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| Conservative Commentary - Texas Superintendents' & School Boards' ( 2006-07 Travel & Subsistence) |

| No. |
| School District Name |
| SUPE Travel & Subsistence |
| Students |
| 309 788 16,514 986 116 354 4,536 833 553 58,425 4,193 5,556 45,581 16,402 975 675 3,309 14,198 712 30,094 191 1,426 607 2,972 6,366 1,855 761 786 347 178 208 3,243 2,117 483 1,689 62,789 904 237 3,411 1,954 1,500 81,834 161 243 419 139 769 5,812 342 991 150 2,533 1,134 877 3,544 389 8,154 3,998 19,436 542 3,652 183 732 2,174 7,968 579 467 65 487 753 3,770 22,431 1,188 138 983 555 234 235 881 946 634 71 339 6,150 499 975 2,010 373 143 2,820 470 511 1,535 1,031 318 610 1,317 828 13,101 1,657 442 4,921 2,516 2,239 449 755 547 338 185 1,570 1,790 2,770 47,927 3,534 914 14,746 252 202 128 788 1,722 1,489 3,685 364 8,522 3,291 303 1,017 121 234 1,347 3,884 1,856 4,254 1,057 206 1,600 366 701 1,904 5,371 8,183 603 2,463 7,711 26,159 2,728 3,322 569 7,793 502 1,612 2,584 558 763 160 752 1,632 8,256 136 3,044 844 529 113 193 674 1,171 189 421 2,044 308 849 409 883 1,018 497 883 351 35,359 6,609 3,472 1,164 9,925 1,461 792 1,679 992 8,826 620 556 1,020 3,082 1,555 14,121 1,340 1,247 1,674 1,440 850 199 2,691 44,195 292 894 9,927 7,776 38,707 1,044 5,709 153 1,195 117 267 2,146 933 108 616 765 1,499 4,694 452 374 598 271 14,127 1,906 1,935 554 407 498 91,759 1,387 1,562 158,623 147 781 74 152 454 4,954 665 2,813 12,351 806 8,483 88 4,484 19,565 1,385 8,633 496 136 1,922 151 723 313 1,866 7,738 820 163 1,123 16 287 13,301 22 348 3,755 254 1,304 3,960 12,360 12,626 13,816 7,216 1,359 919 8,468 1,249 1,153 26,308 255 5,593 285 11,892 937 28,666 1,475 3,385 62,490 546 3,556 1,310 991 5,613 373 129 429 1,612 446 309 4,499 64 86 2,521 1,820 335 175 1,432 516 204 2,302 577 1,006 3,676 5,339 930 196 184 6,138 689 66,672 150 2,174 79,243 968 787 2,794 836 6,267 5,808 1,248 23,646 355 446 346 505 1,327 2,923 21,170 8,361 656 56,447 176 648 312 2,764 139 1,154 9,507 157 1,868 2,367 2,187 286 1,680 1,489 153 632 1,327 2,512 274 20,049 176 346 223 320 2,412 6,804 24,559 1,167 127 1,114 24 469 1,147 483 13,886 5,100 1,557 4,253 1,581 134 694 381 870 203 93 635 934 112 3,881 888 486 1,776 224 1,258 2,051 14,092 686 17,606 1,008 558 113 327 177 409 630 752 768 11,851 1,158 177 971 1,391 3,568 1,002 4,050 178 688 3,256 90 217 191 6,262 915 1,831 1,119 560 837 2,195 689 1,027 201,938 1,004 95 449 200 2,412 3,043 968 573 31,132 197 1,706 6,229 20,130 3,699 871 1,024 2,220 1,378 479 1,856 251 529 138 354 32,818 625 663 979 4,937 704 2,950 131 1,301 1,090 1,012 679 695 164 4,462 1,247 20,235 656 218 972 50,695 3,589 815 27,794 93 1,698 109 83 738 338 3,052 662 1,270 4,812 3,794 36,571 4,183 1,477 41,417 176 269 264 278 1,371 213 1,435 3,184 94 1,942 24,964 3,726 7,776 496 2,687 2,756 613 869 1,214 3,937 5,562 2,696 20,541 2,017 3,450 6,234 170 478 24,744 321 467 133 244 24,227 129 137 212 691 857 2,952 237 48,883 990 2,222 2,276 2,802 3,366 825 509 209 288 3,737 5,147 1,526 4,095 1,969 4,434 601 119 313 254 913 8,125 124 145 1,584 321 8,800 497 2,081 546 28,038 2,881 114 8,593 1,525 3,651 1,513 1,601 3,297 2,263 10,459 1,126 72 123 5,019 27,938 55 3,981 397 37 1,427 1,237 5,732 587 484 312 572 64 1,897 472 266 1,015 24,462 464 176 1,234 21,070 224 407 169 283 347 3,059 991 549 349 5,271 528 1,181 35,735 2,214 131 160 20,800 6,527 112 6,234 417 702 395 211 218 781 1,564 3,648 15,262 1,927 72 598 5,716 791 125 128 103 498 172 295 102 381 5,341 1,583 504 1,489 99 529 412 153 6,472 1,122 1,497 2,968 239 352 4,976 2,611 1,450 7,010 8,329 714 898 190 449 846 169 1,231 1,042 851 73 518 60,946 8,957 446 3,135 325 81,802 180 10,331 100 312 100 242 1,147 344 175 71 822 702 848 1,717 1,661 846 534 256 117 144 1,569 3,405 1,104 77 3,390 693 148 1,026 3,886 49,568 118 134 16,152 2,331 1,079 2,202 184 388 2,115 303 478 390 970 19,732 28,550 1,499 4,574 2,453 463 5,942 52,485 1,954 3,468 590 2,578 1,073 545 530 9,233 4,640 886 1,688 793 1,332 221 116 1,083 754 1,442 103 2,583 109 1,989 2,198 567 1,070 2,696 