In the last issue of La Voz (Jan. 17, 2009), the TAKS scores were reviewed based on the fact that the Uvalde CISD board members, who voted to provide Superintendent Wendell Brown with a salary increase, used the scores as one of the reasons for the increase.

In the Uvalde Leader-News (Jan. 18, 2009), UCISD board president Allen Mize, one of the primary supporters of the salary increase, was quoted as saying that Brown’s evaluation was “very positive,” that it “went smooth,” and that everyone on the board supported Brown.

One has to wonder why it took from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. – 4½ hours – for the board to come to agreement on the salary increase if everything “went smooth.” Furthermore, if everyone on the board was indeed supportive of the superintendent as Mize claims, then why was the vote split four to three?

If Mize was attempting to paint a positive picture on what by all appearances may have been a drawn out and bitter process that ended in a divided vote, he did not succeed. It is not difficult to read between the lines and come to a realistic conclusion.

However, what is of even greater interest is what Brown stated in an email on Sept. 2008. Through its sources, La Voz obtained a copy of an email sent to UCISD personnel by Brown shortly after the rollback election failed to pass.

The defeat of the tax increase that board members and Brown supported left the district in a financial pinch for the upcoming academic year (the current year). A facsimile of the email (at right) sent by Brown to UCISD personnel because of the failure of the rollback passage is here for LaVoz’s readers.

Note the language used by Brown in the email; in the first paragraph he refers to the rollback election and the fact that it failed. He then states that as a result the “funding for the 08-09 school year will be limited and we will not be able to provide a pay increase. Expect scrutiny with all requests.”

In the second paragraph he further states, “As a point of clarification, we began the school year with the appropriate budget so no adjustments will need to be made in pay for any team member.” Also, note at the bottom of the email that there was a copy of the email sent to the board.

In reviewing the email, it is clear that the message fell on deaf ears with respect to the board members who voted to provide Brown his salary increase. Even though Brown states that the limited funding will not allow for any pay increases, apparently the board felt this did not apply to Brown.

At least three board members took Brown’s words to heart and scrutinized the salary increase and these three board members voted against the increase.

However, beyond that, Brown himself did not serve as a leader exemplifying what he wrote, as he chose to disregard his own words and accept the pay increase. He could have refused in good conscious, but chose not to do so.

La Voz would like to commend George H. Brown (undoubtedly no relation to Dr. Wendell Brown) who in the letter to the editor in the Uvalde Leader-News of Sunday, Jan. 25, succinctly and to the point clearly expressed his opinion regarding the salary increase. His point is well taken, if the excuse to provide the superintendent a salary increase was because it would be brought in line with other districts, there is no doubt that the pay of UCISD teachers is also low when compared to other districts. What about them?

Finally, according to La Voz sources, the morale of district personnel has fallen drastically as a result of the actions of the board. It is clear that some board members are enamored with Brown, but that has only created resentment on the part of district personnel. One is left to wonder where the students are in all of this.