Ysleta ISD board discusses infighting; votes on holding new election to replace trustees
Drama and infighting on the Ysleta Independent School Board. A special meeting was called to discuss low morale, leaks to the media, and possibly an election to replace certain board members.
This issue is a constant 4-3 vote. There’s a majority and a minority, and the minority made up of Shane Haggerty, Ana Duenez, and Connie Woodruff, are disgruntled by what they consider the lack of communication.
Board President Patricia McClean is under fire from the minority. They’re claiming she is creating the disharmony, and allowing other board members to bully them for not voting with the majority.
A lot of this comes from a recent leak to the media regarding how much the district spends on attorney fees, Specifically regarding House Bill 343, which requires board members to report their finances.
They spent thousands of dollars seeking advice from an attorney, and when this was leaked, he district hired an investigator to find out who did it, at $75 an hour.
“Well, it was unfortunate that we had to have this meeting. Those are monies that would have been spent better somewhere else,” said Board President Patricia McClean.
“All seven of them, they believe in what they believe in very passionately. It was a bit of a distraction. We’re starting school very soon and everyone knows Ysleta, we’ve got some challenges,” said Superintendent Dr.Xavier de la Torre.
In the end, the board voted, along split lines, 4-to-3, to not hold a board election, and keep the current slate of officers until the may 2015 election.
