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School Superintendent Robert Damon's credit card paid for this $908.61 meal for the school board at Ruth's Chris Steak House in San Antonio in June. Note the $147.91 tip. This was obtained through the Open Records Act. The top of the ticket shows escargot and drinks.

Board Member Dr. Elaine Wilmore publicly defended the expense in the CISD board meeting January 9, 2006, saying that the school board "earned it." Not so, according to Texas Statutes Education Code section 21.037

Her exact words were "These folks earned it. They had to be there. They're required by law. They earned it. Even if I wasn't there."

Not so, says the Texas Education Code (21.037). It states that board members are not to receive any compensation. Compensation - money, favors, perks, is a violation of state law. The board could not have legally earned anything.