POSTED: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - 11:09pm
UPDATED: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 - 2:22pm
El Paso, TX — Teachers, parents, and even community leaders addressed the years of corruption and the recent public outcry for the board's resignation at Tuesday's EPISD Board Meeting.
The EPISD board of trustees has attracted a lot of attention since the former superintendent pled guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from taxpayers and lying about test scores to get more money from the government.
Some media publicly called for certain members of the board to resign. Some elected officials, concerned citizens and business leaders sent a letter to the board to asking for a majority vote system for the election of EPISD trustees.
Many lined up for public comment including City Council Representative Emma Acosta who apologized for signing that letter.
" I know many of you on the board and what I did was extremely inconsiderate. It was only after I reflected did I realize I was asked to sign and be a follower rather than a leader of the community," said City Rep. Emma Acosta.
But members of the board seemed to be supportive of a majority vote.
"I believe completely in majority especially I believe in majority considering this 2013 election,” said David Dodge, EPISD Board of Trustees Member.
After a vote, the Board of Trustees passed a motion to adopt a majority vote system. John Gable, a teacher in the district said he was all for it.
"That way we're comfortable. We know that that's the majority. That's who we wanted," said Gable.
Another item was the search for a new EPISD superintendent. After a few minutes of discussion, and a 6 to 2 vote, a motion was passed to start the search in September, so that things will not be disrupted at the start of the school year.
" I know as an educator when you have a new superintendent, that superintendent usually has his or her things they want to do," said Gable.
Not everyone was happy with the outcome today though. Gary Gonzalez, a parent in the district spoke during public comment and called for members of the board to resign. He also said the new superintendent should be selected through a different process.
"We want to take back our schools we want to pick our own superintendent superintendent from within from our city not from another city,” said Gonzalez.