Residents urge trustees to oppose vouchers and raise transparency, nepotism and safety complaints

A long public-comment period at the Laredo ISD Board of Trustees meeting on June 20 centered on opposition to proposed state school voucher legislation and a series of complaints alleging lack of transparency, retaliatory personnel moves and possible contracting favoritism.

Speakers representing the "Yes I Will Vote" coalition framed vouchers as a threat to public education. "Private schools get to choose the students that they have," said Susana Hinojosa, a recently retired teacher and coalition member, adding that private schools are not bound to federal protections for students with disabilities and that public funds diverted to vouchers would reduce accountability. Hinojosa also named donors she said were backing voucher campaigns.

Other speakers raised governance concerns and specific local allegations. Kayla Sanchez told trustees that "there is a serious lack of transparency in LISD" and alleged that "those contracts are going to her family who are the subcontractors," a claim raised in the public forum without documentary evidence offered in the meeting. Valentin Ruiz and other members of the Veteran Coalition criticized earlier promises on raises to teachers and classified staff and contended that some administrators had received outsized pay increases.

Student and community safety concerns were also aired. Anthony Torres said staff who had supported student advocacy at Martin High School had been moved and replaced and described incidents he said undermined safety and cadet programming. The board heard multiple personal accounts but did not take immediate action during the meeting to address the allegations.

Trustees and Superintendent Rios responded later in the agenda during budget and personnel discussions. When board members questioned recent reclassifications and reported raises, the superintendent defended administrative personnel decisions and said reclassifications did not add new FTEs. The superintendent told trustees these changes were administrative responsibilities and said, "We have not added any extra positions. I may change titles, and here are people in this room that have changed titles and added responsibilities." The superintendent also noted the district is addressing fiscal constraints and that hiring and classifications have legal and operational considerations.

The meeting record shows the board approved the annual budget, compensation plan and several personnel hires later in the agenda. The public commenters requested further transparency and follow-up; the board scheduled a special call meeting and additional committee meetings where some of these issues (for example, an elementary principal appointment and a contract amendment for Sigaroa High School construction) will return for action.

This article reports claims made in public comment and the superintendent's response; the allegations raised by commenters were not substantiated in the meeting transcript and remain unresolved pending any investigation or documentary follow-up.