The board voted Wednesday to censure Rodriguez for his behavior at a recent meeting. The board president of South San Antonio Independent School District forgot to turn off his microphone after a meeting, then had a conversation with Superintendent Marc Puig. Critics said the members had misplaced priorities and put progressive politics over the needs of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. But that support obscures what Thurmond admits has been a tough two years on the job. A transcript of his conversation with Arrellano was published as part of the boards online agenda. If you value our election coverage, will you support it? If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Soon after, he returned to his hometown of Dallas to teach in Dallas ISD. Amaral, the special education teacher, is in many ways Christensens opposite. If you value our commitment to the highest standards of responsible journalism and are able to do so, please consider making your gift of support today. Financially, there is still room to improve, Puig said, adding that he felt South San was in a good spot for the challenges faced in the past five years. Theres also been criticism unrelated to the pandemic. Former South San Antonio Independent School District Superintendent Marc Puig began working part-time for the Texas Education Agency less than two months after the school board placed him on paid administrative leave and four months before he resigned from the district. The working relationship between the board and the superintendent has always been a good working relationship, he said. He had served as the districts eighth superintendent since 2010, while interim superintendent Henry Yzaguirre is serving as the ninth. The reprimand came because Puig abandoned a contentious board meeting Aug. 18, said trustee Gilbert Rodriguez, who cast one of the two dissenting votes against it. Or get with a higher authority and then you can Puig said. The vote comes after the Texas Education Agency appointed a monitor to oversee the board after a two-year. Copyright 2022 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Flores and the boards relationship soured after the superintendent opposed a board-majority plan to reopen Athens Elementary, Kazen Middle School, and West Campus High School. While Amaral voted in 2018 for Thurmond, who he called the sweetheart of the Democratic party, he says that for too long, the position has not lived up to its potential. Texas Public Radio | State Board of Equalization (4 seats) Insurance Commissioner. Marc Puig Email & Phone Number - South San Anto.. | ZoomInfo He's Dr. Marc Puig, the superintendent at Beeville ISD since 2016. The . Not as Fiesta by the numbers: 2.5M people, 100K oysters and more, SAPD calls: Body in flooded creek; man dead after hit by train, San Antonio eyes stickers in fight against domestic violence, Man accused of strangling neighbor to death in apartment, SA's last Tuskegee Airman buried at Fort Sam. Puig has been on paid administrative leave since December. His termination before the end of his contract follows a long list of previous superintendents who have departed from the position. Puig said it was for investigative services. We have not denied anything he has requested., No one is attacking Dr. Puig, Arrellano said. Copyright 2022 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Trustee Homer Flores then moved to relieve Dr. Puig of all job duties effective immediately, suspend him without pay for good cause, and direct legal counsel to deliver written notice of proposed termination for good cause.. He said at the meeting that his comment to Puig about stepping down was a joke. Speaking about how he will approach a working relationship with the board, Puig said he feels three things are important to understand: There is a common vision focused on children; the role of the board and the superintendent are distinctly different but the roles of both are powerful; and everyone should commit to being learners. What do we need to start doing differently to still thrive in the face of the challenges that are here? Puig said. Trustees placed Puig on paid administrative leave five months ago after a hot mic caught an exchange between Puig and Board President Ernesto Arrellano Jr. In his first months as superintendent, Puig said he will be focused on making sure students receive continuous instruction from the summer into the fall. Claire completed her master's degree at Columbia Universitys Graduate School of Journalism, where she was a Stabile Investigative Reporting fellow. That, to me, is a real personal accomplishment, because that's why I'm there. In response, Puig filed a grievance objecting to the boards vote and submitted a written request to the state education commissioner for a hearing before a state-appointed hearing examiner. Feb. 15, 2022. SSAISD superintendent relieved 'of all job duties' months after - KENS Phil Hillman Chief Business Official Ontario-Montclair School District ASCIP President (Category: K-8 Member Districts) Dean West Associate