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Thursday, April 26, 2001
West Oso trustee resigns; board fires three
By Venessa Santos-Garza
Caller-Times
The West Oso School Board voted 6-0 Wednesday night to accept Trustee Arturo Melve's resignation and placed former board member Mario Rincon in his place.
Melve, who turned in his letter of resignation to board president Liz Gutierrez on April 10, was not present for the meeting. Board members voted 5-1 for Rincon, who also was not present, to serve out the remaining year on Melve's term. Gutierrez cast the only dissenting vote.
Rincon is on the ballot for the May 5 school board election, but will have to turn down the position if elected because he already has been appointed, Gutierrez said.
The board also voted to terminate head football coach Terry Avery, elementary coach Albert Pope, and elementary coach Reymundo Lopez. None attended the meeting, which lasted about 5 hours.
Avery was accused of encouraging students to participate in a March 30 walkout at West Oso High School. The students cut class to protest the changing of the campus name, a decision the board later voted to rescind. Lopez was accused of misconduct in the presence of students, according to district records.
Superintendent Minerva Salazar said a student and another employee have accused Pope of assault.
Avery, Pope and Lopez have the right to file an appeal with state commissioner of education within 15 days of termination and request a hearing, said the district's attorney Juan Vega.
Susie Luna Saldaņa of the American Federation of Teachers said Pope, whom she represents, plans to do just that. Saldaņa said AFT has filed a formal grievance with school board against Superintendent Minerva Salazar because she believes Salazar has not given Pope due process before his termination.
"We are very unhappy," Saldaņa said. "West Oso is still not following policy."
The Rev. Bob Jones, who attended the meeting to support Avery and other teachers suspended or terminated after the walkout, said he is very disappointed in the board's decision. During public comment many people spoke in support of Avery.
"This is disheartening to say the least," Jones said. "(The board) had a chance to bring peace and closure to the charges that what they do is racially motivated and they bypassed that. It is like the voice of the people meant nothing to them."
Three other employees, who like Avery are black, were suspended or fired in connection with the student protest, according to district documents.
Adrian Trimble, a paraprofessional, was fired after being accused of using district equipment and supplies to circulate copies of a petition to the school board.
Floyd Campbell, athletic director, was suspended with pay but later reinstated.
Gloria Benibo, biology teacher, remains suspended with pay after being accused of rewarding students who participated. Salazar said the investigation into the accusations against Benibo isn't complete.
Contact Venessa Santos-Garza at 886-3752 or santosv@caller.com
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a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.
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