Late yesterday, Fort Bend ISD School Board President Sonal Bhuchar responded to a request for comment from FortBendNow on the controversy over bus driver Jack Richardson’s claims of retaliation by FBISD Transportation Director Richard Torres.
In an e-mailed statement received at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, Bhuchar said trustees cannot comment on the case since the school board will be the final arbiter on Richardson’s grievance.
BHUCHAR
“Currently that is a matter under grievance appeal and likely to come before the board and hence it would be inappropriate for me to comment on, since as a board we are bound by law to be fair and impartial and must hear the grievance with no preconceived information or ideas,” Bhuchar noted.
With respect to other recent controversies in the district’s transportation department, including transportation supervisors having work done on their personal vehicles by district mechanics and Torres ignoring district policy by failing to take action against the supervisor who assaulted Richardson, Bhuchar said those issues have been addressed. Since are all “personnel matters,” however, the board cannot make public comments on them.
“The board takes any reports on misuse or inappropriate conduct very seriously and directs administration to address the issue with appropriate action,” Bhuchar said. “The above allegations have been addressed as well by administration. However, all personnel information is confidential and not subject to discussion in the media.”
Richardson, the bus driver assaulted by former transportation supervisor Dann Long last year, was recently given his second three-day suspension since pressing charges against Long in Judge Joel Clouser’s justice of the peace court last year.
Richardson maintains the suspensions are nothing more than retaliation by Torres and an effort to get rid of him.
Richardson filed a grievance against Torres over the first suspension, which he characterized as retribution on the part of Torres for “not looking the other way” when Long assaulted him. That grievance was denied in a March 31 Level III hearing. It will now go to a Level IV hearing.
Richardson also said he plans to file a similar grievance over the more recent suspension.
Prior to the assault charge, Richardson had an unblemished record as a bus driver. That, he said, shows the suspensions are nothing more than retaliation against him for pursuing the case against Long.
Since he refused to drop the charges against Long, Richardson said, Torres has engaged in a campaign of retaliation in an attempt to force Richardson to resign or get him fired.
Richardson’s claims have been supported by a number of other transportation employees. Those employees say they fear similar retaliation from Torres if they speak out or file grievances.
Torres has not publicly comment on the allegations against him.
26. April 2009 at 5:23 pm
Bhuchar said, “Trustees cannot comment on the case since the school board will be the final arbiter on Richardson’s grievance.”
Oh, I see, quite revealing. So Bhucar’s statement above makes it apparent that the BOT “does realize” what their responsibilities are “supposed” to be. However, time and time again, the BOT fails to execute their “true” responsibilities. And since Bhuchar is the President of the BOT, the failure of the BOT’s execution of rightful duties and responsibilities equates Bhucar’s acute failure of leadership. Continuous agreement with failed Bad policy and lack of transparency as the final arbiter on everything, whether it is an action related to personnel, students, the budget, or present and/or proposed projects specifically for students and the district in general.
Oh my, my, my. It’s that time again to vote on BOT members. We need to make sure that we get right this time. In casting our votes intelligently, we need to do just that, vote intelligently.
Over this week-end, I had the opportunity to listen to a success motivational CD which proved to be very thought provoking, accurate, and relevant on the subject of leadership
What constitutes good leadership?
“Leaders care but never compromise—–The best leaders are transformative in that they are: demanding in having high expectations and yet simultaneously caring.”—John Maxwell
According to Al Reese, good leadership exhibits a good focus in generating a good brand/ name which brings to mind a one word thought in the mind of others when the particular word is spoken like for example: can soup-Campbell; cola – Coke; Lexus-luxury; Toyota-reliability. Now, likewise, a good leader for the BOT should generate a one word brand name like transparency or accountability.
“In order to influence people to follow: leaders must have skills and character; they cannot have one without the other.” Chris Widener
What causes CEO’s to fail? “Lack of execution.”
Chris Widener
What causes continuing personnel problems? “Not knowing the value of good people causes leadership the inability to hire and retain talent.” —John Maxwell
In summary:
A “NO” vote for Bhuchar’s brand of leadership is warranted.
