Local Educators and Citizens decry transfer of EPHS Principal Vale Moreno at EPISD Board Meeting
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016
The Eagle Pass Independent School District (EPISD) Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 wherein Eagle Pass High School teachers and staff as well as parents and citizens complained and denounced the sudden transfer of Eagle Pass High School Principal Vale Moreno to Ray Darr Elementary by EPISD Superintendent Gilberto Gonzalez during Citizens Communication of the agenda. The EPISD Board also discussed the controversial and unpopular decision during Executive Session as well as Open Session during the meeting.
During the meeting, EPISD School Board President Lupita Fuentes opened up the citizens communication and recognition portion of the agenda and welcomed those persons who had signed up and requested to speak in front of the school board and those in attendance.
Dolores Rodriguez and Carmen Castaneda addressed the EPISD Board as part of the citizens communication.
“We are here in representation of a large majority of teachers from Eagle Pass High School. We the teachers and staff of Eagle Pass High School petition the EPISD School Board to stop the re-assignment of Eagle Pass High School Principal Vale Moreno,” said Rodriguez.
“Mr. Vale Moreno has demonstrated dedication and diligence in making Eagle Pass high School an exemplary campus. He has spent the last 16 years of his 24 year career devoted to Eagle Pass High School. He has intimate knowledge of how the school works and runs and under his direction and guidance Eagle Pass High School has become one of the best high schools in the nation, garnering unprecedented recognition not only for our campus but also our school district and city,” added Rodriguez.
“We don’t believe that it is in the best interest for our students, school and community to re-assign him when he is an exemplary administrator. The loss of Mr. Moreno will leave Eagle Pass High School without an knowledgeable and experienced principal. This action will be more of a detriment to the students and staff. Our children deserve a school that supports the best interest of its students and someone who makes them feel safe and important. Mr. Moreno has dedicated himself to our school and children and deserves our support for all he has done. We the undersigned strongly urge the EPISD School Board to maintain Mr. Moreno as Eagle Pass High School Principal,” read Castaneda from the petition. Castaneda and Rodriguez presented the EPHS Teachers and Staff petition to the School Board requesting cancellation of Moreno’s reassignment.
Eagle Pass taxpayer and resident Agustin Reyes, a parent of Eagle Pass High School students, also addressed the School Board and requested the Board to seriously reconsider the decision by Superintendent Gilberto Gonzalez to transfer and reassign Moreno to Ray Darr Elementary.
“I remember one day you as elected members of the board once asked us (community) for our vote and we confided in you to do thing the correct manner, how it should be for the best in education for our kids. You all have the power to move and transfer people but we the voters gave you all that power. Why change Mr. Moreno when that school is in a right path? Have you consulted with the teachers and student leaders in that school? Has he asked for a transfer? What are the benefits of moving him to an elementary school at this time?” questioned Reyes.
Reyes presented the Board with a list of accomplishments of EPHS under the leadership of Mr. Moreno, including being recognized by U.S News and World Report as being ranked nationally among the best high schools in the nation; 6 academic achievement distinctions in consecutive years 2013,2014 2014, and 2015; in 2015 Eagle Pass High academic scores were above the average placing in subject areas: English1 73%, English 2, 75%, Algebra , 87%, Biology , 95% and U.S. History at 94% under Moreno’s tenure.
Board President Lupita Fuentes thanked those who addressed the Board with their genuine concerns regarding the reassignment decision.
The EPISD School Board discussed the personnel decision made by EPISD Superintendent Gilberto Gonzalez to transfer Mr. Moreno from EPHS principal to principal at Ray Darr Elementary under executive session item No.4-discussion on personnel decisions by the superintendent (TGC 551.074).
After returning into open session, Fuentes addressed agenda item No.4 and asked EPISD legal counsel Richard Shrieber to please address and explain the issue to the Board according to state law.
“ Under the Texas Education Code, the superintendent is vested with the authority to transfer employees.That is not something that falls within the problems of the board. So, the board is not in a position where it could over rule a transfer. That is a duty that is delegated by state law to the superintendent under the Education Code Section 11.201 which covers that. For the board to try to attempt to over rule a transfer in my view would be improper micro-managing of district operations, particularly because state law, not local policy reserves the right to the superintendent to make transfers,” said EPISD Legal Counsel Richard Shrieber.
Schrieber noted that a transfer in no way was a negative employment action and gave examples of how transfers are taken.
“Again to answer the board’s question, state law gives the superintendent the right to assign and transfer personnel,” concluded Shrieber.
Fuentes asked if the Board had any questions or comments on the matter.
Board member Ignacio Saucedo stated he had a comment over the matter and that he respected the wishes of the Board and the decision of the superintendent but that he did not agree with the decision to transfer Mr, Moreno.
The transfer of Mr. Vale Moreno by EPISD Superintendent Gilbert Gonzalez will proceed unless Gonzalez reconsiders his own decision.
EPISD taxpayers, educators, staff, and parents left the meeting greatly disappointed and concerned that the reassignment is not in the best interest of EPHS students and EPISD.
