Residents press San Benito CISD for bond‑spending transparency, question architect selections

At the public‑comment portion of the San Benito CISD board meeting, community members raised questions about the district’s bond planning and its outreach to designers and program managers.

Rosalinda Garcia told trustees she had attended prior presentations from architects and asked whether the district had released an accounting of bond expenditures. "How much was spent?" Garcia asked, urging transparency and reminding the board of a prior $40,000,000 bond vote. She said she liked some bidders’ candid assessments (she referenced a presenter by name during her remarks) and asked the board to honor the community’s expectations when moving forward with construction and program management decisions.

Another speaker, identified as Lupita (Miss Huerta Benavides), raised a separate concern about a staff interaction and called a recent outreach to her "very unprofessional." The board publicly apologized: "I do apologize on behalf of the board," said Doctor Cruz in response to that concern.

During the consent and action discussion the board moved agenda item 8.14 (an interlocal agreement resolution) to executive session for legal review; later in the meeting the board reported no action was taken on that interlocal agreement. The transcript records requests to authorize administration to continue negotiations with architectural and design‑build firms related to a performing arts center, and the board approved motions to qualify firms for recommendation to administration for RFQ/RFP processes.

Speakers pressed for a clear accounting of bond resources and for public notice when negotiations alter previously stated plans; trustees responded procedurally rather than with detailed financial figures during the meeting.