23. April 2009 at 11:03 pm
The district needs to rid itself of the pirates that have taken over. The unfortunate of this poor bus driver is only one of the multitude abuses that occur within FBISD under the regime of Jenney and his commandos. There is another instance that people are not aware of that has occurred within the facilities department. An operations department employee, who has been with FBISD, and does not read or write, has been terminated by Mr. Johnson for allegedly punching the wrong time card. Now, is this not the kettle calling the pot black? Mr. Johnson, who used district personnel and materials for his personal benefit by repairing his personal truck, was supposedly counseled by district officials, while this custodian who was an employee with FBISD for 35 yrs was terminated. If the custodian is terminated for her violation, why was not the same justice issued to Mr. Johnson? Please do not forget that FBISD officials admitted that Mr. Johnson had committed the violation of using district resources for personal gain. Where is the justice?
23. April 2009 at 12:43 pm
Joe Murphy,yes you said it right that The district needs some deep changes.
It look like Mrs.Sonal Bhuchar is trying to stay on BOT,responded to a request for comment from FortBendNow on the controversy over bus driver.She did not have to responded at all,but she is one of them suffering at the hands of a jerk who is tripping over his own misplaced power.
So Mrs.BHUCHAR say good bye!!!!!
Move over Mrs.bhuchar and let Carlos and Albright come over to the BOT.
23. April 2009 at 7:32 am
The district needs some deep changes, that is true, but right now a bus driver is suffering at the hands of a jerk who is tripping over his own misplaced power. May Torres fall hard, then rise up with some good sense, make apologies, and fix the mess that he has caused. It would be a good lesson for the whole district.
22. April 2009 at 9:11 pm
Amazing! The board has actually said something? Bhuchar states that the theft of service has been handled? How is that a true statement when you have Michael Johnson still employed with Fort Bend ISD? How is it that we, the tax paying citizens of FBISD, have allowed such a corrupt band of pirates take over our beloved district and run it like Enron? Has everyone forgotten the pictures that surface of the director of facilities using district labor and materials for personal gain? How is it that this individual, who uses district resources for personal gain, is in charge of running our district’s bond program worth millions? Smell a rat? I do!
22. April 2009 at 7:06 pm
To SoupNazi, yep. “Stepford robots” under the Jenny remote control.
22. April 2009 at 7:00 pm
Hey Teacher-
The current board of Trustees has become a rubber stamp for this corrupt administration. I think maybe they go in the backroom after they’re elected drink the “Regents University KOOL aid” and become stepford robots. Either case common sense leaves them.
22. April 2009 at 6:35 pm
I’m glad Fort Bend Now asked her for a comment.
I personally think the board doesn’t care because so many grievances have been denied by the board.
Grievance from FBISD employees, be them para’s or professional.
I think she only commented because she is up for re-election.
22. April 2009 at 2:41 pm
Is this really true? Does John Pape have it right? Or is Richardson a opportunist that is secretly trying to take over FBISD by keeping his unbelievably LUCRATIVE job? [ insert scarry organ music ]
Employee gets assaulted by a manager, then harrassed by another manager because of the assault and the board can’t comment?
It looks like the board should be replaced. It’s not even a real job. It’s the perfect chance to do something right. Unless….they don’t care.
I hope Pape continues to write about this story. Right now I would have to side with Richardson because the district is not saying anything. That could always change.
22. April 2009 at 12:26 pm
“Currently that is a matter under grievance appeal and likely to come before the board and hence it would be inappropriate for me to comment on, since as a board we are bound by law to be fair and impartial and must hear the grievance with no preconceived information or ideas,” Bhuchar noted.
The current board president is “enamoured” with her position, the Superintendent and is a puppet of the board vice president. Don’t expect a fair and impartial hearing with no preconceived information.
There are way too many examples when this BOT has not been- Ask MR. Earthly from Mcauliffe Middle School or watch the Board meeting when the Science and Technology Museum the Superintendent wants to build was unveiled.
It looked like Valentines day in the board room everyone had fallen in love including Sonal Bhuchar.
Get these people out Steve Smelley has stepped down thank God- now his puppet Sonal has to go.
Vote in the School Board Election May 9!