Superintendent, Business Services Orange County Department of EducationASCIP Treasurer (Category: K-12, ADA of 1-15,000) Cameron Abbott Director of Human Resources Sierra Joint Community College DistrictMember (Category: Community College Districts) Marc . Id like to reach out to TEA and really put to rest immediately some of these things that are happening and get some answers, Puig said. Ive had to have tough conversations with myself. Puigs attorney previously said he had also not been given any information about the status of any investigation. No-New-Revenue Tax Rate and Voter-Approval Tax Rate for Year 2021 for South San Antonio ISD Presenter: Dr. Marc Puig, Superintendent Attachments: ( 1 ) 8-18 2021-2022 Accept No-New-Revenue and Voter-Approval Tax Rate for Tax Year 2021 4. The board voted for a two-year extension of his contract on May 17, 2021, increasing his salary by $25,000, Adams said. The relationship between a school board and the district superintendent is a marriage and the values need to be consistent between both parties, Puig said. KSAT has put in a request to the school district to get a copy of the separation agreement between Puig and the district, we will provide updates on what the board agreed to pay Puig once the request has been answered. What has historically occurred is that the state superintendent is a symbolic position that goes along to get along., Kevin Gordon, an education lobbyist in Sacramento who represents superintendents, said theres virtually zero chance that Thurmond loses, calling it a sleeper race., Frankly, theres a whole lot of people in the education community that have stuck by him, Gordon said of Thurmond. SAISD gave teachers the largest raise in years. The agreement states the $25,779 is not a severance payment, which would be reportable to the TEA. an improvement from a D and five failing campuses the previous year, add a P-TECH campus, or career-focused high school, at West Campus High School, open Texas Education Agency investigation. Rodriguez said he feared it was a prelude to the board majority forcing Puig to resign or terminating him. The board also hasn't discussed how to proceed with suspended Superintendent Marc Puig, so South San has continued to pay two superintendents since December. Support for TPR's Education News Desk comes from H-E-B Helping Here. There, it was a marriage that maybe perhaps the values may have been different, and thats OK, Puig said. California held an election for superintendent of public instruction on November 8, 2022. South San ISD board suspends superintendent, launches investigation Marian Navarro produces for Texas Public Radio's Morning Edition and Fronteras. You learn to live with that and then you decide, OK, where do I want to pivot and start my next journey?'. South San Antonio ISD picks new superintendent - KTSA Arrellano said there is no discussion of terminating Puig. Abbott calls Texas shooting victims illegal immigrants', Fiesta-goers blast King William Fair for wristband payment system, The tragic case of an S.A.-area dentist and his Miami patient, Photos: Gregg Popovich's old Dominion mansion listed for $5.5M, Shooting survivors: San Jacinto family only sought small favor, SAWS will pay you to take nature walks, gardening classes, H-E-B family, SpaceX and S.A.s best restaurants top weeks news, H-E-B family listed among worlds richest people by Forbes, TEA investigators urge a state monitor for South San Antonio ISD board. July 3, 2022 2 During the months that Marc Puig spent in limbo, suspended as superintendent of South San Antonio Independent School District since December, he began working part time for the. Puig serves on Commissioner of Education Mike Moraths accountability policy advisory committee with 19 other superintendents. Other endorsements for the incumbent include Gov. Superintendent for South Sand ISD Marc Puig agreed to resign from his position and void any lawsuits with the board after trusteed voted to fire him, in May. Thurmonds challengers are George Yang, a former Republican candidate for lieutenant governor; Lance Christensen, an education and government affairs director for the conservative California Policy Center; Marco Amaral, a special education teacher; Joseph Campbell, a Montessori schools advocate; Jim Gibson, a former Vista Unified school board member; and Ainye Long, a math teacher. If you value our commitment to the highest standards of responsible journalism and are able to do so, please consider making your gift of support today. Saavedra told the board Wednesday that it violated the Texas Open Meetings Act when it discussed in open session the reprimands it issued Superintendent Marc Puig at the Aug. 31 meeting. South San will always have a special place in my heart for all time, Prado told trustees. MARC PUIG - ksat.com Trustees then blamed him when the reopened schools attracted few students at the school years start. Individual trustees also contacted vendors, consultants, and other educational organizations on behalf of the District without the Superintendents knowledge, the letter read. The