Canutillo ISD calls for change at the Texas Education Agency

The Canutillo Independent School District is asking El Paso state reps and senators for help.Trustees want to make big changes to how the Texas Education Agency is run — and they’ll need legislation to do it.

Canutillo ISD’s board president likens the TEA’s chain of command to the El Paso ISD’s under former Superintendent Lorenzo Garcia. EPISD’s internal auditor answered directly to Garcia.

The Canutillo school board believes this same hierarchy at the TEA is a problem that needs to be fixed. TEA’s internal auditor reports only to Commissioner Michael Williams.And the only one Williams answers to is the Texas governor.

Canutillo board President Armando Rodriguez wants to change this. He wants Williams to answer to the State Board of Education, much like a superintendent would answer to a school board.

Rodriguez also wants the TEA internal auditor to answer to the state board, as well as make the commissioner position an elected position, instead of an appointed one.

He says these changes would ensure TEA is doing its job to combat statewide cheating.

Rodriguez sent out these recommendations to the entire El Paso legislative delegation, which includes Sen. Jose Rodriguez , and representatives Joe Moody, Marisa Marquez, Naomi Gonzalez, Mary Gonzalez and Joe Pickett.

Only Marquez had read their letter. In response she said “I think its great the CISD is making recommendations. I am looking forward to crafting legislation. However if we are expecting our state agencies to meet a high standard of accountability, then we need to do it ourselves.”

Marquez said she is currently sending the board dates she’s available to meet with them.//