𝗧𝗦𝗖 𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗜𝗥 𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗔 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗭𝗔'𝗦 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗝𝗔𝗜𝗟 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗔 𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗡 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗

 There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a sister."Proverbs 18:24  New Living Bible

 

Sylvia Atkinson at Sentencing

Many in Brownsville know that currently jailed Sylvia Atkinson and TSC Board Trustee Adela Garza are "as thick as thieves."

Atkinson, known for a quick mind and a penchant for trouble,  seemed to leave every school district she served worse off than when she'd found them. (The less apt Garza, an old-fashioned Brownsville politico, had better instincts for self-preservation.)

Atkinson left Santa Rosa ISD with an $800,000 shortfall.

At Socorro ISD of El Paso, Atkinson left under charges of nepotism after she'd cavalierly elevated three of her personal friends over other more qualified candidates.

So, when Atkinson's tenure finally wore thin at other districts, her friend Adela Garza reportedly found a job for her at BISD.

I asked Adela about it at the time.

"So, you two are friends?" I asked.

"I'll never forget the kindness Sylvia showed me when my mother passed away," was Adela's response.

At BISD, Sylvia Atkinson took nepotism to an astonishingly high level, not only made her brother Charlie a football coach, despite not having a teaching certificate, she also found BISD employment for many in the Atkinson clan; Karen, Eduardo, Charles, Judith, Maria and some in the family without the Atkinson surname; Sylvia R., Maria D., Mary Pauline, Norma and Mary F., all to the tune of $699,307 in 2019 money.

But, it was not for such obvious nepotism that Sylvia Atkinson was arrested and convicted, but for bribery.

Atkinson was accused and convicted of accepting $10,000 during a FBI sting operation. In exchange for the money, Atkinson had an item placed on the school board agenda and pushed other trustees to support it.

But, according to a post on Juan Montoya's El Rrun Rrun blog, something interesting was revealed and reported, that on the 6th day of Atkinson's testimony, she involved her very close friend, Adela Garza.

Adela Garza

During cross-examination, details emerged about a related corruption case that involved Texas Southmost College Trustee Adela Garza.

Prosecutors alleged that Garza and Atkinson schemed to profit from telehealth companies that wanted to do business with the Brownsville Independent School District and other local school districts.

They created a company called "Sunshine Solutions," it was reported, to launder the money, according to prosecutors.

Garza later acknowledged that Atkinson had named her as a participant in the scheme. 

Garza was never charged or convicted in the scheme, quite possibly because her closest of friends, Sylvia Atkinson, was arrested before the inseparable duo could fully carry out their scheme.