1,148 1,594 530 45 1,147 477 209 2,347 723 397 5,111 1,107 714 536 1,308 730 133 33,961 193 563 9,909 2,269 898 247 1,431 758 493 257 2,177 3,649 281 176 1,830 339 12,403 824 6,417 1,123 342 293 862 355 39,056 223 254 1,879 3,780 158 295 1,985 861 543 1,301 243 303 1,256 253 433 112 14,325 55,267 905 10,524 1,386 3,750 10,164 258 7,150 278 723 21 189 881 2,526 274 4,544 338 633 1,186 483 323 9,470 608 775 916 591 2,586 7,579 2,241 628 1,347 282 8,196 738 5,655 1,837 6,415 524 134 152 2,890 204 610 2,070 61 772 1,286 244 394 1,731 353 490 2,590 38,158 3,509 529 966 9,758 2,453 143 4,896 10,435 753 3,342 31,754 95 1,789 32,218 375 3,567 276 416 3,024 640 744 76 3,525 211 740 577 191 360 228 4,104 539 533 550 2,052 93 2,255 1,387 598 1,968 1,300 3,040 1,205 8,372 405 168 139 4,459 5,991 5,693 127 153 552 572 611 61 206 878 560 153 595 839 9,072 1,216 165 548 261 1,172 1,018 1,271 1,049 3,386 227 17,985 770 295 37,639 187 5,014 50 611 669 4,091 1,391 2,225 943 289 1,740 273 2,188 13,704 4,893 92 15,314 219 151 954 5,035 77 206 1,148 743 349 6,309 7,217 369 571 511 212 326 15,733 609 1,506 2,644 1,972 775 592 210 49 128 1,759 2,358 369 408 1,358 5,389 318 4,279 1,615 775 182 1,563 14,648 84 5,606 2,663 154 1,941 518 132 311 1,417 981 665 823 616 582 99 1,383 459 9,931 3,050 367 1,540 673 45,109 3,364 470 188 |
| $674 $6,416 $11,534 $5,339 $2,091 $600 $17,471 $1,910 $4,902 $9,414 $4,591 $2,687 $3,556 $13,725 $2,738 $4,690 $2,814 $5,866 $3,231 $15,561 $6,640 $6,827 $5,754 $6,684 $21,546 $3,865 $7,868 $705 $2,008 $3,734 $1,705 $3,767 $5,716 $1,680 $1,774 $0 $1,236 $279 $4,311 $6,736 $1,159 $16,477 $2,228 $1,568 $1,523 $549 $2,742 $17,156 $6,402 $9,410 $1,651 $3,154 $2,845 $7,436 $4,029 $2,870 $5,897 $4,849 $8,137 $5,480 $31,488 $1,180 $8,404 $4,847 $8,592 $7,556 $12,528 $5,365 $227 $6,766 $6,204 $8,922 $1,809 $2,020 $1,439 $1,146 $6,008 $6,202 $4,323 $7,774 $3,270 $5,458 $4,222 $1,652 $3,590 $3,652 $5,892 $7,962 $1,662 $4,205 $1,917 $812 $6,149 $1,492 $3,270 $616 $1,938 $0 $29,044 $3,951 $2,007 $8,662 $5,928 $0 $3,452 $0 $5,606 $24,656 $4,433 $6,864 $6,480 $4,459 $8,886 $10,211 $687 $13,719 $1,741 $1,984 $2,208 $1,848 $1,758 $2,949 $12,279 $1,116 $15,407 $1,898 $5,193 $3,381 $1,452 $11 $2,306 $4,434 $5,123 $7,800 $1,457 $2,630 $6,803 $12,244 $2,180 $4,852 $20,358 $11,740 $4,549 $5,759 $6,624 $23,730 $5,487 $3,858 $1,078 $17,773 $3,013 $10,392 $4,373 $5,463 $0 $566 $5,859 $9,825 $5,235 $1,832 $4,754 $3,938 $6,910 $5,411 $3,005 $393 $2,483 $6,555 $2,352 $2,484 $0 $6,101 $1,686 $12,682 $2,962 $4,789 $7,714 $2,990 $4,903 $5,908 $2,530 $905 $4,011 $14,124 $5,239 $4,756 $2,118 $7,735 $3,807 $1,074 $5,240 $2,132 $3,676 $1,425 $5,944 $3,755 $6,515 $2,357 $0 $3,030 $1,703 $3,519 $674 $4,635 $11,833 $8,457 $8,028 $6,795 $3,358 $3,012 $10,466 $30 $4,735 $3,534 $4,075 $2,034 $1,803 $4,123 $10,486 $5,860 $2,261 $3,314 $740 $5,019 $13,089 $16,247 $8,436 $1,902 $1,840 $2,084 $10,416 $5,948 $5,041 $15,738 $3,054 $2,882 $7,949 $776 $1,001 $2,813 $3,752 $12,081 $0 $2,803 $4,153 $1,438 $0 $9,038 $1,505 $20,160 $4,096 $1,192 $3,991 $3,000 $2,823 $966 $9,643 $0 $3,338 $2,250 $2,580 $0 $1,322 $5,642 $0 $1,911 $2,589 $2,941 $1,676 $9,874 $12,964 $13,452 $4,555 $7,835 $1,534 $1,078 $5,205 $5,201 $3,410 $13,356 $7,936 $32,509 $7,678 $5,840 $3,388 $4,115 $3,147 $7,575 $19,410 $6,977 $2,717 $9,775 $1,344 $9,814 $1,414 $2,379 $1,251 $3,913 $5,120 $87 $3,282 $2,788 $1,710 $14,516 $16,883 $2,454 $1,841 $4,222 $5,386 $2,482 $10,879 $3,145 $936 $11,309 $8,021 $7,363 $1,768 $2,665 $3,432 $8,103 $14,128 $4,295 $5,565 $15,054 $1,480 $2,428 $1,468 $3,874 $5,955 $10,643 $5,712 $16,572 $3,205 $4,733 $2,796 $6,306 $20,732 $6,534 $2,692 $7,779 $2,681 $12,441 $4,634 $2,880 $5,976 $1,446 $3,433 $3,175 $977 $0 $16,075 $7,465 $1,871 $2,495 $2,905 $10,016 $2,660 $11,346 $6,057 $1,412 $4,041 $7,257 $4,858 $4,202 $5,235 $2,004 $5,646 $7,868 $1,892 $3,368 $3,141 $0 $594 $6,597 $2,175 $4,228 $3,364 $7,896 $5,373 $7,352 $5,517 $3,388 $4,205 $1,108 $2,264 $14,704 $2,668 $5,667 $3,719 $6,303 $4,127 $1,109 $6,670 $4,117 $0 $0 $10,847 $2,312 $5,213 $11,699 $5,222 $4,157 $4,156 $1,025 $2,412 $2,709 $3,363 $5,152 $2,592 $6,250 $1,962 $3,084 $642 $2,879 $6,733 $4,303 $6,556 $8,363 $12,299 $22,911 $0 $4,435 $2,552 $490 $14,143 $10,847 $8,235 $1,903 $4,111 $4,540 $2,346 $5,922 $0 $9,433 $3,252 $10,699 $1,046 $6,348 $5,216 $6,968 $1,551 $4,582 $0 $1,224 $5,499 $7,536 $7,685 $6,088 $5,750 $6,811 $3,047 $6,766 $3,846 $15,527 $9,956 $1,325 $3,109 $0 $969 $6,394 $1,759 $7,407 $1,520 $5,448 $7,024 $7,273 $2,513 $1,739 $1,350 $4,759 $3,839 $2,743 $2,774 $4,488 $638 $2,068 $6,864 $14,189 $7,280 $4,969 $7,088 $944 $10,931 $324 $702 $4,128 $4,536 $12,966 $5,600 $487 $17,127 $1,917 $33,972 $9,608 $6,736 $3,817 $938 $1,537 $1,713 $1,174 $3,820 $2,278 $7,403 $6,702 $2,005 $1,676 $7,034 $11,364 $7,591 $15,400 $8,083 $3,996 $7,899 $5,486 $840 $5,317 $1,844 $30,876 $6,578 $8,519 $4,544 $16,950 $6,769 $2,082 $9,727 $8,800 $7,375 $1,375 $0 $1,986 $2,573 $882 $1,572 $348 $2,037 $0 $1,049 $19,498 $1,880 $2,843 $7,910 $2,450 $5,058 $2,664 $5,005 $3,001 $5,696 $6,623 $9,164 $2,942 $1,518 $2,563 $5,205 $2,323 $494 $6,656 $0 $5,682 $5,571 $1,573 $2,182 $3,812 $2,457 $7,030 $2,265 $12,338 $2,826 $5,517 $12,456 $1,350 $11,814 $3,165 $4,705 $10,454 $7,404 $7,707 $3,000 $3,507 $810 $1,972 $2,038 $7,964 $9,242 $3,868 $4,666 $9,271 $4,594 $412 $7,055 $14,649 $3,435 $5,041 $3,307 $1,616 $569 $8,765 $0 $1,255 $2,571 $5,387 $2,673 $1,369 $0 $5,500 $395 $3,008 $1,148 $2,612 $6,016 $1,503 $6,335 $5,473 $7,651 $1,561 $532 $3,717 $23,445 $3,547 $589 $2,488 $20,181 $13,175 $362 $2,404 $4,691 $2,599 $2,660 $1,804 $263 $3,713 $4,373 $6,623 $4,543 $4,637 $1,547 $4,734 $7,691 $6,710 $0 $2,355 $0 $5,997 $5,187 $2,825 $4,161 $2,125 $9,411 $5,419 $903 $22,102 $8,586 $3,217 $3,023 $4,846 $9,099 $355 $1,115 $5,390 $3,893 $1,490 $5,158 $16,913 $5,937 $5,917 $4,718 $1,580 $1,720 $2,286 $5,320 $0 $1,535 $4,338 $5,176 $705 $3,703 $115 $16,409 $0 $2,220 $645 $9,065 $3,646 $277 $10,177 $7,190 $2,951 $0 $2,291 $7,025 $10,985 $5,465 $1,535 $3,185 $2,774 $7,202 $655 $3,765 $10,747 $1,369 $1,033 $1,951 $3,270 $4,905 $5,581 $2,653 $1,054 $0 $4,838 $2,265 $179 $6,857 $10,543 $5,931 $3,447 $4,317 $6,419 $5,095 $7,379 $511 $4,418 $11,000 $9,103 $6,841 $1,333 $947 $7,703 $19,389 $749 $2,635 $4,359 $4,875 $8,134 $21,015 $8,481 $5,930 $6,146 $7,424 $1,299 $4,675 $3,135 $12,881 $9,249 $2,042 $2,489 $0 $8,056 $2,550 $5,298 $5,496 $4,043 $4,214 $3,102 $5,713 $1,188 $22,074 $3,076 $4,143 $606 $9,190 $2,577 $6,449 $7,411 $0 $17,862 $2,815 $3,922 $5,665 $11,119 $456 $0 $3,104 $3,056 $5,362 $4,937 $6,523 $1,915 $17,704 $3,125 $4,162 $8,553 $11,316 $2,932 $3,031 $3,613 $965 $4,415 $2,081 $3,578 $7,965 $1,953 $582 $3,364 $10,565 $9,055 $7,441 $2,409 $8,347 $422 $2,926 $7,339 $2,493 $4,857 $1,942 $1,709 $4,411 $12,736 $3,130 $6,834 $3,418 $4,638 $0 $2,169 $6,361 $5,546 $0 $0 $2,512 $5,743 $1,785 $14,484 $45 $5,279 $3,959 $2,638 $5,250 $2,617 $4,592 $10,734 $6,046 $5,073 $3,481 $1,821 $2,425 $301 $10,373 $3,998 $2,259 $3,605 $1,776 $4,311 $1,657 $5,250 $1,105 $1,898 $7,281 $2,902 $5,533 $5,556 $9,237 $3,084 $3,802 $6,929 $7,156 $2,928 $5,567 $3,615 $2,722 $2,301 $1,379 $10,223 $1,817 $944 $10,238 $1,875 $6,546 $8,842 $675 $314 $2,215 $959 $6,404 $6,640 $17,354 $4,797 $3,544 $1,143 $2,051 $16,456 $5,381 $1,041 $8,002 $4,179 $1,443 $8,955 $0 $3,204 $17,434 $0 $6,312 $1,985 $6,629 $5,072 $14,442 $1,777 $400 $5,286 $898 $948 $6,055 $0 $10,807 $2,204 $2,565 $11,192 $10,505 $874 $8,336 $2,663 $0 $9,957 $4,995 $5,893 $11,424 $5,983 $3,677 $3,750 $2,683 $4,666 $3,461 $5,486 $3,880 $1,643 $4,490 $3,025 $1,186 $399 $6,157 $0 $1,586 $1,629 $7,111 $5,130 $393 $6,070 $2,729 $15,301 $1,490 $3,566 $2,171 $6,443 $5,017 $2,331 $4,157 $3,955 $1,619 $4,505 $8,135 $0 $7,263 $3,979 $6,554 $6,038 $212 $5,875 $2,921 $18,118 $11,223 $4,788 $2,674 $5,979 $3,313 $2,071 $4,608 $14,084 $1,701 $16,038 $3,200 $0 $2,703 $6,639 $1,868 $13,198 $4,739 $1,492 $6,269 $10,845 $10,681 $3,458 $2,132 $6,467 $2,085 $2,549 $9,908 $1,547 $1,510 $6,923 $4,907 $7,442 $336 $3,461 $1,196 $3,865 $5,202 $275 $1,594 $2,508 $4,579 $2,927 $143 $4,466 $4,491 $3,653 $1,988 $5,166 $8,743 $1,305 $5,700 $3,436 $847 $14,869 $3,968 $3,072 $9,462 $3,869 $4,507 $4,022 $7,537 $10,531 $1,615 $542 $2,616 $2,806 $6,180 $886 $735 $691 $1,464 $45,579 $5,163 $3,183 $688 |
