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Refusing to back down on her decision to fire Mosby, Head Start Director
Norma Rubio resigned Friday. Yvonne Martin, executive director for the
Community Council of Reeves County, said she is winding up business so
she can resign later this month.
The community council administers Head Start, along with other programs
funded by federal grants and a day care center operated primarily with
local funds.
Since the Head Start grant of $500,000 is about half of all revenues and
pays part of the CCRC administration costs, some board members feel all
programs could be cut or curtailed by a loss of Head Start funds.
It was the threat that Head Start funds may be shut off if six
deficiences are not corrected by April that brought the festering sore
to a head.
Martin said that most of the deficiences require paperwork, and the
staff just has not had time to complete it while dealing with problems
at the Pecos center.
The first and second deficiencies are almost corrected - re-writing the
training plan for staff and parents, and a system to recruit, train and
utilize volunteers.
The third, written child abuse and neglect reporting procedures, is
completed, Martin said.
A lack of written accounting procedures is the fourth deficiency, and
controller Olga Contreras is working on that, Martin said.
Fifth is a community needs assessment, which neither the staff nor
volunteers are qualified to make, Martin said. Area colleges were asked
to refer students who may be willing to make a survey in connection with
their degree plan.
The sixth deficiency involves personnel policies and procedures, and
that is where the current problem lies.
Martin said the CCRC policy gives her the authority to approve or
disapprove hiring and firing in Head Start.
"Head Start says I don't have to approve or disapprove Head Start hires
and fires," Martin said. "That's something they want us to change."
Head Start requires the policy council, made up of 51 percent parents,
to approve or disapprove hiring and firing, Martin said.
"But according to our procedures, I do have that right, because Head
Start is under the agency (CCRC)."
When Rubio resigned, Martin became acting Head Start director. She said
she will not re-hire Mosby and will call an emergency meeting of the
policy council to advise them Rubio has resigned.
"Rosa is a nice person. Everybody liked her. We are not judging her by
her personality. She was a single parent and everybody tried to help.
Now the job is not being done, and we have to do something about it. I
have written her up myself," Martin said.
Mosby disagrees that she was not doing her job, and she specifically
denied the three written charges used to terminate her employment: that
she was rude to children and staff; consistently leaving the center; and
that she failed to transport children to a speech therapist.
"I feel like I was doing my job," she said.
Mosby was in charge of 80 children and a staff of 11 teachers, aides,
cooks and bus drivers. She started as a janitor and worked her way up
through cook, aide, teacher, coordinator and became co-center director
with Rubio in 1994.
"Then she got to be director and left me by myself," Mosby said.
As to her relationship with Rubio, Mosby said, "We have had our
problems...I think I was not treated equally. Certain coordinators can
do whatever they want, and nothing is ever done with them. It is like
they don't really listen to both sides of the story."
Rubio said that is not true. Mosby had several write-ups and "two
suspensions before me," she said.
"I just wish they would get things straightened out and get their act
together; especially the administration," Mosby said. "That's a
wonderful program, and I hate to see it closed down. It is the children
that will be hurt."
Mosby, teachers from the center and parents of students got their chance
to tell their side of the story to the CCRC board Jan. 23. After each
group had their say, Rubio and Martin were called in to give their side
of the story, said Linda Clark, CCRC board president.
But Rubio feels she didn't get to tell everything.
"They didn't allow me to present everything. They say everybody likes
her. If she can't carry out her responsibilities because she's being
someone's friend...
"They are going to follow rules and regulations and do what the job
description says," Rubio said.
Clark said she felt Rubio was trying to do a good job, but "she had her
hands full...I feel like she didn't have the right rapport with the
teachers. They didn't respond well to her supervision. Evidently they
didn't like her."
After hearing the teachers, parents, Rubio and Martin, the CCRC board
voted to recommend to the policy council that Mosby be re-instated.
Martin, Rubio, Contreras, community programs director Bertha Meierhoff
and board member Bill Wendt met with Texas Ranger Jerry Villalobos to
complain that the board meeting was illegal because it had not been
properly posted as a grievance committee hearing.
However, Martin said today that, since the CCRC board didn't take
action, "really it was more than likely not an illegal meeting; it was
just the way it was conducted."
Martin said she thought she and Rubio should have been allowed in the
meeting room to hear what parents and teachers had to say. But Clark
said the board wanted everyone to be able to speak freely.
"We heard what they had to say and were able to ask questions," she said.
Martin said board members do not understand the policies and procedures
they are required to abide by, or they will not acknowledge them.
"Board members are responsible for more than one program," she said. "We
are a $1 million organization."
Martin said that only a few teachers and parents instigated the petition
that is going around asking the board to fire her and Rubio.
"I had so many calls from parents, asking if there is anything they can
do," she said. "I tell them not to worry about me. I am walking out of
here, and that's it. I love my job, but I think I am getting too old to
put up with this."
The lowest bid for the repair work came from a Monahans construction
company, but was requesting half of the money be given to him in advance
and the other half upon work completed, according to Reeves County
Sheriff Andy Gomez.
