EPISD Superintendent Juan Cabrera has spent so much of his time jetting all over the country on business that finding him in an actual EPISD school is like spotting Bigfoot at Yosemite.
Speaking of feet, Superintendent Cabrera is using his feet along with his leg as an excuse to possibly break the law in terms of being reimbursed for airfare that he is purchasing on our taxpayer dime.
According to the Texas Government Code, state employees such as Cabrera may only be refunded airfare if they purchase the LOWEST FARE AVAILABLE.
Recent El Paso Times exposés on Cabrera’s travel habits reveal he has a penchant for only the best when it comes to flying the friendly skies. And he won’t fly coach with regular folks like you and me because, well because he is above that.
So now that he has been called out for using tax dollars to fly first-class, he reacts by pleading ignorance, then he pulls out his ace in the hole — he has a “physical disability” that requires him to buy first-class tickets for long flights because he can’t stand for long periods of time and has to elevate his leg.
I find that suspect, not to mention funny, because people don’t stand on flights, so his comment about being unable to stand for long periods is null and void.
And Dori Fenenbock, the self-appointed guardian and protector of all things Cabrera once again comes to his rescue with her nonsensical excuses that are meant to justify everything he does.
She states that EPISD allows Superintendent Cabrera to fly first-class because he has “severe health issues” that require he do so.
If he has such “severe health issues” then plop his ass down on an airport wheelchair and sit him with the 90-year-olds and people with real issues that make life difficult for them.
Here is where I believe we can expose their folly (and potential lies) about his excuse for getting reimbursed for purchasing the most expensive tickets available instead of what is required by law for state employees.
The El Paso Times quoted him as saying he buys first-class tickets for LONG FLIGHTS because he has to elevate his leg and can’t stand for long periods of time.
Let’s look into that.
He has taken three flights to Austin, one to San Antonio, two to California and one to Phoenix…among some others.
Long flights? I don’t think so. Not by a longshot.
We are talking about direct flights that take very little time from takeoff to touchdown.
It‘s simple.
Find out what he paid for those particular tickets and if it turns out he bought first-class or business-class AND was reimbursed then we have a problem. A problem with his excuse. A problem with Fenenbock’s reasoning.
A problem with powerful leaders who think they are somehow above the law. Leaders who won’t fly coach because it makes them feel unimportant.
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Susie Byrd states that the school board set Cabrera’s sky-high travel budget at an astounding $60,000 for the current school year.
And guess what? According to EPISD data provided to the EPTimes, he has already spent $58,000 of it.
That leaves him $2,000 left to play with.
Time to start flying coach, renting compacts and staying away from beach front hotels.
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I think its time Superintendent Juan Cabrera spent his time at EPISD instead of jet setting around the country “chasing opportunities, chasing money for the district and rebuilding a reputation at the state and nationally.” (Cabrera’s words in quotes)
Reputations are earned by hard work.
And if Cabrera, Fenenbock and Byrd want to restore EPISD’s reputation, it needs to be accomplished here in El Paso with shoe leather on campuses.
It needs to start by being in the trenches with the educators and our children who continue to fall into the educational cracks while Cabrera is out trying to win awards, giving speeches and spending days at non-EPISD events (like the two he spent with Fenenbock at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference, more than likely spending our tax dollars.)
A great reputation MUST begin in El Paso and we have yet to see anything happening beyond the tone deaf moves of Cabrera and Fenenbock.