Fellow Trustees,
Due to my concerns regarding the Texas Open Meetings Act I was told by board legal counsel that the message board is the appropriate place for this email and my response. I feel the community deserves to see the whole email conversation and would have hoped that President Weir herself would have posted the entire email for full transparency and to enable the board to discuss the entire email openly not just the selected parts she posted above.
————————- Start Full Email Unedited Content from Amy Weir ———————-
There has been some concern on social media, in emails to the Board, and from Board members regarding Donna ISD’s conservator. This information is not a bombshell and if you will remember, was discussed with David Faltys at the in person interview. The fact that 2 Donna ISD board members were arrested, the former superintendent fired, TEA coming in, the former superintendent then being elected to the Board; all the stuff about what a mess Donna ISD is. I spoke with TEA Deputy Commissioner Jeff Cottrill today to make sure I had the facts straight before responding to any of the emails. I have also asked Deputy Commissioner Cottrill to send an official letter to our Board detailing this information. We are not going to interview the conservator or postpone the meeting for Monday.
Here are the facts for the Board, per TEA:
The Donna ISD conservator was appointed in 2017 by TEA due to a forensic audit showing financial mismanagement by the former superintendent and 2 board members who were illegally appointed to the Board and who then approved the superintendent’s contract. All this happened prior to Dr. Azaiez being hired. All this information can easily be found online.
TEA Deputy Commissioner Jeff Cottrill confirmed today, Saturday June 11, 2021, that the conservator has never had to direct Dr. Azaiez or his admininstion on decisions or activities that he and his administration were not already pursuing. According to Deputy Commissioner Cottrill the conservator has worked alongside Dr. Azaiez, but all the administrative decisions were made by Dr. Azaiez and all the progress in the district is due to the outstanding leadership of Dr. Azaiez. The conservator was there to resolve the issues of the forensic audit and has only stayed due to additional issues regarding governance and the Board, which is now made up of many of the individuals accused of the 2016/2017 financial mismanagement. In fact TEA is worried about the district backsliding now that Dr. Azaiez is leaving.
The conservator has had to continually try to keep the board on track. A board that includes Fernando Castillo, the former superintendent, who was removed due to the forensic audit. It is the Board that has experienced challenges at times to focus on student outcome goals and adhere to Lone Star Governance and direction from TEA. According to Deputy Commissioner Cottrill the conservator is still there because of the Board and issues with proper governance. A Board not adhering to it’s governance role is something that our RRISD Board is intimately aware of at this time and should know firsthand is not an issue with the superintendent or in our case, acting superintendent.
Dr. Azaiez is considered by TEA to be an exemplary leader. TEA has full faith in his abilities to be superintendent at RRISD.
I will be responding to community member emails with the following email:
The Donna ISD conservator was appointed in 2017 by TEA due to a forensic audit showing financial mismanagement by the former superintendent and 2 board members who were illegally appointed to the Board. It is not my place to speak ill of another district, so I will leave it to you to find the details online, there are plenty of sources. This issue was discussed with the search firm.
TEA Deputy Commissioner Jeff Cottrill confirmed today, Saturday June 11, 2021, that the conservator has never had to direct Dr. Azaiez or his administration on decisions or activities that he and his administration were not already pursuing. According to Deputy Commissioner Cottrill the conservator has worked alongside Dr. Azaiez, but all the administrative decisions were made by Dr. Azaiez and all the progress in the district is due to the outstanding leadership of Dr. Azaiez.
Dr. Azaiez is considered by TEA to be an exemplary leader. TEA has full faith in his abilities to be superintendent at RRISD, as do I. The meeting for Monday will not be postponed.
Again, PLEASE DO NOT REPLY. I will forward the letter from Deputy Commissioner Cottrill if it comes to me and not the full board.
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Amy Weir
Round Rock ISD Board President
Trustee Place 5
——————— Email Header Information ——————-
from: Amy Weir
to: Amber Feller
Cory Vessa
Jun Xiao
Mary Bone
Tiffanie Harrison
Danielle Weston
cc: Doug Poneck
Jenny Wells
date: Jun 12, 2021, 1:52 PM
subject: CBU – TEA Conservator Questions
mailed-by: roundrockisd.org
signed-by: roundrockisd.org
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