Here are the contents of an email I received on January 15:
Respected Media Members,
Below is a timeline recently published by CISD Board President Armando Rodriguez:
Board of Trustees Meetings Timeline in Bold
Land Broker Timeline Italic Underlined
- Jan 6: Campus Tour with Facilities Assessment Committee
- Jan 10: Workshop with FAC
- Jan 16: Meeting with FAC
- Feb 7: Workshop with FAC. Received recommendations.
- Feb 13: SBM. Bond called.
- Prior to May 2024: Discussed this site along with 2-3 other options (i.e. west of I-10) as possible CMS solution, prior to and after the passing of the School Bond first part of May.
- May 28: RBM. Discussion of real estate acquisition in executive session. No action taken.
- May 28: Discussed site pursuits and approval to submit non-binding LOI
- Jun 07: Made initial offer to Johnny Bean Seller @ $6.2M
- June 10: SBM. Discussion of land acquisition. Motion passes to proceed with admin recommendations for land acquisition as discussed in executive. LOI sent to available sites. Motion by Barnes seconded by Trout.
- Jun 10: Email String (see attached labeled “june 10 sbm”) about some procedural details
- Jun 19: Received counter offer back from Seller @ $6.7M
- Jul 11: Meeting between Dr. Galaviz, Dr. Rico, Andre Rocha with the title of “Acquisition/Disposition Review” at Central Office
- Jul 11: Property is officially escrowed and under contract @ $6.6M
- July 23: SBM. Approved admin recommendation to authorize Procedeo and CBRE to continue negotiations of preferred sites till they reach a price point. Contract to be taken to the board.
- Aug 08: Emails between CISD Counsel, CISD Admin, CISD Board President on approval process of Johnny Bean Horse Farm.
- Aug 12: SBM. Procedeo provides BOT with management plan.
- Sept 10: SBM. Board approved RFQs for architectural and general contractors for bond projects.
- Sept 18: Meeting with CISD Attorney on-site to review survey/title
- Sept 19 – Nov 06: Buyer finalizes due diligence, title review, survey, Phase I Reports, etc.
- Sept 23: RBM. Procedeo gives quarterly update to BOT
- Sept 30: SBM. Board approved contracts for CMAR
- Nov 07: Closing/Funding
As you can see, Pedro Galaviz made a $6.2M offer on the Johnny Bean Horse Farm before the Board of Trustees had even voted to give permission to issue LOI’s on properties. You’ll notice that on Jul 11th Pedro Galaviz signed a contract to purchase the property 12 days before the next Board meeting where they were told that ANY contract must be taken to the Board before approval. There was no mention of the contract at that or any subsequent board meetings until after the deal was closed and funded. You’ll also notice that the offer to purchase was made before the first CBAC meeting. In this timeline there is no mention of any notices given to the public that this purchase was going to take place and legally the district is required to notify the public as stated in Texas Local Government Code Sec. 271.004:
"Sec. 271.004. REAL PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. (a) The board of trustees of a school district may execute, perform, and make payments under a contract under this Act for the use or purchase or other acquisition of real property or an improvement to real property. If the board proposes to enter into such a contract, the board shall publish notice of intent to enter into the contract not less than 60 days before the date set to approve execution of the contract in a newspaper with general circulation in the district. The notice must summarize the major provisions of the proposed contract. The notice shall estimate the construction and other costs, but the board shall not publish the first advertisement for bids for construction of improvements until 60 days has expired from the publication of the notice of intent to enter into the contract." https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/lg/htm/lg.271.htm
This notice was never published and the district refuses to produce any documentation stating that it was published. I’ve attached pages excerpted from Armando Rodriguez’ “Bond Acquisition Project” PDF that was published on Facebook to notify the public that there will be a community meeting tomorrow, Thursday the 16th, at Canutillo High School at 6pm. When we asked Oscar Rico of CISD if we would be allowed to ask questions about this timeline we were told “There will be an opportunity for Q&A with the individual architects in small break out sessions”.
I emailed the following to Steve Blanco and Rodolfo Mata yesterday and never received any response:
"Good morning Ms. Mata, my name is Chris Stewart and I'm a very concerned member of the community. I was just reviewing the contract that was signed between Pedro Galaviz and the seller of the Johnny Bean Horse farm on July 11th and I noticed your email address listed as the attorney of record for CISD in this transaction. Were you aware that superintendent Pedro Galaviz entered into that contract without any approval from the Board of Trustees? Are you aware that, according to the timeline publicly published by Armando Rodriguez, Pedro Galaviz entered into this contract before the first CBAC meeting? Are you also aware that on August 5th Armando Rodriguez asked Steve Blanco in an email if they needed an action item to approve the contract and Steve Blanco stated "Only if we are at point where the board needs to approve a sales and purchase agreement." The timeline provided by Armando Rodriguez states that on September 18th there was a "Meeting with CISD Attorney on-site to review survey/title", were you that attorney or was that Steve Blanco? It goes on to state that from Sept 19 - Nov 06 "Buyer finalizes due diligence, title review, survey, Phase 1 Reports, etc.", all of which was done without the Board of Trustees knowledge or approval (except apparently Armando Rodriguez), that's according to all minutes of meetings during this time period. Are you further aware that Pedro Galaviz went on to complete the land acquisition and disburse over $6.7million of tax payer dollars without Board of Trustees knowledge or approval? I'd like to know just how complicit you and your law firm were in this illegal transaction. I look forward to your responses."
I’d be happy to answer any additional questions if you have any, I believe this corruption should be reported on immediately.
Sincerely,
Chris Stewart