EPISD Board clarifies policy regarding political contributions

The El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees is clarifying rules regarding political activity after it was alleged the Superintendent violated district policies.

The El Paso Inc. reported EPISD Trustee Susie Byrd wanted a private board meeting after a concern regarding Superintendent Juan Cabrera was raised. Cabrera allegedly offered City Council candidate Shane Haggerty a campaign contribution in exchange for Haggerty’s endorsement for Dori Fenenbock.

Fenenbock, the EPISD Board President, is planning to run for the office of U.S. Representative after Rep. Beto O’Rourke announced he was running for U.S. Senate.

“The important thing is we all have the right to free speech and to express ourselves through political activity to endorse candidates we like,” Fenenbock told ABC-7. “District employees are not an exception to their constitutional rights to free speech. They just may not use district resources to do so.”

The comments came after an executive session the board held Tuesday to discuss district policies. Fenenbock also added that the role of trustees when it comes to responding to the community when a concern is raised.

“There were some comments made by trustees to the media relating to some political activity on the part of the Superintendent. It caused her to have some concerns,” said Fenenbock.

“The trustee did not follow the procedures that were set forth, and statements ended up in the media,” said Fenenbock, “It caused harm to the district. We had the appearance that things are happening that were not by policy or illegal. Whenever there is a concern about any employee in the district, those concerns need to be raised first with the Superintendent, second with the Board President, and then with the board as a whole in order to ascertain facts and determine the law and the policy.”

Fenenbock said it’s the board’s job to speak internally first and then as a body corporate.

The El Paso Inc. reports Fenenbock said she has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission allowing her to raise money, but has not asked Cabrera to campaign for her.

Byrd, who bought up the concerns to the board, is supporting current El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar’s run for Congress. Haggerty is also reported to be supporting Escobar’s run.

Haggerty, who’s in the June 10 runoff for the Northeast seat on City Council, said he wishes he hadn’t ignited the controversy by talking to the news media about Cabrera’s call.

Juan Cabrera told the El Paso Inc. he feels that he did nothing wrong.

Byrd emailed ABC-7 the following statement:

“I followed all procedures in addressing a concern raised to me by a member of the public. I shared information with the superintendent and the Board that I felt they needed to know because of potential harm to the district. I asked that those concerns be discussed in executive session. I limited my comments to the media by only stating that I was concerned and would like the board to address. I made no allegations. I did not disparage or impugn anyone’ motives. I simply stated that I was concerned. As a public entity, we should expect media and public scrutiny of all our actions and not act like that scrutiny is the problem.”