Daylight Saving Time begins March 8. Remember to set your clocks forward 1 hour. Friday, March 6, 2015
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Candidates line up for Sharyland, Peñitas and Alton races
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By Julie Silva uzanne Peña is looking to reclaim a spot on the Sharyland Independent School District Board of Trustees, but she’ll have to beat out three newcomers to do it. Principal Jose “Pepe” Garcia, attorney Robert Puente and chiropractor Kevin Sparks all are candidates for Place 4 on the Sharyland school board. The district recently moved to single-member districts and two seats are up for grabs –Place 3 and Place 4. Trustees Fernando Ramirez and Eddie Montalvo did not file for reelection. Montalvo said he’s never been a politician, and he ran for a term
because as a member of the committee that worked on the bond issue to construct a second high school, he wanted to see the project to fruition. Ramirez said when he ran in 2012 it was the last time he’d run for office. Place 3 In the second race on the Sharyland ballot, Melissa Martinez-Smith, a retired educator and local business owner, thought she’d have an easy victory until the last day to file an application for candidacy. Cesar O. Aguilar, an attorney and product of the Sharyland system, filed his application on Friday, Feb. 27. Martinez-Smith has wanted to run for the school board for eight years. She worked
as an educator before she left to help her husband build a new dealership. Over the years, Martinez-Smith has taught at McAllen ISD, at the Oratory Academy and she’s taught classes at UTPA for its accreditation program. Her four children all have gone through the Sharyland district, with her youngest a freshman at Sharyland Pioneer. She’s stayed involved in education by volunteering with the booster club and serving as a parent volunteer. “I’m newly retired, and I bring a lot to the table from the education aspect, but also experience in business,” Martinez-Smith said. “I tell everybody else, ‘I’ve earned my stripes.’” Martinez-Smith, who’s
been endorsed by the current board, said she wants to work with trustees to maintain the district’s standard of excellence and strive for improvement. She’s interested in the curriculum aspect of the district. “I am very dedicated to not only my Sharyland community, but my community as a whole, and I have a special place in my heart to be the voice for the children, but I don’t want to discount my business background,” Martinez-Smith said. Meanwhile, Aguilar, now 28, moved into the Sharyland school district when he was 11 and credits all his success to his roots. He went on to attend the University of Texas-Pan American and
earn his law degree in Michigan. But he’s had an interest in politics since he worked as a paralegal for Puente, candidate in the race for Place 4. At the time, Puente was a municipal judge for the city of Alamo, an elected position. “It’s a combination of being able to give back to my school and serve in politics,” Aguilar said of his desire to run for office. “They have high expectations, and I’m just trying to push them a bit higher. It would be great if we could push our limits.” As the district looks for a new superintendent in the wake of the resignation of Virginia Richter, Aguilar said he’d like to find some-
one who will be with the district long-term. If elected to office, he also wants to push for dual credit courses and encourage all students to get to know the career center. In the end, Aguilar said, he wants to see all graduates get into college. Place 4 Peña, who served on the board from 2006 to 2012, was unseated while Sharyland was still an at-large system, but she said she doesn’t focus on the past. She’s looking toward the future. “I think we need women, and I’m ready to get back on to be a voice for our kids, our community and our educators,” Peña said.
