Edinburg superintendent to depart

EDINBURG — The Edinburg school district is searching for its fourth superintendent in 10 years.

Gilberto Garza Jr., a longtime Edinburg administrator who stepped into the office when board members jettisoned J.L. Salinas in 2006, told his school board last month that he would retire when his contract expires in June.

"I think I pretty much accomplished what I set out to do," the 61-year-old said.

Garza worked for the district for 32 years, starting as a teacher and moving through the administrative ranks. Last year he ushered through Edinburg's first successful bond referendum since 1999, securing $112 million from taxpayers to build six new schools and renovate one middle school to create a fourth high school.

After some controversial personnel moves early in his tenure, Garza appeared to remain above the political fray, even during November's bruising school board race.

School board members said that they will be sorry to see Garza go.

"You don't find many like him," said Ciro Treviño. "I think that man has been wonderful for the district."

School board attorney Jacques Treviño will lead the search for the new schools chief, with the hope of having a final choice in place by the end of the school year.

Members are still deciding whether to change the job description to require the next superintendent to have a doctoral degree as well as 10 years' experience in education administration. Garza did not have a doctorate but made more than $160,000 a year.

In his office Monday, Garza pointed to just one of the several photographs of his four grandchildren. "Those are my four reasons I'm leaving," he said. "For the rest of my life, you're only going to see me riding my horse, my Jeep or my truck."

Sara Perkins covers Mission, western Hidalgo County, Starr County and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4472.