Canutillo ISD board approves Deputy Superintendent and communications director

At the Feb. 16 Canutillo ISD Board meeting, trustees took formal votes to approve two central-office positions after discussion in closed session.

The board voted to approve the employment of Doctor Oscar Rico as Deputy Superintendent on terms discussed in executive session. Motion to approve was made by Ms. Borrego and seconded by Ms. Carolina Ortega. Roll-call votes recorded Yes from Barnes, Borrego, Martinez, Ortega, Rodriguez and Zuniga; Miss Maldonado voted No. The chair announced the motion passed.

The board then voted to approve Gustavo Revels as Executive Director of Communications on terms discussed in executive session. That motion was seconded and passed with the same roll-call pattern: support from Barnes, Borrego, Martinez, Ortega, Rodriguez and Zuniga; Maldonado recorded a No vote.

During open-session discussion prior to the votes, at least one trustee said they could not support the promotions because of recent teacher-position cuts and community concerns about the central-office being "top heavy"; another trustee responded the superintendent had arranged the terms so the approvals would not add to the district’s budget. Both the objection and the rebuttal were recorded in open session before the roll-call votes.

Both approvals were presented as actions flowing from the executive-session personnel discussion; board minutes indicate those employment terms were the same as discussed in closed session.