𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞'𝗦 𝗧𝗦𝗖 𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗦 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚

 

Dr. Angelica Fuentes, Associate Vice-President of Academic Success

As for last Wednesday's TSC Board Meeting, we're still going back into that corn field and gleaning, reporting on kernels of information or misinformation about the ITEC vocational programs.

While the narrative was tightly controlled by Board Chair Adela Garza along with the glib, rapid speech of TSC President Jesus Roberto Rodriguez, the board member acting like a board member was clearly Attorney Ruben Herrera, who came prepared with questions about the various programs, the enrollments, costs and graduation rates.  We salute Ruben's participation!

Trustee J.J. De Leon, normally the silent type, also had questions, slipped to him on post-it notes by Adela, so, maybe they were questions she wanted asked.

Of course,Tony Zavaleta had the biggie in the meeting's final minute about whether or not trustees, employees, students or administrators were allowed to carry a firearm, a query squarely aimed at rootin' tootin' Tom Tynan.

Director of Manufacturing & Construction Education, Rootin' Tootin' Tom Tynan

Yet, no one seemed particularly alarmed that the welding program had a putrid 28.66% pass rate, only 90 out of 314 students, despite having 6 instructors, 5 full-time.  In contrast, respiratory techs were passing at a 100% clip and police learners 83%.

While President Rodriguez claimed that the $80 BISD students were charged for a welding exam was "covered by tuition," we did see a document showing that TSC actually charged BISD $130 per student, but maybe that's just the college making a "fair profit."

There was also some confusion as to when TSC was actually accredited with newly-on-board administrator Dr. Angelica Fuentes claiming that occurred September 2021, while the school itself claims August 2022.

Even more puzzling was the AWS Welding exam given during May 2021 before anyone claims the school was accredited to offer such.

For three well-dressed ladies on the Board of Trustees, it was "The Sound of Silence," as Alejandra Aldrete, Delia Saenz and Eva Alejandro uttered not a peep during the lengthy meeting.