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ZCISD
Short of standards Half of district’s campuses struggled on STAAR exams By JUDITH RAYO THE ZAPATA TIMES
BRUNI
Bruni ousted by mayor
Three of ZCISD’s six campuses fell short of minimum standards and have been placed on the Public Education Grant List for the 2016-17 school year. When a school is included in the list, it means the campus had passing rates on State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness that are less than or equal to
50 percent in any two of the preceding three years or the school was rated improvement required in 2013, 2014 or 2015. Students at a PEG school are allowed to transfer to other campuses or a different district. Schools receiving students from PEG-list campuses receive 10 percent more funding for each of those students.
Zapata County ISD For a second year in a row, Zapata County Independent School District’s Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal elementary, Zapata Middle and Zapata High Schools are on the PEG list. Last year, the campuses seemed to be struggling with the science portion of the exam, with the exception of Zapata High School. The campus struggled in the
reading portion of the exam. Additionally, Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary and Zapata Middle were labeled improvement required for the 201516 school year. For the 2016-17 school year, Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary was labeled improvement required. The campus is also struggling
See ZCISD PAGE 12A
ZAPATA
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE
Housing Authority contests removal By KENDRA ABLAZA THE ZAPATA TIMES
The general counsel of the City of Laredo Housing Authority, which serves Webb and Zapata counties, is contesting the removal of Raymond Bruni from its board of commissioners, saying he was not given due proSAENZ cess. Meanwhile, Mayor Pete Saenz, who appointed Bruni’s replacement, said Bruni’s term had “overstayed his tenure” due to a technicality, so he was allowed to appoint his own commissioner to the board. Saenz said the city’s legal department told him that because Bruni had “overstayed his tenure” past former Mayor Raul Salinas’ term, he now had the right to appoint a commissioner of his choosing. “It’s not per cause or anything else,” Saenz said. “It’s just the fact that I had that right.” Bruni, 68, was first appointed to the board in 2007 by Salinas. Saenz appointed Jose L. Ceballos to replace Bruni on Dec. 11, about a week after Bruni was arrested. Ceballos that same day signed an oath of office certificate before the city secretary. The Housing Authority attorney’s, Patrick Bernal of San Antonio, released an opinion Tuesday regarding the removal of Bruni, who was charged with aggravated assault earlier this month. In a letter addressed to Laredo Housing Authority Executive Director Laura Llanes on Tuesday, Bernal said the housing authority had not received a notice of any charges citing a specific reason for Bruni’s removal. Bernal says state law allows a mayor to remove a commissioner “for specific grounds, including inefficiency, neglect of duty or misconduct in office.” He also states that before a commissioner may be removed, he or she must be given a copy of charges at least 10 days before the date of a hearing.
See BRUNI PAGE 12A
Courtesy photos
Zapata’s annual Christmas Parade and Lighting of the County Plaza took place Thursday, and the Zapata Chamber of Commerce deemed it a complete success. “What a great Christmas event we had, and it was all thanks to you,” the chamber said in a news release. “We not only met our goal, but we shattered our previous event record. We hope you had a good time and enjoyed the event.”
ZAPATA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Water Works’ customers scammed By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office is warning the community about a recent utility bill scam, authorities said this week. Through their Facebook, officials said scammers are calling Zapata County Water Works’ cus-
tomers about a past due bill. Scammers then tell customers they have a bill that has to be paid urgently by phone or in person, or the services will be terminated immediately, the Sheriff ’s Office said. Authorities said the number scammers are calling from is 956-545-
0287. “If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be your local water works office and you feel you are being victim of such scam, please call your local water district office and verify with them before you take any action,” authorities said. Often in phone scams,
if a caller pressures people to give them their personal information — social security number or credit card information — it’s likely a scam, according to consumer information by the Federal Trade Commission. “Every year, thousands of people lose money to telephone scams — from a
few dollars to their life savings. Scammers will say anything to cheat people out of money. Some seem very friendly — calling you by your first name, making small talk and asking about your family,” states the FTC in its website.
See SCAMMED PAGE 12A