Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-07-30
CONTROVERSY
ON TRUSTEES
AGAIN AIRED
County School Board
Await Attorney Cen
erals Opinion on Pt.
Isabel Matter


Of Ray S. Wait and George Scan,
Ian as legal trustees Of the poin,
Isabel school district. which. was
terminated only by the fact that
.ae attorney generals decision j.
being awaited in the matter. marked
the Friday afternoon meeting 81
me county school board at which
there also was a sharp clash be-
tween 2. ID. Kennamer, county sun
erintendent, and Harry Faulk. coun-
" attorney. as to the salary of I.
:. hibbe. assistant county super
tntendent.
action was taken in two matters
cy the county board in its hour and
half session, the major one Of
"hicn was the creation of new
common school district to serve
sombes and passage Of resolution
winch provides that when new
foint Isabel school district is
Y formed that its north line will be
the south line Of the Laguna Vista
hset
The meeting was opened by Lee
X. Vance. president, and Mr.. Ken
manner called on Mr.. Faulk for .he
attorney generals opinion in the
eligibility matter. Mr.. Faulk stated
that one of the assistants in the at
torney generals office had written
IN opinion in which IL was held
that these two men were not eligi-
BILE. Dir. Faulk stated further that
while he was in Austin he went To
see Attorney General Thomas Pol
lard and impressed him with the inn
nortance OF the situation, asking
him 20 give his personal opinion
Mr.. Polar withdrew the assistants
opinion and is engaged in drawing
IN more complete one Of his own.
the county attorney said.
At this point A. L. Brooks OF
Harlingen requested Mr.. FHufk 10
wire the attorney general and ask
him 20 write his opinion as soon as
possible because action on Point
Isabel school matters Is being held
up on account of the delay.
Mr.. Faulk declared that Mr.. Wait
his opinion because the law per
mitted q man to choose his resi-
dence and permitted him TO have
several residences for legal pur-
poses.
Eligibility Of the two men is con
tested by Mr.. Kennamer on the
ground that although they pay their
poll taxes in the Point Isabel pre-
cinct they give their residence as
San Benito and Brownsville in
school census reports for their
children who so 70 the schools IN
these two towns. Mr.. kcnnamer
contends that they are not legal
trustees and therefore that any pa
pers such as bonds, they might sign
might be held illegal. He insists on
determining their eligibility before
going ahead with school business
relating to the Point Isabel district.
Although the eligibility matter
was considerably discussed the
sharpest clash occurred over the
matter Of the assistant county sup
crintendent's salary. Mr.. Faulk con-
tended that MIR. kennamcr could not
pay Mr.. Kibbe SITS month and
then allow him TO pay back Sf5 in
TO a general expense fund 10 which
they both contributed. Mr.. kenna-
mer denied that the refund was re-
quired Of Mr.. kibbe. but that II
was voluntary. The county attor-
ncy declared that II was against
the law and the county superintend-
eft suggested he file suit. The coun-
" superintendent stated that the
last grand jury had investigated the
matter and had not found anything
wreng with the practice which he
said had been authorized by the
county school board. The fund in
question is used for the travelling
expenses of both men. Mr.. Faulk
claims the salary should be Sl25.
The clash was in the nature OF a
personal argument between NJ.
Faulk and Mr.. kcnnamer, and Mr..
Brooks. anxious 10 get back 10 Har-
lingcn for 4 O'Clock appointment,
insisted on finishing the board bus
mess on hand.
DIR. :. N. Hallam. one OF the de-
yeiopers OF the Laguna Vista tract.
Appeared before the board and ar
eued against this project being in
Guided IN whatever new district =
termed at Point Isabel He de-
siared that large DEVELOPMENT was
contemplated at Laguna Vista and
that they hoped 10 have school ~
their own there soon IN the future.
Mr.. Kennmer was for inclusion O.
the tract on the ground that tnr
valuations were necessary TO build
six-room school house with audi
sor;um nc Point Isabel. IL was de-
rided. that the auditorium should
NJ left out until later date when T.
- Point Isabel district. sans the
ysenna Vista tract. would be able /
- .fford Il. The Laguna Vista tract
= Included in the present district.
The new district created to serve ]
r,.hes will be known a common |
s..hooi district No. 2i. IL is cut out |
- ,he aid El Muerto district. A por-
~ 49, AZ the Wilson Tract district Is j
: seek to Join itself 70 the new
by petition to its own and
.h.n 10 the county board.
Another meeting Of the county 1
hoard will be held next Saturday