(UPDATED: June 5, 2024 by Staff)
Updated Information
Our team at The Maverick Times News reached out to Principal Rios for her thoughts on the ongoing efforts to refurbish the school sign. Principal Rios expressed deep appreciation for the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) at her campus, commending their relentless commitment to raising funds and rallying volunteer support to enhance the school environment for students. “I am immensely thankful for the PTO’s invaluable support to our campus,” Rios stated, underscoring the positive impact of their initiatives.
The Maverick Times News extends its gratitude to the PTO for their proactive role in supporting our students and enhancing school facilities. We also encourage Superintendent Mijares to lend his support to the Language Development Center (LDC) in their efforts to update the school marquee. It is important to clarify that our previous article intended to highlight the administrative shortcomings under Superintendent Mijares’ leadership, rather than reflecting on the school’s commendable efforts. We apologize to the LDC’s principals, teachers, and staff for any misunderstanding and reiterate our support for their dedication to providing the best for our students.
READ: Superintendent Salaries Versus Teacher Raises – A Growing Disparity
Original Article
In Eagle Pass, Texas, a symbol of community and learning at the LDC, Language Development Center is fading. The school’s entrance sign, a once proud marker, now requires urgent restoration. However, this physical deterioration pales in comparison to the deeper issues festering under the administration of Superintendent Samuel Mijares, whose leadership has increasingly come under scrutiny.
READ: Eagle Pass ISD Superintendent Top 100 Paid in the State of Texas
Community Mobilization Amidst Administrative Failure
The Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) of the LDC Early Childhood Learning Center is rallying the community to restore the sign, aiming to update it with the vibrant new Maverick logo. This call to action is about more than just aesthetics; it is a desperate effort to salvage a piece of community pride in an educational environment that many believe has been compromised under Mijares’s administration.
While the PTO seeks volunteers and donations for the sign’s refurbishment, the context in which this request is made is fraught with frustration and disappointment. Samuel Mijares, despite being one of the top-paid superintendents in Texas with an annual salary of $297,211, has presided over a series of administrative blunders and ethical controversies. Under his watch, the Eagle Pass Independent School District has been marred by a string of sexual harassment lawsuits, which were quietly settled, leaving the community in the dark and the costs borne by taxpayers.
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Financial Mismanagement and Lack of Transparency
These legal settlements are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a palpable discrepancy between Mijares’s substantial compensation and the comparatively low salaries of the district’s teachers, who are among the least paid in Texas. This stark contrast not only raises questions about fiscal priorities within the district but also about Mijares’s commitment to the very educators who are foundational to the district’s success.
The community’s discontent is exacerbated by Mijares’s apparent inability to address these systemic issues effectively. His leadership has not only been costly financially but also detrimental to the district’s morale and public trust.
READ: Eagle Pass ISD Superintendent Addresses School Shooting Threats and Gun Politics in Press Conference
A Sign of Broader Issues
The initiative to restore the school sign symbolizes a broader desire among Eagle Pass residents to rectify deeper administrative failures. It reflects a community-driven push to uphold standards of accountability and transparency that they expect from their leaders. The sign’s restoration, therefore, is seen not only as a renewal of a physical structure but as a call for fundamental change in leadership and governance.
READ: THE EAGLE PASS ISD RELEASES CONTENTS OF TEACHER’S PERSONNEL FILE
Calls for Accountability and Change
As the community comes together to support the sign restoration project, there is a growing chorus demanding that Superintendent Mijares address these pressing issues or step down. Stakeholders are advocating for a leadership style that prioritizes educational excellence and fiscal responsibility, aligning more closely with the needs and values of Eagle Pass.
While the LDC Early Childhood Learning Center’s sign will eventually be restored through the collective effort of the community, the lingering issues of mismanagement under Superintendent Samuel Mijares’s administration remain a significant challenge. The community of Eagle Pass continues to seek more than just cosmetic changes; they demand substantial improvements in leadership to ensure a thriving educational environment for their children.
READ: EAGLE PASS ISD FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS
Message on Facebook
Dear Community Members,
As many of you know, the sign at the entrance of our school has been a welcoming symbol for our students, parents, and visitors for many years. However, it is now in need of restoration. The paint has faded, and we would love to update it with the new Maverick logo to better represent our vibrant school spirit.
We are reaching out to see if anyone in our community is willing and able to help us restore the sign. Whether you are a professional with experience in sign painting, a talented artist, or simply someone who wants to contribute to our school, your help would be greatly appreciated. We are looking for assistance either at a reasonable price or as a generous donation to our school.
Restoring this sign is more than just a cosmetic update; it is a way to show our pride in our school and create a welcoming environment for all who visit. If you are interested in volunteering your time and skills or if you know someone who might be, please contact us at your earliest convenience.
It would be a great service for advertisement purposes for your company, being that its a very visible because its situated in a well traveled avenue!
We are grateful for the support and generosity of our community, and we look forward to hearing from those who can help bring this project to life. Thank you for your continued support of our school.
Sincerely,
LDC PTO
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