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Weslaco ISD board moves to begin nonrenewal process for administrator Mary Moreno after closed-session review
Summary
Weslaco Independent School District trustees met in closed session and voted to authorize the superintendent and board president to issue notices to begin a proposed nonrenewal of Chapter 21 term contract administrator Mary Moreno at the end of the 2024–25 school year; a public commenter earlier alleged misuse of student funds.
Weslaco Independent School District trustees voted unanimously at a special meeting to authorize the superintendent and the board president to provide required notices to begin a proposed nonrenewal of Chapter 21 term contract administrator Mary Moreno at the end of the 2024–25 school year.
The action followed a closed session held under the Texas Government Code for consultation with the board's attorney and discussion of personnel matters. The board recessed into closed session citing Texas Government Code ——551.071 (consultation with attorney) and ——551.074 (personnel matters), then returned to open session and took the formal vote.
The item had drawn public comment before the closed session. A resident who identified herself as Mrs. Cartier urged the board to take immediate action and alleged what she described as improper use of student funds by a long-serving administrator. "I was beyond flabbergasted...to place staff on administrative leave, in my opinion, it should have been immediate termination," Mrs. Cartier said, alleging purchases with student funds that included gift baskets, shirts and payments to a DJ. She urged trustees to "follow the recommendation of legal, the auditor, and superintendent" and said taxpayer funds should be protected.
After the board returned from closed session, Trustee Ben Castillo moved to accept the superintendent and legal counsel's recommendation and to authorize the superintendent and board president to provide required notices. Coach Armando Cuell seconded the motion. When the board members voted, the record shows the following trustees voting "aye": Jackie Sustaita; Dr. Jaime Rodriguez; Coach Armando Cuell; Mr. Silva; Mr. Los Santos; Ben Castillo; and Board President Mr. Olietta. The presiding officer declared the motion passed.
The motion recorded the board's authorization only to provide notices required by law related to the proposed nonrenewal of a Chapter 21 term contract; the transcript does not record further details about the grounds for the recommendation, any internal investigative findings, a timeline for appeals or any subsequent personnel proceedings. The superintendent and legal counsel were listed in the meeting record as the sources of the recommendation; no additional materials or exhibits were read into the public record during the open session.
The board did not provide a public timetable during the open session for when the nonrenewal would be final or for any administrative appeals. The transcript shows the matter was considered in closed session and that the board took the formal step of authorizing notices; it does not show the board adopting a termination, only that it authorized notice of proposed nonrenewal under applicable personnel procedures.
