Two Cleburne ISD Board members and the Superintendent all have close family members working as teachers in the district.

This is not illegal according to Texas law but there are restrictions. The family member must be employed at least six months before the Board member was elected, and if the employee is promoted, the board member must abstain from voting.

The superintendent is exempted altogether because technically the School Board hires the employees (even though they are only allowed to hire who the superintendent suggests). Cleburne ISD Employment Practices states: “The Superintendent has sole authority to make recommendations to the Board regarding the selection of contractual personnel. The Board retains the final authority for employment of contractual personnel.” Therefore the Superintendent can (and has) recommended that the CISD board hire his wife, and they did.

See http://www.tasb.org/news/tls/2002/april/lgl_family.aspx for a full discussion of the nepotism law in Texas schools.

School Board member Brad Allen resigned a few days after being elected as school trustee two years ago so that his brother Bill could be hired as Assistant Principal. Brad ran again for election the next year. Now his brother Bill is possibly up for a promotion to Principal, and as long as Brad abstains from voting, it is legal.

School Board member Brad Mead’s wife, Kara, is employed as a teacher at CISD. She too was promoted while husband Brad sat on the board.

Superintendent Ronny Beard’s wife Martha also works for the school at a salary of $60,609 (November 2008 salary report), hired soon after her husband took over as Superintendent. His base salary of $140,000 gives the couple a combined income from CISD of more than $200,000.

This practice follows a long tradition. Kyle Boles was promoted to Principal while his mother Donna Boles was president of the school board.

Former Superintendent Robert Damron’s wife Jo was the highest paid teacher at CISD until the issue was raised. The next year one other teacher made more money than the Superintendent’s wife.

It’s legal, but is it a good idea? Does it sit well with most people? From the opinions we have heard, no it doesn’t sit well.

How many board members are going to vote against promoting a fellow board member’s relative. Well, none so far.

How many board members are going to vote against hiring the superintendent’s wife? Well, none so far.

Our opinion is that board members with close relatives working at the school should either resign or let their relatives find jobs in other districts.