Findings from SBCISD board insurance investigation to be released [Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, Texas]

June 30--SAN BENITO -- School board member Oscar Medrano said Friday that he asked the school district's attorney to investigate Board President Yliana Rodriguez's attempt to assign a health insurance company without board approval.

Interim attorney Kevin O'Hanlon said he has presented his findings to Superintendent Antonio Limon, who is expected to release them next week.

Medrano said he asked O'Hanlon to investigate the matter after Rodriguez refused to respond to his questions.

Rodriguez did not return telephone calls requesting comment.

In May, Medrano asked for an internal investigation into Rodriguez's move to assign the school district health insurance to Robert Champion Jr. and the Salazar Insurance Group.

Medrano said he wants to know whether Rodriguez had ties to the company.

"As a member of the board of trustees, I feel it's important to understand if there are any relationships or ties with any of the vendors," Medrano said. "I just want to clear the air. If an honest mistake was made, we just need to move on."

Medrano said he asked Rodriguez to disclose the name of the person who assisted her to write a memo on district letterhead announcing that the company would handle the district's health insurance.

He also requested that Rodriguez provide the name of the person who authorized a meeting with Champion and the Salazar Group and the name of the person who authorized the district's insurance consultant to deliver her memo to the district's insurance department.

Rodriguez was also asked to disclose whether any of the vendors contributed to her re-election campaign.

Rodriguez didn't answer his questions, Medrano said.

"I never got a response," Medrano said. "I just want to get the opportunity to understand what occurred. As a board I feel we need to get the facts."

Rodriguez released a letter on May 18 stating she rescinded her attempt to assign the insurance company.

Three days later, a Texas Education Agency official, Ronald Rowell, told district officials that Rodriguez does not have the authority to assign the health insurance to a company without board approval.

Rowell asked that the school board and superintendent "clarify the roles and responsibilities."

The Bob Trevino Insurance Agency in Pharr has been the district's insurance agent since 2002, Limon said.

Limon said the school district, which is self-insured, pays about $8 million into its insurance plan.

According to the school district's website, "The board delegates to the superintendent or designee the authority to make budgeted purchases for goods or services. However, any single budgeted purchase of goods or services that costs $25,000 or more, regardless of whether the goods or services are competitively purchased, shall require board approval before a transaction may take place."

fernandodv@valleystar.com

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