© 2024 Texas Public Radio
Real. Reliable. Texas Public Radio.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Harlandale ISD: Replacing School Board Would Be 'Grossly Excessive'

Harlandale ISD Superintendent Rey Madrigal at a superintendents meeting Feb. 13, 2018.
File Photo | Camille Phillips | Texas Public Radio
Harlandale ISD Superintendent Rey Madrigal at a superintendents meeting Feb. 13, 2018.

The Harlandale Independent School District is strongly disputing the preliminary results of a state investigation, which recommends replacing the district’s elected board with a state-appointed board.

The district requested a review of the findings Thursday in a65-page document submitted to the Texas Education Agency.

TEA began investigating Harlandale in August 2017 after receiving complaints of nepotism and inappropriate business arrangements.

According to the preliminary TEA reportpublished on the district’s website, the agency was unable to determine whether or not the hiring of members of the superintendent’s family broke the law. However, it determined that the district broke the law in six other instances by making an illegal purchase and contract arrangements and violating the Texas Open Meetings Act.

In a statement, Superintendent Rey Madrigal said those findings are incorrect and “based upon misapplied legal requirements.”

He said the recommendation to replace the elected board is “grossly excessive and violates basic democratic rights.”

TEA spokeswoman Lauren Callahan said the review requested by Harlandale has not yet been scheduled, and the agency won’t decide whether to take over the board until it has taken place.

Camille Phillips can be reached at Camille@tpr.org or on Twitter @cmpcamille

Camille Phillips can be reached at camille@tpr.org or on Instagram at camille.m.phillips. TPR was founded by and is supported by our community. 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.