| As Eanes ISD's Nola Wellman (at left at Eanes Education Foundation Gala) told a TV reporter a few years ago, "We're broke." In fairness to Nola, it's a comment we hear often from administrators and board members, even from wealthier districts such as Nola's. (According to the Texas Education Agency, Eanes' total receipts/all funds amount for the 2006-07 school year was $27,238 per student.) |
| No rule of thumb There doesn't appear to be a yardstick for determining how many meals and trips superintendents can charge their taxpayers for. Let's look at one of Texas' larger districts, Ysleta ISD in far West Texas, in the El Paso area. |

| Above (in green), Deborah Cron golfing with husband (far right) at resort on school day afternoon |
| Hector Montenegro (above left) at Austin reception in his honor |

| While Hector Montenegro was YISD's superintendent, YISD spent $45,579 in 2006-07 on Hector's food and travel, making the district the state's highest spender in this category. With 45,109 students, this is about a dollar per student. Is Ysleta a rich district, like, say, Eanes? Hardly. Three-quarters of its income are state and federal sources. To complicate the picture, Hector has recently accepted a new position as head of Arlington ISD, where his extensive speaking and travel schedule including honorariums such as one from ERDI have come under scrutiny by his new Arlington ISD board and now also his Arlington ISD parents and taxpayers. And now, given the questions in Arlington, Ysleta trustees are taking a closer look at Hector's spending while still employed as their superintendent. What about smaller districts? Let's look at a not-so-large district on the roster at left. With 7,217 students, Weatherford ISD's Deborah Cron spent $10,681 during 2006-07 for meals and travel to events such as the 2007 Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-Urban Schools Spring Conference last |
| year at a Hill Country resort (see photo at left). By comparison, New Braunfels ISD's supe, with only seven fewer students, spent about half ($5,917) what Deborah spent, despite Deborah's state- ment that, "We're not a rich district." |
| While a quick response might logically be, "Rich enough apparently to pay for their superintendent to play golf on school days at resorts," and this might appear to be a confusing grey area, what we really have is a terrific opportunity for the start of a new chapter in community dialogue regarding the budget process. Some questions to get the ball rolling o Where do we really want to spend those pennies? Trustee Marta Perez in Miami, Florida recently asked her district's schoolteachers for ways to save money, and received thoughtful responses. o Is it really appropriate for a school district depending so much on outside assistance to have such high expenses in what is, at the end of the day, a discretionary area? o When interviewing superintendent applicants, board members can ask -- prefaced by a statement indicating that the community is undergoing a period of belt-tightening -- whether the prospective superintendent would be willing to pay for his or her own travel and meals out of the generous salary the district will be paying them, as a gesture of good will to their new community. Here's hoping this will start a new dialogue in this important area -- with the goal of putting as many of our dollars as possible in the classroom with our students and teachers. (SOURCE OF DATA--Texas Education Agency) |

| As we enter the fourth week in July, school districts across the nation are firming up their budgets for the next school year. As part of this process, administrators are scouring every possible area for ways to save extra pennies -- which makes this a great time to take a closer look at all budget details. |
| Nola Wellman |