"I don't know if we can do that, give him half down and the other half
later, but he was the lowest bidder and I would recommend we go with
him," said Gomez.
County Auditor Lynn Owens suggested that the county could make project
payments and stated that he wouldn't think it would take very long to
get the repairs done.
The amount of the bid was for about $14,800, which is the amount
budgeted for such repairs. The money for the repairs will come out of
major repairs.
"The material he is going to use is also of higher quality," said Gomez.
County officials did not have the name of the Monahans company available
during this morning's meeting.
Gomez stated that he would speak to the company and have a complete
report on Friday, when the group will meet again at 1:30 p.m.
Also put off until Friday was action on a architectural services
contract for the proposed Reeves County Detention Center expansion.
"We received a proposal from Dailey, Rabke firm, but I propose that we
postpone making a decision until Friday, so that we can invite another
firm to give their proposal," said County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo.
Galindo said this would get some competition going.
"This is an opportunity for us to expand the facility by 300 beds and we
need to be careful and not let cost escalate out of control," said
Galindo.
By creating competition the county would receive the best estimate costs.
"Commissioner Precinct 4 Bernardo Martinez and I went to see a facility
that was designed and built by this other firm in Jacksboro and we would
like to see what they can do for us," said Galindo.
The count at the RCDC late last week was set about 600 inmates and they
are currently expecting some additional inmates, according to Galindo.
Estimated construction will be about eight to 10 months, following the
completion of life-safety issues.
Change orders for the RCDC's fence project was tabled until Friday until
an itemized list can be obtained.
"We'll be needing to buy additional material, since (prison CEO Rudy)
Franco has joined us he has suggested that we make the fence all the way
to the adjacent road and this will require additional material," said
Galindo.
Change orders for Phase II of the sewer project was approved to include
an additional $540 for the purchase of six additional tanks with a lower
capacity.
"Hopefully, we can add a good number of septic tanks to the ones that
have already been completed," said Galindo.
About 65 of the 90 septic tanks that were originally included have been
installed, and the project is way ahead of schedule at this point,
according to Galindo.
During budget amendments and line-item transfers additional funds were
allocated for the Reeves County Sheriff's Department to accommodate
travel expenses, kitchen supplies, van expenses and telephone expenses.
Net increase in the sheriff's office budget amounted to $12,500.
Personnel and salary changes included those at the Reeves County
Juvenile Detention Center. Mario Carrasco, Irma Cortez and Margie
Carrasco were all hired on a part-time, on-call, as needed basis of
$5.50 per hour.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Less than a week after finding O.J. Simpson
liable for the slayings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman,
jurors resumed deliberations today on how much he should pay as
punishment.
The mostly white panel, which deliberated 2½ hours Friday, had requested
a statement showing both the plaintiffs' rosy picture of Simpson's
financial future and a defense depiction of his net worth plummeting
from over $10 million to less than zero since his murder acquittal.
The jury found Simpson liable for the killings last Tuesday and awarded
$8.5 million in compensatory damages to Goldman's parents. The lawsuit
filed for Ms. Simpson's two children, Sydney and Justin, asked only for
punitive damages.
Simpson, who didn't return to court after Tuesday's verdict, contended
through his lawyers and financial advisers that he is more than $9
million in the red, with no hopes of earning a living, and he shouldn't
have to face punitive damages.
The plaintiffs argued that Simpson is worth at least $15.7 million,
based on estimates he stands to make $3 million a year for selling his
name, likeness, trademark, as well as his story. They urged the panel to
send a dramatic message to Simpson in the form of a hefty award.
This week's Newsweek reported that Ms. Simpson's mother sent a critical
letter to the judge that awarded Simpson custody of his two young
children.
Juditha Brown wrote Orange County Superior Court Judge Nancy Wieben
Stock an outraged ``mother to mother'' note on Christmas Day, shortly
after she denied the Browns custody, the magazine said. Mrs. Brown said
her former son-in-law was a killer ``to whom you just returned two
beautiful, loving children. Yours was a Christmas present I will never
forget.''
Also, a lawyer who represented Simpson children Sydney, 11, and Justin,
8, in the custody fight said Sunday that police and a social worker
rushed to Simpson's home on the night of his civil trial verdict, acting
on a tip that he might kill them and himself.
The court-appointed lawyer, Marjorie Fuller, said the tip was bogus. She
said the social worker and police interviewed the children and found
nothing wrong.
In total, higher education officials in Texas have contributed $170,850
to Bullock's campaigns since 1992, the San Antonio Express-News
reported in a copyright story Sunday.
The newspaper's survey of Texas Ethics Commission records found
contributions to Bullock from 122 university presidents, vice
presidents, deans, current and former regents, and spouses of
high-ranking officials.
Bullock, who has raised more than $10 million in the past five years,
presides over the Senate and wields much influence over how state money
is used, including funding for state universities.
Campaign records on file with the state show that checks came in from
officials at 14 of the 15 campuses in the University of Texas System.
