Embattled Fort Bend ISD Transportation Director Suddenly Resigns
June 26th, 2009 | by Bob Dunn | Published in News | 12 Comments
Richard Torres, Fort Bend Independent School District’s embattled transportation director, has resigned from his post.
A district spokeswoman said Torres has been replaced by transportation department employee James Hoss, who will serve on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is found.
She said Torres left “to pursue other opportunities.” He could not be reached for comment.
Torres faced about five grievances filed against him by Fort Bend ISD employees, according to information from the Fort Bend Employee Federation, which represents the employees who filed those actions.
One grievance, which recently was denied in a so-called “Level IV” hearing before the FBISD Board of Trustees, involved a bus driver named Jack Richardson who was assaulted by a former transportation supervisor. Richardson has been suspended from his job twice since pressing charges against the former supervisor, Dann Long, in court, and in his grievance he accused Torres of retaliating against him for reporting the Long incident.
Torres’ transportation department also had been the subject of controversy beginning last year.
In April 2008, bus drivers complained they were so understaffed that mechanics were being used to drive buses instead of repairing them.
Earlier this month, bus drivers complained to FortBendNow that a transportation supervisor’s employees were being paid to make campaign buttons for their boss’s upcoming race for secretary of the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation.
However, it appears the events surrounding bus driver Richardson’s complaints may have had a bearing on Torres’ decision to resign.
During the recent Level IV hearing, in which the FBISD Board of Trustees presides, the employee federation told board members that a campus police officer compiled a report about the assault on the day it occurred, federation organizer Anthony Lacsamana, who attended the hearing, said late Thursday.
Torres told board members “he didn’t hear about it until a month later,” Lacsamana said. “My argument was, that’s pretty sad that someone doesn’t know someone was assaulted at their facility. Either it’s incompetence or conspiracy.”
But emails obtained by FortBendNow indicate Torres was told about the incident the day it happened.
One email was sent from Transportation Department Security Manager Vicki Ruhmann to Torres on Aug. 28, 2008, the day after the incident between Long and Richardson.
“Yesterday afternoon, I advised you that a bus driver Jack Richardson had reported an incident to me regarding Mr. Long taking his finger and punching Mr. Richardson in his shoulder. Mr. Richardson indicated he wanted to report the incident to the Ft. Bend ISD Police Department and file charges against Mr. Long,” the email says. “Prior to obtaining an administrative statement from Mr. Richardson, I advised him that you would like to talk to him and try to resolve the situation administratively. He told me that he felt this was a police matter not an administrative issue. Mr. Richardson has filed a report with the Ft. Bend ISD Police Department.”
In a second email message, sent to Torres on Sept. 29, 2008, Ruhmann described a meeting three days earlier between Torres, Richardson and another department supervisor.
“Mr. Richardson told you that he had been advised by the FBISD Police and the Prosecutor not to talk about the incident involving Mr. Long,” Ruhmann said in the email. “You told Mr. Richardson that you needed him to tell you what had happened between Mr. Long and himself. You indicated that you needed this information since he had called the FBISD Human Resources Department and discussed the matter with Rhonda McWilliams, Chief Human Resource Officer.
“Mr. Richardson told you again that he had been advised by the FBISD Police and the Prosecutor not to talk about the incident. He then asked you if you had been in contact with the FBISD Police. He also asked you if I had talked (sic) you about the incident. You again stated that you needed him to tell you what happened. At this point I tried to interject the fact that I had briefed you on the details of the incident.
“I tried to talk with you as a reminder that we had a discussion about the incident in which I briefed you in your office and had followed up our conversation with an email, but you began to raise your voice to me and wave your arms and note pad in the air, telling me you didn’t want to talk about the situation anymore,” Ruhmann said in the email.
Contacted Thursday evening, Ruhmann did not elaborate on the events involving Richardson. “The emails speak for themselves,” she added.
June 26th, 2009 at 7:58 am (#)
“Torres told board members “he didn’t hear about it until a month later,” Lacsamana said. “My argument was, that’s pretty sad that someone doesn’t know someone was assaulted at their facility. Either it’s incompetence or conspiracy.”
The problem doesn’t begin or end here with Torres. The problem is with senior mgmt. Look at the chief and you have the real culprit.
June 26th, 2009 at 8:06 am (#)
another one bites the dust……
June 26th, 2009 at 11:40 am (#)
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or how the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strives to do the deeds; he who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
June 26th, 2009 at 2:12 pm (#)
reflection,
I love the words!
Although I am not sure who the lovely words reference. Are the lovely words for the doer of the deeds in question or the receiver of the doer’s deeds in questions?
June 26th, 2009 at 2:26 pm (#)
What a tale. Couldn’t have happened to a better person. Now the reign of ignorance and terror can come to an end. It is a shame that he had to do so much damage to the transportation department before anyone would listen. They were all aware of his lets say (ignorance) but turned a blind eye. The ones that didn’t turn a blind eye were removed by the administration and Ricardo Torres! The choice for Interum is the choice that should have been in the position years ago. Now lets see if all the damages can be repaired. Ruhman? Well lets just say she has her own skeletons that someone should look into. Maybe ask the police chief why she is even at transportation. She was his righ hand holder.
Bet on the Black Horse.
June 27th, 2009 at 8:25 am (#)
If it was allowed to go on this long and with this much negative publicity for the district, it will happen again and again, just in other areas. It is good that so many were able to shine the light on this though. Now, if only we could see the real culprit move on. The one who promised to reduce spending and increase academics, but has done just the opposite while taking raise after raise until her is making far more than the VP of the US.
June 28th, 2009 at 2:50 pm (#)
Follow the previous FBISD leaders, who choice to resign?
June 28th, 2009 at 9:51 pm (#)
Black Horse as part of the old regime You should not continue to gnaw on the bitter apples - It’s time to move on - The big picture is that the Fort Bend ISD needs to appoint a Director with the right educational background and perhaps new blood. Someone who has experience managing and overseeing millions of dollars in assets and budget. The district owes it to the taxpayers to manage their money by appointing someone with budgetary and management capabilities and does not owe anyone a favor, not the status quo - Or perhaps we can go to charging children to ride the bus like other school districts are opting to do - we should focus one the big picture not one lame horse in the stall.
Finally, former wrecker drivers who have been forced to go to anger management classes do not qualify!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:38 am (#)
Sounds to me that Black Horse is glad Ruhmann stood up and did the right thing but must have had a run in with her. Wonder who won?
June 29th, 2009 at 7:42 am (#)
There are alot of drivers at Fort Bend that were cautious when a security manager came aboard since we never had one before. We now are very happy to have one - a good one that’s not a rubber stamp. One that really listens to us and will stand behind us.
June 29th, 2009 at 9:58 am (#)
Unfortunately Black Horse…
More of the same… “interim” director… just a few years ago the FBISD flubbed up an investigation and charges that he slapped a kid on a bus… last year he was accused of sexual harrassment against an employee at Hodges Bend Bus Barn… Best buddies with former Transportation manager who was unceremoniously dismissed for cashing in District property and keeping the proceeds. No not the best choice… I’m thinking the only reason he keeps his job is because his wife works in the FBISD legal department.
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 am (#)
What a tangled web we weave. Truth be told Fort Bend Independent School Districts Management Team is nothing more than a bunch of bottom feeders. No Managment Skills. Sent to Transportation Due to Problems at their current job sites. Pay Off’s. We the tax payers are now going to foot the bill to send the Interim Director to school to get a so so education. Sure Hope they can teach him people skills as well. Calling all wrecker driver’s. Apply at Fort Bend Independent School Districts Transportation Department.