| Despite our administrators' heartfelt examination of all possible areas, one always seems to escape the budget axe, and that's the amount of money our superintendents can charge our districts for their personal meals and travel. |
| 07.14.08: Friends, although sometimes the Internet has a memory like an elephant, other times links die and even cached versions disappear. Therefore, as a public service, here are some key Arlington ISD/Hector Montenegro published stories (newest to oldest): |
| Arlington ISD chief Montenegro charged $5,000 in event expenses Fort Worth Star-Telegram By EVA-MARIE AYALA eayala@star-telegram.com Posted on Tue, Jul. 08, 2008 ARLINGTON — Superintendent Hector Montenegro charged at least $5,000 on his school district credit card for expenses related to educational conferences he attended in February and March as a keynote speaker or panelist, according to documents obtained by the Star-Telegram. Montenegro was set to receive honorariums for speaking at those events until he said last week that he would return or decline those payments as Arlington school district trustees began an investigation into his relationship with some education nonprofits. The district paid for Montenegro’s travel and meal expenses. But late last month, trustees told Montenegro that he must obtain written permission in advance for any future out-of- state travel. They said they do not want him obligating taxpayers to pay for expenses related to nondistrict events. Frank Hill, the school district’s attorney, said Montenegro’s district expenses will be turned over to an outside attorney to determine whether they are excessive. Montenegro referred questions about the expenses to his lawyer, who declined to comment Monday. School board President Jim Ash would not comment on Montenegro’s spending, saying that he had not seen any documents released to the Star-Telegram. He said trustees set rules for the superintendent’s travel expenses based on advice from school district attorneys. "The information we’re seeking from him includes asking for income and expenses" related to outside work, Ash said. "We’re looking to see what those are." Expenses detailed Some expenses that Montenegro charged include a $3,025.42 dinner at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse in San Diego during which 37 people, including Arlington teachers and administrators, ordered rib–eye steak, salmon or marinated chicken dinners at $69 a plate. |
| Superintendent to return $8,678 in honorariums Arlington schools chief returns honorarium to nonprofit Arlington schools chief defends dealings Arlington trustees evaluate superintendent Trustees are expected to discuss concerns about Arlington school superintendent’s relationship with nonprofit |
| Please check back later this week -- I'll be posting coverage, primarily from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, as stories still online are located. |
| Arlington school trustees to discuss superintendent's status Thursday Fort Worth Star-Telegram Posted on Mon, Jul. 14, 2008 ARLINGTON -- Arlington school trustees could put Superintendent Hector Montenegro on paid administrative leave later this week. Trustees consulted with attorneys in executive session Monday. After several hours behind closed doors, school board president Jim Ash posted a public notice for a special meeting at 9 p.m. Thursday. According to the notice, trustees will "consider placing the superintendent on paid administrative leave during the continued review of superintendent's compliance with state laws and district requirements, concerning honorariums, travel expenses and other expenses." If necessary, trustees will also consider the appointment of an interim superintendent, the notice states. |
