Uvalde CISD: Adam Martinez: Persona Non Grata at future school board meetings

 

At a special school board meeting held Monday, March 27th at 5:3o PM, the Uvalde CISD Board Members addressed a Level 3 Grievance by Adam Martinez about him being effectively trespassed from attending School Board Meetings. Martinez received a letter from Superintendent Gary Patterson following the February 2023 School Board meeting effectively notifying him of the decision. Martinez received the letter following the Monday, February 13th school board meeting where Martinez approached  Josh Gutierrez, the district’s Interim Safety and Executive Director and Police Chief and presented information about new hire officer Pedro Huizar for the district. 

  “This evening I am here to speak in support of Adam Martinez. I know the grievance you will be listening to tonight is one that is very discouraging to myself to members of this community who have been passionately advocating for accountability and justice for the tragedy of May 24th.” Diana Olvedo-Karau said

 “I think that the actions that were taken by your interim Superintendent Mr. Patterson are harsh, unwarranted, unfair and it’s incumbent on this board as you say you want to rebuild trust in this community that you rescind this decision,” she said.

 The second person who spoke during the open forum was David Binkey.  He said, “Simply put, where is the equity? The board meetings… May through August: People were upset for hours, and the fact that one individual, Mr. Martinez, who is probably engaged in a protected activity, did you ban all of those folks that made noise or disrupted the meeting or because he came up and tried to say, ‘ Hey, there is maybe some information y’all need to have?’ Is that really the equitable solution that y’all have?”

 Kim Hammond was the last to speak before the special meeting. She stated to the board she was at the meeting where Martinez stood up and asked a question. “It didn’t disrupt me, I didn’t even know it happened,” she said. She went on to say other allegations that were made against Mr. Martinez about him using the F-word numerous times and the accusation he was seen urinating on a fence  (It) didn’t happen. She referred to these allegations as bully tactics.

After the board reconvened at 6:39 PM from closed executive session, Board President Luis Fernandez moved to deny Mr. Martinez’s Level 3 Parent Complaint against the interim Superintendent.

“Additionally, I move to deny all his remedies sought by the parent. Due to Mr. Martinez  having been granted the opportunity to attend his children’s functions, pick up and drop off from school and  attend practices that take place on Uvalde CISD property. This is not mean that we view Mr. Martinez as a criminal or  threat, However he has continuously,  repeatedly interrupted UCISD board meetings and therefore our decision to deny,” Fernandez said.  The motion was seconded by Board Member Javier Flores. The motion passed unanimously. 

During the time the board convened in its closed door executive session, Juanita Martinez, the Chairwoman of  Maverick County Democrats, spoke to the audience stating they have had success getting rid of school board members. In an interview with the Uvalde Hesperian, she said she came to the school board meeting in support of Adam Martinez. “I have experience dealing with difficult school boards,” she said.

  She went on to say that they plan on focusing on the upcoming school board elections and try to get rid of this board.