On the same days each year, the Friends of the University Political
Action Committee and its directors received $38,050 in donations, with
the largest chunk going to Bullock.
Contributions also came from regents and officials from the Waco-based
Texas State Technical College system, a Texas A&M official, and two
members of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The contributions came to light after Jude Valdez, University of Texas
at San Antonio vice president for extended education, filed a federal
civil-rights lawsuit against campus President Samuel Kirkpatrick.
According to the suit, Kirkpatrick told Valdez to write a check for at
least $100 to a political candidate who is not identified in the
lawsuit. Valdez complied in 1992, but he was effectively demoted in 1993
when his check was late, the lawsuit says.
Larry Daves, Valdez' attorney, said the money went to Bullock as part of
a systemwide drive that began when UT System Chancellor William
Cunningham took office.
``It's particularly offensive to me then that someone, just because of
their status as a public employee, could be required to make
contributions to particular political candidates,'' Daves said.
Cunningham released a statement Sunday denying that he pressured any
system employee into supporting any political candidate. He said he knew
of no instance in which he or his staff used state property or resources
to support any candidate.
His statement continued, ``I am also confident that none of the
presidents of the U.T. System component institutions has pressured any
of their employees in an effort to support candidates or elected
officials.''
Kirkpatrick, who has given $1,325 to Bullock since 1992, denied that he
coerced Valdez.
He said he talked ``in general'' about campaigns with his vice
presidents and other high-ranking school officials, who gave Bullock a
total of $4,075.
Bullock, a Democrat, was elected lieutenant governor in 1990 and
re-elected in 1994. He could not be reached for comment. Spokesman Tony
Proffitt said the Bullock campaign typically receives about 3,000
contributions a month and doesn't track the dates of donations from
organized groups.
``Of course he wouldn't condone anything but a voluntary contribution,''
Proffitt said.
Ed Sharpe, a UT-Austin vice president and special consultant to
Cunningham, told the Express-News that details of the Bullock drive
spread by word of mouth among campus officials.
UT-Austin administrators ``could either send them (checks) in directly,
or provide them to someone. In one case, it was me,'' Sharpe said. ``It
is something that is completely voluntary.''
Using state time and resources and time to work on a campaign is
prohibited by state law and UT System policies. University of Texas
rules forbid employees from coercing students, staff or faculty to take
part in politics.
Violators could be terminated. They could also face misdemeanor or
felony charges, said Karen Lundquist, general counsel of the Texas
Ethics Commission.
Of Texas' five university systems, UT is the largest, with nine academic
campuses and six medical school campuses. Total enrollment exceeds
150,000 students.
In all, 17 musicians and three waitresses were arrested in the raids
Friday night.
Three mariachis were immediately turned over to Mexican authorities
because one was a minor and another was blind. The blind mariachi needed
an escort, said Immigration and Naturalization Service spokesman Dan
Kane.
Kane said the illegal mariachis have become a problem in this border
city.
``It's a problem because American mariachis are trying to find work in
these clubs,'' Kane said. ``They've had difficulty getting work.''
Kane said 14 of the musicians were awaiting deportation Saturday at the
INS detention center in El Paso. The waitresses were detained in the El
Paso County Jail because the detention center has no accommodations for
women.
The nightclubs raided Friday night were Tropicana, Safari, Garibaldi's
II, La Tocada and Caprice. All are in El Paso.
Authorities said the clubs might also face fines of up to $2,000 per
worker if they are found to have knowingly hired undocumented workers.
``INS is committed to ensuring that legal workers do not have to compete
for jobs with those who have no legal right to them,'' said Anne
Estrada, assistant director for investigations for the INS.
``American jobs belong to America's legal workers. We are preserving
those jobs by targeting industries and employers who traditionally hire
illegal labor.''
Services for Refugia "Cuca" Tarango, 92, who died this morning at her
residence are incomplete.
Arrangements are being handled by Pecos Funeral Home.
Clyde Wright, 67, of Toyah died Saturday, Feb. 8, 1997, at his
residence. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Toyah
Cemetery.
He was born April 14, 1928 in Mercury, was a retired mechanic, a Mason,
a Korean War veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of the Full Gospel
church.
Survivors include his wife, Juanita Wright of Toyah; two daughters,
Brenda Archer of Seagoville and Sherrie Shaw of Toyah; six grandchildren
and three great-grandchildren.
Services for Graciela Venegas, 71, were at 2 p.m. today in Santa Rosa
Catholic Church, with burial in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery. She died Friday,
Feb. 7, 1997, in Reeves County Hospital.
She was born Oct. 16, 1925 in Presidio County, was a homemaker and a
Catholic.
Survivors include her husband, Daniel Venegas of Pecos; one son, Ernesto
Olvera of San Angelo; two daughters, Dorinda Venegas of Pecos and
Araceli Vickrey of Odessa; two brothers, Oscar Garcia of Wisconsin and
Benjamin Garcia of Michigan; seven grandchildren and five great
grandchildren.
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