TEA may investigate Weslaco TAKS

WESLACO - The Texas Education Agency will determine whether to launch an investigation into alleged TAKS testing irregularities in the Weslaco school district.

The agency received an anonymous complaint Monday alleging irregularities during testing in the district two years ago, said TEA spokeswoman Sheila Allee.

The complaint came on the same day the school board heard a high-profile grievance alleging nepotism at Memorial Elementary School.

Allee declined to elaborate on the specific allegations or say which school is named in the complaint. And the agency did not immediately respond to a public information request for the complaint Tuesday.

She said TEA hopes to quickly resolve the situation but did not know when the agency would make a determination about an investigation.

Weslaco schools Superintendent Richard Rivera did not return phone calls Tuesday to respond to allegations about the alleged irregularities.

As for the nepotism allegation, the school board voted at the end of its Monday meeting - which lasted until nearly 2 a.m. Tuesday - to hire an outside firm to investigate those allegations.

"I think there were a lot of issues and concerns raised that bothered everybody," said school board member David Fox. "Everybody wants to make sure whatever it is we decide to do is based on factual information and not innuendo."

A grievance district payroll specialist Melva Segura filed last month accuses Memorial Elementary School principal Ana Oliveira of employing two daughters and a niece with Rivera's authorization. The grievance also says Oliveira did not require her daughters to clock in and out of work.

Oliveira serves as the district's assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, in addition to her duties as principal.

Several Weslaco district teachers and administrators expressed their support for Rivera and dismissed the allegations during the public comments portion of the meeting, which was to a standing-room-only crowd.

The board opted to hire an outside investigator even though school district attorney Fernando Saenz conducted his own investigation into the matter last week.

"We'd just rather have someone independent to make sure everyone's interests are protected," Fox said.

Board member Raymond Givilancz said the district did not go far enough.

"In my opinion, there was enough evidence to warrant a suspension along with the investigation," Givilancz said.

Oliveira did not return calls to her office Tuesday.
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Ryan Holeywell covers PSJA and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.