Fuel For Thought

AISD Board Puts Superintendent On Paid Leave

ARLINGTON (CBS 11 News) ― The Arlington Independent School Board unanimously decided to place the embattled superintendent on paid leave effective immediately.

The board members have appointed Jerry McCullough as the interim superintendent while they investigate Hector Montenegro's financial dealings. McCullough has been an educator with the district for 40 years.

Montenegro sent the board a letter late Wednesday, agreeing to go on a paid leave of absence during the investigation. In the letter, he stated he never intentionally violated policy or broke the law. But he said he voluntarily returned his district credit card, and planed to strictly follow new regulations.

"I am in full support of the steps that the Board needs to take to address your concerns," Montenegro wrote in a letter to the board of trustees. "I want to assure the Board that you will have my utmost cooperation in any matters that pertain to this investigation."

Click here to read the entire letter.

Earlier Thursday, civil rights advocates held a rally in support of Montenegro. Supporters say the investigation is a smokescreen. They believe Montenegro is being targeted because of his policies promoting bilingual education, and other programs geared at helping minority students.

"Hector Montenegro would never ruin a beautiful, great career he's had thus far by doing anything illegal," said Hector Flores, Former LULAC President.

Frank Hill, the district's attorney, said, "It has nothing to do with whatever his preferences may be about bilingual education. Nothing to do with any of that."

School district officials say the investigation is about fees Montenegro may have received at speaking engagements and expenses that he charged to the district on those trips.

A new state law prohibits school officials from accepting payments from vendors doing business with the school district. But Montenegro's supporters say what Montenegro has been doing is standard practice.

"Perhaps many of these things they talk about are perhaps procedural in nature, but certainly not criminal in nature," said Richard Sambrano, a community activist.

Even if Montenegro has accepted prohibited payments, his supporters believe any punishment should be limited.

"What we are calling on is for the Texas Education Agency to review every superintendent in the state of Texas," Reverend Kyev Tatum said at the rally. The statement was met with applause. "We want to make it clear that all superintendents understand the ramifications of this law."

Some civil rights leaders are calling on the Justice Department to get involved in this situation.

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