EPISD Trustees Vote Not To Renew Contract Of Consulting Firm

EL PASO, TX – The El Paso Independent School District decided not to renew a contract with a firm that consults them on drop-outs and truancy.

The firm, known as New Beginnings, has been paid almost $1-million dollars per year by the district since it was contracted in 2002.

Tuesday night, EPISD administrators told the Board of Trustees they can do a better job for less money. “The heart of what New Beginnings was providing was done by the district personnel,” said one administrator.

The board was told by administrators they would only need $580,000 a year to provide the same services New Beginnings did for $925,000 a year.

Although trustees Sergio Lewis and Charles Rourke voiced strong support for the company, administrators said the company was only duplicating services already provided by the district.

New Beginnings is affiliated with Ruben “Sonny” Garcia, who was recently implicated in the on-going public corruption investigation being conducted by the FBI. However, the trustees said the connection had nothing to do with their decision. “There was never any discussion on that issue. There was a contract renewal that needed to be addressed …that is what this issue was all about,” said one of the trustees.

EPISD Trustees Charles Rourke and Sal Mena have also been implicated in the FBI’s public corruption investigation and their actions during the meeting did not reveal their intentions toward New Beginnings.

Rourke voted “present” at the board meeting, meaning his vote was counted within the majority without him voting for or against the measure. The neutral action resulted in his vote beingcounted alongthose of trustees Hughes and Dodge, who voted not to renew the contract.

Trustee Sergio Lewis refused to vote after he realized the motion would pass with or without his input.

Trustees Carlos Cordova, Lisa Colquitt-Munoz and Sal Mena were not present at the meeting.