South San Antonio Independent School District Board of Trustees, approved a two-year contract extension for Superintendent Dr. Marc Puig during a special meeting held on May 12th. During the pandemic, many parents made the ultimate sacrifice of having to support their kids education, and in some cases give up their jobs, and they feel like theyve never gotten so much as a thank you, Thurmond said. The district was led by an interim superintendent during the 2019-2020 school year, after the board majority strongly encouraged their previous superintendent, Alexandro Flores, to resign. South San ISD Superintendent Marc Puig received two written reprimands from the South San ISD board of trustees. Robstown ISD names superintendent finalist Marc Puig M-DCPS was named as the 2014 College Board Advanced Placement . Puig previously had asked the board to approve hiring a consultant to oversee construction projects. It has indeed been an honor and a privilege to represent the community since 1998. South San ISD Superintendent resigns after board terminates his - TPR The board also voted 5-2 to censure Rodriguez in a resolution that said he displayed abusive language and bullying behavior during the Aug. 18 argument that some trustees considered physically threatening. The district released the following statement to KSAT about Puigs resignation: Dr. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Dr. Marc Puig, Superintendent of Schools NOTE: The Student Code of Conduct will be applicable to all students whether they are enrolled for in-person or virtual learning. Dr. Puig and. I figured this is probably (a) good time, only because it's the end of the school year, and I will be able to attend and be a participant of my 25th commencement exercise of South San come June the first. It also was before Puig became superintendent. Adams said he was still deciding the next step to take, but that Puig would not be accepting his termination. The board voted to . Puigs attorney, Neal Adams, said the board didnt properly complete Puigs evaluation and trustees didnt use the right language in Wednesday nights agenda. By, captured during the pause before the board went into closed session Nov. 17, Arrellano later said that comment was a joke, Northside ISDs Brian Woods on politics, education, and his next steps, Freedom From Religion Foundation plans to file lawsuit if Ten Commandments bill passes, Fiesta enters final weekend; police probe Market Square shooting, Weather still holding for Fiesta parades as celebration takes a German twist. Brooke Crum covered education for the San Antonio Report. Theres no legislative authority. Puig was South Sans eighth superintendent in nine years, including interims. Superintendent Marc Puig Starts Job in South San Antonio ISD South San Antonio Independent School District board members voted 6-1 Wednesday evening, May 13, naming Puig as their top choice for the position. Meet Our Business Members & Supporting Foundations. The position doesnt have a lot of power or hold a lot of influence, Marsh said. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond could end up coasting into reelection. Anybody whos watched Tony Thurmond has seen a circus.. Days before the board began the process of officially terminating him, Puig started working full-time as TEAs senior governance advisor on May 23, a position in which he will help public school systems and their leaders, including school boards, improve student academic outcomes that may have suffered during the pandemic. In a separate 5-2 vote Wednesday, the board reprimanded Puig for violating district procurement policy by hiring a law firm. When adversity strikes, leadership has to see the opportunity and when adversity strikes, leadership has to be prepared to say, OK, whats the opportunity? Puig described himself as the guy to go out and assess the problem and try to come up with solutions. He said he will take on an active role in resolving the open Texas Education Agency investigation into the board dysfunction and the districts contract process. Puig described the boards response to the taped conversation as a quicksand of dysfunction in remarks that made clear his frustration with his employers after less than two years on the job. You know what? People are still angry, and they need to be heard. He began his teaching career in Rio Bravo, near Laredo, educating his students primarily in Spanish. A self-proclaimed anti-establishment leftist independent, Amaral is pushing for a $70,000 minimum teacher salary, an end to military recruitment in schools and an expansion of ethnic studies. Do the math. Despite it all, state Supt. Unlike other state offices, a candidate for superintendent can win the job in the primary, without an election in November, by getting a majority of the vote. She said she had already told the board and district leaders she planned to retire before her term is up in 2024. The three trustees in the board minority resigned immediately afterwards. Dr. Marc Puig - San Benito News Marc Puig, a senior governance advisor for the Texas