| Arlington trustees may place superintendent on paid leave By SHIRLEY JINKINSsyjinkins@star-telegram.com Posted on Tue, Jul. 15, 2008 Schools chief may be put on paid leave ARLINGTON — School trustees could put Superintendent Hector Montenegro on paid administrative leave this week. Trustees met with legal counsel during a special meeting Monday to go over records of Montenegro’s expenditures and outside work with educational foundations. After several hours behind closed doors, school board President Jim Ash posted a public notice for another special meeting, at 9 p.m. Thursday. According to the notice, trustees will "consider placing the superintendent on paid administrative leave during the continued review of superintendent’s compliance with state laws and district requirements concerning honorariums, travel expenses and other expenses." If necessary, trustees will also consider appointing an interim superintendent, the notice states. Unlike Monday’s meeting, the one Thursday will be open for the public to watch any action trustees take. "There’s not really much more to say," the district’s lawyer, Frank Hill, said as the meeting ended. "It’s just a step going forward. We’re mindful of the due process for everyone involved." Departing board members referred questions to Hill. Montenegro has come under scrutiny for his ties with outside educational organizations, some of which do business with the district. Montenegro said he has returned $8,678 in honorariums since trustees ordered him last month to detail any outside compensation he has received since becoming superintendent Feb. 1. Trustees exchanged greetings with Montenegro in the hallway of the administration building just before the 6 p.m. meeting Monday. Present at the meeting were the seven trustees; the school district’s attorneys, Hill and Heather Castillo; and independent counsel Dan Fielding of Fort Worth, who has been examining Montenegro’s records for the board. Fat red files sat at each place as the meeting was called to order. Montenegro seemed upbeat but wary before the meeting. He has canceled his speaking engagements until the situation is sorted out. "That’s something he has done," his attorney, Neal Adams, said before the Thursday meeting was posted. "This has obviously become an issue in the district, so he will reassess what he does over the next 90 to 120 days. "He gets numerous speaking engagements around the country because he is well-respected," Adams said. Hill later informed Montenegro of the board’s decision in the superintendent’s office. "I think he’s OK," Hill said of Montenegro’ s mood. Via text message, Montenegro declined to comment. SHIRLEY JINKINS, 817-548-5565 ------------------------------------------------- The background Late June: Concerns are raised about Superintendent Hector Montenegro’s relationship with the HOPE Foundation, a nonprofit based in Bloomington, Ind., that promotes strategies from the book Failure Is Not an Option. The school district has spent at least $240,000 on the book and related materials this year. Days later, trustees order Montenegro to detail any compensation he received from outside the district since he took his post Feb. 1. They also order him to turn over any documents that describe his relationship with seven educational organizations, including HOPE. Montenegro is instructed to "avoid not only any conflicts of interest, but also the appearance of any conflict of interest." School board members appoint an internal auditor and agree to hire an outside attorney to review the matter. July 4: Montenegro’s lawyer announces that the superintendent will return $8,678 in honorariums to several educational nonprofit organizations. July 8: Documents reveal that Montenegro charged at least $5,000 on his school district credit card for expenses related to educational conferences he attended in February and March. July 10: Trustees announce Monday’s special meeting to meet with lawyers. July 14: Trustees meet with lawyers and announce a special meeting on Thursday, when they’ll consider putting Montenegro on paid administrative leave. — Star-Telegram archives ----------------------------------------------- If you go Arlington school board meeting 9 p.m. Thursday J.W. Counts School Administration Building, 1203 W. Pioneer Parkway ======== |
