By PETE BANDA 
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
One week after naming an acting superintendent, the San Benito CISD has officially offered a 3-month contract to Dr. Maria Filomena Leo to become the interim superintendent for the district.
According to school board president Anna Cruz, the contract has not t been signed by Dr. Leo as of press time, although that could change fairly soon. “She’s supposed to be coming in on Wednesday so hopefully then she can get the contract signed and make this official,” said Cruz.
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School board needs to select a leader that will take SBCISD to the future (Mrs Leo is not this person.)
Leader needs to have business and education knowledge in order to move district forward (not Mrs. Leo)
Teacher morale is low, how can they be effective in the classroom? Board you hold our childrens’
futures in your hands. They will be our leaders of tomorrow. When people look to buy a home, the first thing they look at is the schools. Businesses and jobs also depend on schools. No businesses no money for tax rolls, no new jobs. Lets make SBCISD something to be proud of not the joke of the state. You can not do it with Mrs. Leo as your leader. Board you hold the future in your hands.
The Fab Four 2 have arrived… Wow. Thanks for showing your true selves.
To actually call Dr. Leo and then she is handed the job and for the district to stand still, just shows no care for my grandchildren nor my nephews.
Football season is here so everyone will forget why we have a school district… It’s for the children to be prepared for the world once they graduate.
My vote was wasted.
How about we worry about when the employees are
going to put student first. We continue to lose students to Harlingen
and IDEA because academics are not a priority in SBCISD.
Let us have a conversation about that instead of Ms. Cruz. She is only one member.
You are correct, next school board election will be 2017 but I agree, I wish it was this coming year. That just goes to show the disgust we have with the board now. This board president must be the most incompetent one yet and she’s proven it time and time again. She has proven to us that all she wanted was power but has only gained from and the staff and children are once again left out. So, let give her a around of applause for a horrible job has board President…
@ Not
You said it and it’s clear that this town will never progress when you start bashing a newly elected board member. Now, Vargas knows what this towns politics is all about. I applaud Vargas for NOT being a puppet to Anna control like the other two clowns. There’s a consistent variable with the past board and these board and that’s, smart people stay away from Anna Cruz and her deserving followers. This is extremely comical to see ” political powers” pushing for control. Don’t worry the people in this town are tired of the same nonsense, so it’s out with the old and in with the new. Trust me, next school board elections will be a clean sweep… So, get all your political favors now that you have a chance because after 2016 elections there will be none and the children will be PRIORITY FOR ONCE!!!!!
FYI, The next election will not be until May 2017.
I was there to see the circus that long Saturday morning and Anna Cruz abstained from voting. Anna Cruz plan and simple wanted Dr.Smetter as interim super and eventually name her superintendent. Anna political circle can’t keep a secret and brag about everything and that was their plan. Anna is at the paying back her political favors song with Joe G Gonzalez. They along with Medrano are a total joke and everyone knows it. Good Day!!
@I concur, the ones with the plan were Leal, Vargas, Padilla, and Mendez. Just ask Dr. Leo which board member gave her a call. The new one, that’s who! Can you say unethical? I never thought he’d be a puppet. Oh Well! The town already knows who the new majority is, and they have shown their true colors.
So for the next three months, Dr. Leo will do what the board wants while this board again goes back to the same supt consultant firm?
Poor poor staff and students….
I don’t think anyone is surprised that Mrs.Leo would be selected. So, the three month contract basically means, the board will run the district and she’ll just seat back and collect a pay check. That’s exactly what they were looking for someone they could micro manage and not question any of their recommendations. I guess this was the sign for everyone in the district to move on because SBISD is not stable, only the board members bank accounts… Good Luck- Staff, Students hope TEA comes and saves you from failure…
She is going to promote her niece?
No way
Mrs. Leo has left every school district she’s ever worked at in shambles
I don’t understand how Anna Cruz can comment of this matter when she abstained from voting on the interim superintendent. The Valley Morning Star report a 4-2 vote and that’s exactly what it was and your wonderful Board President did not vote because she knew she was not going to get her way. Anna Cruz is so easy to ready its pathetic and she has to be the worst Board President the District has ever had. But, I can’t say I’m surprised because I’m not. Concerned parents do you reach and look up Dr.Leo and you’ll see her background history and you’ll get a much better understanding what’s coming the next 3 months.. Good luck.. It’s going to get much worse and not sure it’s ever going to get better with Anna Cruz and split board… TEA where are you?
It’s really easy to criticize someone when you oppose views or when you weren’t there to see the vote. She actually voted, and the paper got it wrong. Does Anna have a bit to learn? Sure. But she’s not horrible, and she is not the worst. The worst was the snake that just got voted out. Thank God!! So, she can comment all she wants, and so can any other elected official.
Wow! A three month contract. SBCISD…you’re really stepin’ out there. Can’t wait for future episodes of this comedy. Could be the makings of television series. Or is it really a tragedy?
Has anyone done their homework on this person. While at La Joya TEA investigated the distric and she settled for quarter of a million dollars. Was interim in Sharyland what happened there? Guess she wants to come and rescue her neice Stephanie Ramirez who left SBCISD to go to IDEA and is now back at SBCISD. Who are we looking after our children or our cronies?