MERCEDES — An effort to put aside South Texas Independent School District Superintendent Marco Antonio Lara in favor of an acting or interim replacement went nowhere last week.
After discussing that possibility and Lara’s performance as superintendent in executive session for some time Tuesday, Oct. 25, the district’s board voted to take no action on naming an acting superintendent and to proceed as discussed in executive session regarding Lara’s performance.
Lara directed questions about the meeting to Board President Doug Buchanan, who spoke highly of the superintendent.
“I thought that the vote spoke volumes for this board and how much they do work collaboratively and collectively, and that the vision of this district is alive and well,” Buchanan said.
Two board members left the meeting obviously unhappy: Sylvia Lopez and Natividad Sosa.
Lopez, the board member who asked for those items to be put on Tuesday’s agenda, declined to say afterwards exactly why she wanted Lara’s removal discussed, but did say she felt morale at the district is low.
“I feel good about what I did, and that’s what matters,” she said. “I’m gonna sleep well, and now whatever happens happens.”
The only obvious disagreement between board members Tuesday was Lopez and Sosa voting against the rest of the board in opposition to a handful of items relating to the district’s ongoing central office building renovation project.
Both Lopez and Sosa walked out of the meeting before it was over, after opposing those motions in vain.
“It’s tough to work with 24 people, especially when the majority don’t come to any of the meetings…” said Sosa, who reiterated Lopez’s concern over morale. “We have been getting calls from teachers, from administrators. Past people that have been let go. And I don’t believe that people are happy.”
There were some unhappy stakeholders at Tuesday’s meeting. One spoke, criticizing the board on a variety of issues.
Others, among them current and former employees, sat in the audience, some with signs.
There were also people who spoke favorably about the direction of the district.
Asked whether morale is an issue at the district, Buchanan said STISD’s accomplishments speak for themselves.
“I think there’s a lot of issues that every district has. We’re not perfect; but we certainly feel like we strive in the right direction,” he said. “And one of the board members who just read off all the accomplishments, accolades of these campuses that are a part of this district — that speaks volumes. They talked about teachers and how they’re ranked high because they like this district, they like the campus. I don’t know how that really relates to a morale issue.”
Buchanan described Lara as a good fit for the district, singling out for praise a recent partnership between STISD and UTRGV aimed at expanding dual enrollment opportunities.
“Considering his background, his pedigree, coming out of Region One. He knew every superintendent, he knew all about the different school districts,” Buchanan said. “He knew what our district needed to move it forward. We have been innovative under his direction, and we will continue to be.
