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Community speakers press Edinburg CISD on superintendent expenses, bus‑driver terminations and due process
Summary
Multiple public commenters questioned the cost and propriety of district events tied to the superintendent, raised concerns about bus‑driver supervision and pay, and urged the board to delay personnel actions until due process (including FMLA rights) is assured.
A string of public commenters used the district's public comment period to press trustees on governance, personnel and transportation issues.
Marshia Gonzalez asked board members "when will this presidentially paid superintendent be leaving the district?" and raised questions about the cost of a recent retirement celebration, whether vendors benefited, the district's TR voter‑approved funds, auction proceeds and the fiscal picture driving concerns about a reported budget deficit.
Several commenters focused on transportation and driver treatment. Maria Treino, who identified herself as a 24‑year district employee and bus driver, thanked the board for reinstating her employment and described the difficult nature of the job: "When they're in my bus, they are my children till I return them home." Another commenter (identified as Fern) urged the board not to terminate drivers named on the personnel agenda and alleged favoritism and intimidation by a supervisor; the commenter also argued drivers should be paid for full duty time (pre‑trip, drive time, wait time, post‑trip).
Antonio Marcado, a social studies teacher, asked the board to table personnel agenda items G–K and emphasized legal protections and procedural fairness. "Two words: due process," Marcado said, urging trustees to ensure federal protections such as FMLA and other procedures have been followed before personnel decisions are finalized.
The board recorded no on‑the‑record reversals of personnel items during open comment. Several personnel items were later considered during executive session and, on returning to open session, the board approved a series of employment recommendations; the transcript shows the board then voted to accept several superintendent recommendations on personnel.
