what we need.

    • What a waste on July 31, 2014 at 2:49 pm
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    With Limon and Sanchez leading the district until DECEMBER, this is going to be another complete waste of a school year. All surrounding districts are passing SB by as they move ahead with innovative programs for their students and staff, and it seams like SB isn’t just standing still, but actually going backward as we lose our best teachers to other districts like IDEA, Harlingen, Los Fresnos, and so on. We can only pray that whoever is selected as the next super will have the leadership needed, which has been lacking for so long, to catch our district up to where it deserves to be.

  8. Once again, the problem with our district is accountability. Programs and educational products have been purchased and there’s follow up on the progress it’s having on our children’s education. Just ask Anna Cruz, when she was newly elected she sold an educational product to the district that mainly serviced the needs to high school students, but the only problem is no one likes the product it’s useless and a waste of tax payer dollars and is not being implemented anymore.. Thank you Anna for wasting our tax dollars for your gain.. That public information… The resources are there but our administration is poor. We do not need $800 + bilingual program when we have teachers that are already specialize in that capacity.. Total joke.. Wake up people. The ones pushing for it don’t live in San Benito nor pay taxes here…

      • Triple P on August 4, 2014 at 8:28 pm
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      Sounds very similar to Yliana and Chuy working together and purchasing tablets that proved to be ineffective, cheap, and broke.

    • Professional on July 31, 2014 at 12:32 pm
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    Every board member, especially the new president, needs to read again this statement that is on the district website:
    Board of Trustees Mission
    Our mission is to produce graduates who are lifelong learners by guaranteeing a quality education…
    that includes

    *a strong curriculum
    *individualized instruction,
    *innovative technology, and
    *a positive learning environment that is developed and nurtured by ownership, cultural diversity, loyalty, and
    collegiality.

    As a professional in the district, many of these elements are missing.
    As someone said earlier, we need help. When is it going to come? Six months from now. What a waste of time for my campus.
    This program has been distributed by the TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY. It is overwhelming making a difference in the districts it is used in… How do I know? Because my relatives up the state are using this concept in their school district.
    When oh when is this district going to move forward? Every day is another day lost for QUALITY INSTRUCTION.
    Stop arguing among yourselves and ACT ALREADY!

      • Triple P on August 4, 2014 at 8:51 am
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      “Many of these elements are missing”

      Just want to say that they were missing when the district had Yliana as President. Change doesn’t happen by finger pointing but finger pointing can be done nonetheless. Here’s to hoping things change and resolve comes.

    • Jan on July 30, 2014 at 10:00 pm
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    How about these board members go back and read their Code of Ethics.
    They need to provide all the resources they can for the many children who have difficulty reading. These students get passed on and struggle.
    I hope those so-call board members who say “they are about the kids” put the district dollars where their mouth is.
    I hope they re-visit this item.

      • Triple P on August 4, 2014 at 8:57 am
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      You tell em Jan! I hope so too! Those so-called board members -Yliana and her comic book fantasm – never got close to revisiting (or visiting I should say) ethics, being about the kids, or spending district dollars effectively. Hopefully these new guys will. Here’s to a new year. Here’s to better things to come.

    • Pablo on July 29, 2014 at 6:52 am
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    Very disappointed that the educated board members did not approve this item.
    Let me guess, you do not have children in this district?

    Get the program here, use it correctly, and review the results.
    This board spent thousands of dollars for other things besides the instruction in the classroom, it is time to put the money for our children.
    Please for once care about the education of our children and not your own personal issues.
    Your behavior is getting old.

    • Nancy on July 29, 2014 at 6:46 am
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    Everything begins with reading and if you look at the campus scores from the state test, our children of this community are struggling. This district was at the top of valley schools not too long ago. What happened? The standards were raised and we have not progressed with the times.
    Stop blaming the teachers. They need quality staff development so that every single one of them can help ALL students.
    People want to hold other people accountable at the EXPENSE of our children. That is wrong.

    • The Negotiator on July 28, 2014 at 3:16 pm
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    I agree with you in the sense of needing help and no one listening. The question that needs to be asked where is the superintendent of curriculum? This situation needs to be addressed by the superintendent of curriculum this is the person in charge of giving our teachers the necessary resources to help you the teachers do a better job.Someone has dropped the ball again. I believe someone has to be held accountable instead of trying to go through the outside to spend money to get our teachers better educated. I am all for teaching our children to their best of their ability,but we need to start from within. If the S.O.C. isn’t going to step up to the plate then get rid of them and hire someone who will put our children first and help our teachers be up to par with other districts. I’m sorry folks, but enough is enough accountability needs to be put in play. Again I say get we need to hold whoever is in charge accountable. I have nothing but respect for our teachers and believe that our administration has to do their job so our teachers can do a better job in teaching our children. There are many resources out there,but the only way to implement them is for our S.O.C. to do their job to bring them to our district.

  9. The problem with our district is that we’ve never had good leadership. Starting with the super Mr. Lemon to Asst. super Celeste Sanchez which was a waste of tax payer dollars for years. These so called leaders have never been held accountable in our district, and the moral of the staff and the education of our children reflect that. Now you want to talk about software, please, $800k tax dollars to hire 13 more teachers plus $200k for software.. Now that’s a joke!! We have teachers in our district that can do that job but they’ve never been given the opportunity… But, Anna thinks she knows best along with her puppet Angel ” Mico-manager ” Mendez… Somebody needs to explain to Mendez what his role as a board member is and what mico-manager stands for and is completely agaist TASB code of ethics. These coalition group is a terrible thing for our district..

    • Teacher no name on July 28, 2014 at 1:18 pm
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    As a teacher in this district, if we can get support on raising the reading level of all the kids then we should do that now. It is not our fault that there are way too many computer programs in the district. No one ever asked my campus if we wanted new computer products. How about this administration let us hear from UT? If this entity is good enough for McAllen ISD & other districts are size, then why not?
    Spend the money on instruction and NOT on paying off superintendents.
    We, as teachers, need help and No One is listening.

    • Henrietta on July 27, 2014 at 9:57 am
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    @Proud Tax payer:, “leveled headed board members”.. U have got to be kidding: Yrg and Fh spent the money these past two years like it was their own.
    “Think about the children” seems like this project Ms Cruz wanted was going to just do that.
    As a repsected educator of many years, I am sure she did her research on this project.
    Give credit where it is due.

    When are those board members going to concern these selves with our children.

  10. The $800k program Anna Cruz, Medrano, and Mendez wanted got tabled by the levelheaded board members. Yiliana, Hector and Fatima convinced Super Arnold that it was a bad deal and a waste of money for our district. Good job board members with brains, now it’s time to think about the children and staff of our district. Anna is showing her true colors, and she’s turning out to be the type of board member we absolutely don’t need on our board.. Anna Cruz will go 2015!!!!

      • WeThePeople on July 25, 2014 at 9:24 pm
      • Reply

      There are already cracks in the Arnold armor.

    • Money on July 25, 2014 at 12:36 pm
    • Reply

    Did the school board approve the Anna Cruz item yesterday?

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