TEA Assigns Monitor to Cleburne ISD

October 16, 2008

Cleburne ISD has been assigned a Monitor by the Texas Education Agency. Dr. Monte Geren will oversee operations of CISD until further notice.

According to Rita Chase of the TEA, a Monitor is less controlling and costs the district less than a Conservator. A major difference is that a Monitor recommends actions to the School Board, whereas a Conservator may take total control. TEA has the option of switching from a Monitor to a Conservator if the situation warrants.

In a letter to CISD Superintendent Dr. Ronny Beard dated October 15, TEA Commissioner Robert Scott said that Dr. Geren is being assigned as CISD’s Monitor “to guide the actions of the school district in regaining financial integrity.”

Dr. Geren will be introduced by TEA officials at the next School Board meeting. Dr. Geren will oversee development of policy and procedures and advise the TEA if any further sanctions are needed. He will attend and monitor School Board meetings, monitor and assess CISD financial conditions, assist in budgeting, monitor and approve federal and state grants charges, and monitor state and local fund expenditures.

CISD is required to pay Dr. Geren $75 per hour not to exceed $600 per day plus necessary expenses not to exceed the state per diem rate.

The TEA letter did not address if there would be more TEA audits of CISD expenditures. According to Rita Chase, further audits have not been ruled out.

Also not addressed is whether to hold the misspenders accountable for their actions and demand restitution. (This is allowed by Section CAA Local of the CISD Board Policy). To date no charges have been filed and no complaints lodged by CISD. Former Superintendent Robert Damron left in March but was paid until July. Dr. Sharron Miles left shortly after Damron did and is still being paid, through November 7. Mike Bailey, former financial officer, had his duties shifted but is still on board and being paid his full salary. Former Assistant Superintendent Joe Ripple took a better job at another school district just as the TEA investigation began. We have heard of no charges being filed against him.

Criminal charges are not the responsibility of TEA, but of other agencies, said CISD.

Alden Nellis issued this statement: “Those who violated the district’s financial integrity need to be held accountable. It doesn’t matter if they violated that integrity with ill intent or out of careless ignorance, it still cost the students and the taxpayers and they must be held accountable. Taxpayers paid them big dollars to do their jobs and they should have done them properly.

“Education throughout Texas is in need of major corrections. We cannot expect those corrections to happen as long as the wrongdoers go unpunished. Other districts are watching to see what happens in Cleburne. If the wrongdoers get off the hook, that will send a clear signal to others doing the same thing that they can get away with it.

“Procedures at CISD are changing. Dr. Ronny Beard is sincere and he and some of his administrators are working hard to right the ship. However, his hands are more than full with the financial and academic shipwreck left by former superintendent Robert Damron and his administration. Our only Exemplary campus, Adams Elementary, fell to Recognized status last year. Dr. Beard needs to be able to concentrate on his strong suit, which is Academics. Hopefully a Monitor will allow him more time to do his job.”

Click here to see the full letter from TEA.