Education Agency and former school leader, is the lone finalist in the district's search for a new superintendent. What is the cost of this approach? South San has paid roughly $121,777 to Puig and Yzaguirre since Dec. 6. She previously worked as a business reporter at the Albany Times Union and an education reporter at Chalkbeat. The latest dispute raised fears of a return to a familiar pattern at South San ISD. Puig served as superintendent of South San for less than two years, according to MySA. Neither said who the personnel matter involved. His base is still with him, and there just wasnt any interest in taking him on.. Alternate (Category: K-12, ADA of 1-15,000), 16550 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703 | Copyright 2022 | All Rights Reserved, ASCIP. If you value our election coverage, will you support it? Former South San Antonio Independent School District Superintendent Marc Puig began working part-time for the Texas Education Agency less than two months after the school board placed him on paid administrative leave and four months before he resigned from the district. South San ISD board reprimands superintendent Puig was named the Region 18 Superintendent of the Year and his board was recognized as a 2014 Texas Honor Board. Patty Santos joined the KSAT 12 News team in July 2017. Elon Musk? Prado did not say why she was resigning during the meeting, but in an interview with Texas Public Radio Thursday she said her decision had nothing to do with Puigs termination or the Texas Education Agencys latest investigation into the district. More than 4 in 10 parents reported their child has fallen behind academically during the pandemic, though. Puigs resignation fits into a pattern of South San superintendents not staying for long and the TEA repeatedly investigating the boards interference with superintendents duties. According to Board President Gilbert Rodriguez, South San ISD has a genuine, sincere, and committed leader in . More by Brooke Crum, Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window). In June of 2020, Puig, who had led Beeville ISD, became South San ISDs seventh superintendent since 2011. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Mass shooting leaves 3 women and 1 man dead in the Mojave Desert, Ryan Fellows is killed in a car crash while filming Street Outlaws, Copenhagen mayor to Californias Danish Capital: Stop acting homophobic, recall of three school board members in San Francisco, San Francisco voters recall three members of embattled school board. Beevilles board hired Puig to be superintendent in 2016, but Puig had previously served as superintendent of San Benito CISD, Culberson County-Allamoore ISD, and Luling ISD. Despite requests by KSAT, board leaders never provided information on who was conducting that investigation and what the findings were. Im a school teacher at heart, Puig said. He described a strong relationship with TEA officials and his own understanding of the state agencys mission and values. I'm still analyzing that strategy., Texas Public Radio is supported by contributors to the Education News Desk, including, TPR was founded by and is supported by our community. August 18, 2021 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting - BoardBook But none have the political advantages the name recognition, funding or endorsements of the incumbent. The unwitting victims of this whole process tonight are the children, our staff and our community.. This didnt start last week, it started more than 30 years ago, Puig said, a reference to the boards long history of infighting, brushes with state oversight and rapid leadership turnover. It is obvious to me that the objective of the board majority is to remove the superintendent.. You have to have good cause to terminate a superintendent, because when they go before a hearing officer, if TEA doesn't think we have good cause that superintendents going to come back, Prado said. The vast majority of the interactions with the superintendent have been positive. We have lost 2,000 students over the last seven years. The superintendent oversees the California Department of Education and chairs the State Board of Education, which adopts school guidance, though locals control much of what happens in the 1,000-plus school districts. While superintendents in other states were leading the charge on COVID-19 school policies, Newsom was often the one briefing the public on distance learning and reopening, with Thurmond missing from some major announcements. SAN ANTONIO - The South San Independent School District board of trustees voted 3-2 Wednesday to relieve Superintendent Dr. Marc Puig of his duties effective immediately. Among the criticisms he has faced since being elected as superintendent in 2018 after four years as a Bay Area Assembly member is a lack of influence and action during one of the most stressful times in education history. By Joe - TexasISD.com. Thurmonds campaign contributions have reached $1.4 million an amount at least 25 times larger than that of any other candidate in the race. A