See POLITICAL RACES 7
WELDING A FUTURE Agua SUD to hire
new top executive
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By Julie Silva
MCISD opens Career Tech Academy
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By Lea Victoria Juarez ike the gear in the Career Tech Academy logo, Mission High School and South Texas College are working as a machine to transmit knowledge to the students in the dual enrollment program. The two entities banded together to create western Hidalgo County’s first career tech early college high school, which consists of diesel technology, precision manufacturing and welding. There are only five institutions like it in Texas, and STC partnered with five other districts, but Mission CISD is the first to get its program off the ground, according to STC President Shirley Reed. The accomplishment was commemorated at the Feb. 26 ribbon cutting ceremony. “We’re here more than anything to celebrate the opportunities for kids to get
college credits, college opportunities and exposure to the college environment at the high school level,” MHS Principal Edilberto Flores said. The 64 freshmen enrolled in the academy have the opportunity to graduate with 60 career-specific college credits, earning them an associate’s degree by the time they graduate from high school. For Carlos Blanco, this is the first step to following his father’s path. The 14-yearold chose the diesel technician track, where he will learn the ins and outs of inspection, repair and overhaul of anything with a diesel engine. Those enrolled in the academy are officially college students. They have to work off a college calendar and are well aware their grades create ripples in their
See ACADEMY 11
ABOVE: Students are recognized at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Mission’s Career Tech Early College Academy. The career-specific program offers tracks in the welding, diesel technician and precision manufacturing fields. BELOW: Carlos Blanco thanks South Texas College and Mission CISD for making the Career Tech Academy possible. The 14-year-old is taking after his father by studying diesel technology at the institution. Progress Times photos by Lea Victoria Juarez
“When you walk in these halls, you’re making history.” – Ricardo Lopez
gua Special Utility District’s Board of Directors unanimously voted last week to hire a top executive, essentially demoting District Manager Frank Flores, who was brought on board in 2005 when La Joya Water Supply Corporation was brought under receivership. “In my opinion, Frank is very knowledgeable,” said Board Chairman Ricardo Ochoa after the meeting. “He took over when he had no board, but we changed. We’re moving, we’re growing, and we have a lot of complaints that sometimes Frank is not very service oriented. It’s a ‘My way or highway type of deal.’” Flores said the move violated his contract and moves the district backward to a decade ago. “I expected that they would hire somebody to be over me because this place is turning back into La Joya Water Supply Corporation real quick,” Flores said after the meeting. In 2005, Pablo Vela Jr., of Long Chilton, was hired as the receiver after the Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the La Joya Water Supply Corporation, pointing to inconsistent customer billing and debt collection fraud. Vela hired Flores, who had retired from the Mission Water system, to manage the district. After an executive session held so the board’s attorney could discuss potential legal issues with the move, Rigo Lopez, who represents the Peñitas area, made the motion, citing communication issues with Flores. The top executive, Lopez said, would report to the board and Flores would report to the top executive. “I’ve been here four years,
and it’s not a knock on Frank, but I have to agree with Mr. Lopez in a way,” said Ramon Segovia, board member and Palmview city manager. “There’s been some tension over the situations that have gone on in the past to where the board has some hesitation turning to Frank, and I think we have a duty to our constituents to feel like we’re doing the right thing.” Flores said he disagreed with the board’s comments, his door is always open and he’s been there for everyone. “I get phone calls from the board, you know? ‘Go turn this guy’s water on.’ Well, he hasn’t paid his bill. Why would I turn his water on?” Flores said. Segovia said it isn’t just the board. People in the community have reached out to various board members because they don’t feel comfortable coming to Flores, Segovia said. “They’re scared, and they reach out to us. A lot of times we can’t do anything,” Segovia said. “I’m not saying do anything illegal or outside the box. It’s just people feel like they need somebody to listen to them a lot of times, and that’s why I feel people have come to us. “Maybe we don’t know the whole story, but in my job, when people come in, I’ll listen to them. I’ll try to do what I can to help them.” “So this person is going to direct staff?” Flores asked. “He’s going to be top executive,” Lopez replied. “How can he be top executive, sir, if I’m the top executive?” Flores asked. After the meeting, Flores said his contract with Agua SUD makes him the chief executive officer with the ability to hire, fire and set compensation. A part of the reason the board wants a
See AGUA SUD 11
INSIDE
Sharyland candidates prepare for election
Melissa Martinez-Smith, candidate for Place 3, and Kevin Sparks, candidate for Place 4, submitted bios in advance of the May 9 election. See story page 3
INDEX
Entertainment | pg. 2
Lifestyle | pg. 6
Peñitas election begins to head up
Learning in a language
Tomas Cedillo, mayoral candidate, and Peñ1tas, a slate with candidates in all of the city governing board’s open seats, have submitted bios. See story page 5
Opinion | pg. 4
Sports | pg. 8
A new dual language program at Mission CISD is initiated in prekindergarten, kindergarten and first grades and is designed to develop biliterate students. See story page 5
Obituaries | pg. 9
Classifieds | pg. 11