| Arlington advisory group to recommend election on school tax rate increase (Fort Worth Star-Telegram © 06/18/2008) A school budget advisory group voted Tuesday to recommend a tax rollback election to the Arlington school board as a way to defray a $20 million budget shortfall for the 2008-09 school year. If approved, the vote would increase the property tax rate from $1.04 per $100 evaluation to $1.17, the most allowed by the state. An election is required to raise the rate. |
| The superintendent whose travel and sustenance spending during 2006-07 was the highest in Texas, Hector Montenegro, is under scrutiny by his new Arlington ISD school board such that Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. his trustees will meet to discuss his future at the district in a meeting open to citizens -- this at a time when AISD is on track for a tax rollback election. |
| Regarding Hector Montenegro, please keep in mind that he voluntarily placed Ysleta ISD's check register online earlier this year before leaving YISD to join Arlington ISD; AISD was one of the earli- est larger districts in the nation to go online with its check register. Posting Ysleta's is something Yector did not have to do, and the fact that he did so represen- ted a really big step by a public school superintendent. Please check back later this week for a new commentary which will include Hector's comments regarding YISD spending in the database at left. |
| NEW DATABASE: TEXAS SUPES' DISCRETIONARY SPENDING What are some positive ways local parents, taxpayers and board members can use this information? By Peyton Wolcott Monday, July 14, 2008 - 12:34 a.m. - Updated Tuesday, July 25, 2008 - 10:45 a.m. |
| BOARD Travel & Subsistence |
| $614 $10,186 $22,803 $0 $0 $0 $4,657 $7,224 $783 $17,942 $5,321 $10,519 $9,303 $1,955 $9,209 $0 $5,091 $14,211 $2,130 $9,288 $7,730 $13,317 $8,086 $2,857 $4,148 $0 $8,721 $15,410 $13,457 $4,123 $3,542 $7,525 $10,177 $6,719 $1,702 $14,464 $1,423 $0 $9,911 $13,498 $840 $49,867 $6,047 $0 $5,304 $0 $474 $23,331 $549 $4,550 $6,035 $18 $7,316 $0 $8,558 $2,521 $12,462 $6,485 $22,786 $4,117 $6,241 $0 $12,472 $495 $15,310 $11,056 $9,993 $0 $0 $10,822 $9,282 $14,984 $5,121 $0 $4,695 $0 $2,565 $5,868 $0 $9,282 $0 $597 $0 $4,033 $0 $7,467 $0 $2,824 $2,005 $9,770 $0 $32 $0 $27 $66 $7,278 $4,771 $5,977 $0 $0 $4,001 $740 $2,237 $4,910 $5,708 $0 $0 $0 $0 $440 $20,049 $5,905 $6,994 $45,754 $6,203 $7,640 $0 $395 $3,844 $1,031 $0 $9,845 $9,255 $16,532 $580 $17,654 $2,974 $0 $7,623 $0 $0 $3,096 $1,422 $4,585 $0 $139 $6,133 $17,478 $23,589 $3,235 $0 $39,048 $10,537 $2,884 $17,405 $9,695 $20,136 $4,246 $21,778 $6,337 $11,062 $0 $5,569 $0 $5,893 $0 $0 $3,349 $9,163 $12,375 $8,461 $0 $6,768 $11,410 $0 $0 $0 $5,987 $0 $95 $4,536 $0 $0 $6,109 $4,161 $9,759 $5,558 $2,777 $2,853 $10,730 $0 $8,145 $1,760 $10,572 $11,352 $3,537 $3,363 $4,333 $7,260 $0 $6,977 $8,209 $3,165 $0 $5,969 $11,218 $4,805 $639 $2,997 $0 $0 $11,269 $2,769 $0 $10,206 $16,084 $0 $21,725 $3,015 $2,408 $177 $0 $0 $1,865 $4,302 $13,335 $2,380 $3,365 $928 $14,703 $11,266 $14,524 $1,481 $7,167 $5,076 $24,433 $8,456 $1,920 $9,006 $0 $4,518 $0 $3,929 $5,889 $26,160 $0 $3,144 $9,339 $0 $68 $1,055 $0 $5,636 $0 $1,482 $22,917 $8,829 $2,973 $32,152 $6,626 $20,726 $4,159 $0 $630 $600 $8,000 $4,030 $7,735 $0 $5,237 $4,722 $4,329 $0 $0 $30,524 $0 $0 $8,661 $5,229 $1,571 $26,533 $19,307 $25,169 $6,734 $3,427 $6,520 $3,833 $4,650 $4,380 $160 $27,242 $3,172 $33,455 $7,827 $37 $12,393 $14,665 $5,133 $11,172 $13,792 $1,369 $1,249 $0 $0 $7,192 $249 $0 $60 $11,992 $1,693 $0 $15,998 $0 $0 $25,193 $7,740 $3,025 $345 $150 $738 $159 $4,538 $5,142 $2,449 $6,972 $4,070 $9,148 $2,446 $4,608 $0 $7,598 $13,996 $0 $5,892 $44,966 $0 $11,066 $10,469 $14,208 $2,487 $9,152 $11,431 $24,124 $1,944 $2,056 $0 $4,296 $16,169 $10,305 $2,840 $10,276 $4,390 $9,877 $0 $913 $4,451 $1,785 $0 $6,176 $3,239 $0 $5,385 $0 $0 $9,710 $5,317 $6,504 $0 $0 $7,289 $5,168 $3,666 $21,353 $0 $0 $18,084 $242 $4,999 $17,545 $4,992 $5,762 $4,069 $0 $0 $0 $7,663 $0 $7,719 $8,177 $8,925 $10,615 $12,693 $464 $0 $4,977 $0 $0 $0 $10,235 $5,863 $1,807 $6,666 $0 $3,166 $4,203 $48 $1,071 $9,462 $11,742 $6,405 $23,426 $5,330 $4,684 $0 $0 $682 $3,312 $2,427 $9,338 $8,993 $22,152 $0 $0 $3,060 $4,773 $9,374 $5,446 $7,014 $160 $0 $54,656 $0 $0 $3,479 $3,399 $10,570 $3,883 $24,178 $4,875 $5,061 $813 $1,349 $9,994 $47,428 $0 $0 $0 $1,686 $11,116 $5,833 $104 $1,603 $6,475 $5,867 $11,370 $13,086 $12,962 $2,639 $11,006 $5,025 $9,829 $2,347 $1,691 $3,412 $0 $15,041 $323 $6,177 $0 $2,203 $0 $4,231 $7,962 $4,752 $0 $6,405 $0 $11,774 $1,997 $180 $0 $2,484 $2,709 $6,248 $30,572 $1,306 $4,227 $3,888 $26,073 $14,326 $3,706 $0 $3,918 $9,126 $167 $0 $6,897 $6,849 $6,961 $0 $11,037 $0 $4,702 $18,661 $25,671 $12,006 $12,435 $0 $0 $20 $5,478 $4,660 $3,911 $0 $15,657 $3,960 $5,422 $16,958 $24,132 $16,096 $0 $15,473 $5,861 $15,874 $3,352 $5,622 $5,604 $3,742 $12,245 $7,857 $6,902 $7,978 $10,533 $13,870 $1,673 $44,856 $18,503 $0 $879 $0 $12,869 $0 $518 $0 $0 $0 $8,613 $2,657 $23,249 $0 $0 $11,166 $9,043 $5,684 $2,899 $0 $0 $0 $7,719 $3,968 $14,666 $3,321 $1,050 $13,185 $3,105 $199 $0 $4,070 $0 $12,016 $10,017 $2,168 $5,876 $0 $34,924 $0 $9,737 $6,104 $28,841 $15,502 $0 $0 $5,109 $10,271 $12,214 $0 $0 $2,071 $5,110 $7,939 $3,264 $0 $16,676 $5,449 $0 $2,480 $8,021 $0 $4,871 $9,241 $7,185 $442 $2,207 $0 $72 $20,612 $9,209 $0 $3,924 $5,678 $9,025 $9,640 $3,338 $0 $18,185 $0 $1,220 $4,184 $0 $1,885 $2,532 $1,737 $7,834 $5,090 $15,610 $1,946 $1,544 $34,181 $0 $4,041 $4,307 $0 $31,503 $0 $6,951 $2,017 $0 $7,593 $6,153 $994 $5,049 $5,146 $7,357 $9,156 $9,441 $0 $24,428 $4,371 $5,411 $283 $0 $461 $0 $1,019 $4,003 $4,785 $0 $0 $4,440 $19 $5,590 $9,563 $0 $1,945 $6,736 $20,820 $0 $4,228 $6,083 $5,434 $3,645 $5,883 $7,448 $6,327 $1,719 $9,720 $8,192 $3,658 $40 $3,132 $0 $0 $5,460 $3,534 $437 $13,343 $1,100 $7,091 $51,052 $280 $5,679 $0 $0 $8,611 $8,064 $1,973 $2,686 $0 $0 $843 $242 $0 $0 $2,242 $12,526 $2,363 $1,199 $5,917 $0 $4,624 $0 $0 $223 $4,099 $6,129 $2,371 $0 $0 $7,633 $1,337 $800 $5,898 $12,659 $1,838 $2,380 $8,054 $12,564 $2,654 $10,592 $0 $0 $0 $5,648 $0 $2,685 $224 $11,440 $45,696 $688 $2,693 $4,816 $8,506 $13,244 $22,391 $4,449 $12,721 $6,675 $22,967 $6,457 $4,876 $10,696 $17,952 $9,164 $654 $16,137 $0 $5,792 $3,971 $0 $1,961 $5,167 $7,513 $0 $6,641 $1,735 $58,497 $235 $1,679 $2,500 $8,378 $11,109 $1,012 $11,062 $458 $5,499 $0 $5,046 $16,161 $5,510 $0 $4,983 $11,403 $4,123 $8,347 $6,549 $0 $0 $24,382 $5,207 $0 $30,658 $17,848 $1,761 $3,637 $12,206 $0 $7,916 $2,545 $4,186 $4,133 $4,986 $300 $6,518 $4,472 $5,524 $0 $19,340 $5,240 $5,510 $2,272 $10,278 $4,745 $18,412 $4,807 $305 $7,590 $7,031 $475 $0 $6,478 $5,417 $3,625 $7,051 $0 $2,935 $105 $0 $0 $2,862 $6,892 $21,421 $5,062 $26,656 $1,320 $10,148 $7,894 $0 $12,099 $18,775 $6,722 $6,538 $9,983 $4,036 $0 $3,030 $2,052 $2,515 $42,108 $19,094 $2,524 $3,578 $12,571 $8,537 $2,299 $1,487 $0 $6,539 $0 $16,320 $0 $9,537 $4,991 $15,477 $2,133 $12,203 $1,789 $10,521 $0 $268 $403 $23,021 $6,022 $7,032 $6,916 $4,999 $11,174 $0 $6,435 $0 $3,639 $5,425 $6,692 $6,876 $26,535 $6,591 $10,389 $0 $5,420 $87,248 $644 $11,251 $20,271 $7,145 $1,257 $6,504 $0 $0 $18,567 $0 $4,363 $2,848 $67 $12,302 $3,698 $0 $0 $6,781 $330 $824 $10,926 $0 $14,441 $0 $5,305 $152 $21,242 $10,230 $0 $0 $9,928 $15,488 $6,231 $0 $0 $6,876 $6,097 $7,939 $2,289 $633 $6,592 $14,517 $4,849 $10,867 $11,277 $4,461 $0 $996 $3,572 $0 $0 $0 $3,011 $1,780 $6,384 $1,030 $5,175 $13,054 $345 $3,172 $4,540 $5,719 $6,457 $5,847 $8,097 $0 $6,811 $8,240 $7,161 $646 $21,834 $0 $0 $1,461 $2,996 $0 $37,967 $20,349 $11,447 $3,102 $2,981 $0 $4,881 $9,555 $0 $11,255 $1,910 $13,442 $7,722 $0 $3,429 $1,818 $56 $0 $9,967 $0 $0 $10,883 $9,333 $20,118 $0 $26 $80 $2,597 $26,468 $6,184 $5,086 $8,112 $23,703 $2,463 $280 $766 $0 $1,394 $10,640 $4,592 $3,920 $598 $140 $21,505 $0 $4,432 $3,309 $5,157 $8,061 $1,240 $1,316 $7,571 $4,548 $6,418 $0 $5,193 $3,049 $0 $275 $5,767 $0 $0 $0 $6,500 $4,312 $0 $5,643 $0 $7,610 $26,654 $0 $909 $0 $17,474 $8,573 $10,160 $3,459 $6,429,77 |
Friends, I am updating this commentary in light of Hector Montenegro's resignation as Arlington ISD 's superintendent. |