full body orgasm at the L.A. Phil? Puig will not be involved in the agencys investigation into South San, TEA spokesman Jake Kobersky said. Allegations of a toxic workplace. Executive Committee - ASCIP Six candidates have filed to run against California Supt. Dr. Marc Puig, who serves as - Beeville Bee-Picayune | Facebook From San Benito CISD, Puig went to lead Beeville ISD. The superintendent of the South San Antonio Independent School District has officially resigned. Monitor To Oversee South San ISD Board After TEA Cites Them For - TPR The superintendent of the South San Antonio Independent School District has officially resigned. She began her journalism career as a fact-checker for Cond Nasts portfolio of magazines and Harper's Magazine. South San's current superintendent, Marc Puig, was hired in the spring of 2020. During her more than two decades as a trustee, South San gained a reputation for board dysfunction and micromanagement. The board voted May 18 to suspend Puig without pay and begin the termination process for good cause. It followed a vote that was requested by Puig to extend a contract for a. He earned his master's and bachelor's degrees . If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. That creates a significantly different legal exposure, not only for the district but the three individual board members who voted for that motion, Adams said. He could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. Patty Santos joined the KSAT 12 News team in July 2017. In May, the board voted to fire Puig. If you value our commitment to the highest standards of responsible journalism and are able to do so, please consider making your. Henry Yzaguirre is meanwhile serving as the interim superintendent. This was an improvement from a D and five failing campuses the previous year. Puig withdrew his grievance and any complaints he filed with the TEA against the board, district or individual trustees, according to the agreement. The district has also repeatedly been investigated by the Texas Education Agency. It's just a matter of what and when, and where, Adams said. "Dr. Marc Puig has announced his voluntary resignation as Superintendent of Schools for the South San Antonio Independent School District, which the Board of Trustees accepted. Thank you, Puig said before leaving the boardroom after the vote. His decision to quietly hire a friend living out of state as a top official led to at least two resignations. The taped conversation seemed an example of the same kind of behavior. The board president of South San Antonio Independent School District forgot to turn off his microphone after a meeting, then had a conversation with Superintendent Marc Puig. He served as South Sans eighth superintendent in the last nine years, including interims. Monitor Laurie Elliott repeatedly recommended the state agency appoint a conservator, who would have the ability to override board votes. Adams also said hes represented superintendents in employment disputes for 35 years, and this is the first time hes seen a board propose termination without pay. When it reached a point where he felt threatened and not in place, he stepped out of the executive session, Rodriguez said of Puigs departure from the Aug. 18 meeting. School district leader leaving | News | mysoutex.com The California Department of Education grappled with a turnover problem last year as dozens of top officials fled the agency, some painting Thurmond as a toxic boss. Under his tenure, M-DCPS became one of the nation's highest-performing urban school systems, receiving systemwide accreditation from AdvancEd in 2014. The board voted to place Henry Izaguirre as interim superintendent, while they conducted an investigation. PUIG IS THE MAN: Superintendent from Van Horn to lead SBCISD By Editor in News By JACOB LOPEZ Staff Writer reporter@sbnewspaper.com Members of the San Benito CISD Board of Trustees expressed optimism in their selection of Dr. Marc Puig as the lone finalist for superintendent of schools. Former South San ISD Superintendent Dr. Marc Puig resigned from his position in June. NEISD bypasses procurement process for mystery $2.5M security product, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Heres how theyre paying for it. The influential California Teachers Assn., which praised Thurmond as a fierce advocate for public education in a statement, has put more than $1 million into an independent expenditure committee to reelect him. South San Antonio ISD to begin process of removing superintendent He was placed on administrative leave at the end of 2021 following some comments made on an open mic following a board meeting. Arrellano, Flores and Stacey Alderete voted for Puigs termination. Board President Ernesto Arrellano said he could not comment on any details of the current situation due to board policy and attorney-client privilege. "We believe Dr. Puig is the best fit to continue to build culture and show our commitment and love for our students, staff and community," RISD board of trustees President Lori Flores-Garza said in a press release.
