The buzz of possible corruption and dishonesty within the local school district has intensified among residents, parents, and teachers of La Vernia, a community about 30 miles southeast of San Antonio.
Numerous parents and teachers, some who are afraid to identify themselves publically, have come forward with new information.
Others have notified the Examiner of a letter sent home to children addressed to the “LVISD Community” on Oct. 12.
The letter, from the school superintendent, Dr. Thomas Harvey, acknowledges what many in the city have been speculating since the Sept. 19th school board meeting, that an investigation by law enforcement from the “Junior High Activity Account” is in progress.
During that school board meeting, parent Jennifer Moczygemba raised questions with the District regarding monies collected by the school from students for vendors and items that did not get paid, discrepancies in various accounting funds, and other improper practices.
Moczygemba, who is also a member of the La Vernia Planning and Zoning committee, had to resort to going through the Public Information Act process to obtain records from the school district.
Not satisfied with answers and apparent inconsistencies regarding what appeared to be improper fund management and accounting practices of large sums of money, Moczygemba inquired about the cost of obtaining an in depth forensic audit.
She was told by the District a preliminary audit would be in the neighborhood of $7500.
“Sadly, because of the nepotism and the fact that most of the school board members, administrators and law enforcement have connections and a loyalty of Doctor Harvey, we felt there was no one to go to,” stated correspondence the Examiner received from teachers who asked not to be identified for fear of their jobs or more.
“We need help,” stated the teachers' message. “Can you please investigate, please help us. We don’t know where to go. There is no one to go, please, please help us. We are tired and don’t have much fight left.”
“Several teachers who provided information to the police for the investigation had their classrooms searched by drug dogs soon after,” stated one educator. “We are scared and don’t know if this is intimidation to keep us from talking or if we are being set up.”
"We hear that a Texas Ranger is stepping in to investigate, but we are afraid of the local authorities," said the third teacher. "Some want to come forward and ask for immunity and give information, but this is good ol' boy coutnry and we are not sure who to trust."
“All we want to do is teach our students without fear,” added another teacher. “We have to come to work each day not knowing who to trust at the school, and even within the city government, because many of them are relatives and closely connected either by belonging to the same social or fraternal organizations, or by who knows what else.”
In a private conference with Examiner, some La Vernia teachers alleged the Examiner.com website had been marked as “adult content” last week with the school district and “we have good reason to believe computers who try to access the articles may be monitored.”
“We are afraid to go into the conference room because we think it may be bugged,” said another teacher.
“Look, we have seen what happens when a staff member or teacher goes to the superintendent with concerns about these issues,” said the first teacher. “He immediately contacts the principal or the person who we have concerns about and that good intended teacher or staff is reprimanded.”
“An investigation into expenditures from the Junior High School Activity Account is being undertaken,” stated the unsigned letter from Dr. Harvey that was sent home with students Wednesday. “The District has been in communication with local law enforcement regarding its concerns for many months. Additionally, the District has and continues to work closely with its auditors. Plainly, this issue has not been taken lightly.”
“Initially, the District was asked by law enforcement to keep the investigation confidential,” Harvey wrote. “We have now been given permission to share that the account is being investigated. Please know that the District initiated the contact with local law enforcement as well as it auditors. The District appreciates those that have shared their concerns and efforts of its local law enforcement officials.”
“When I am given the okay by the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, I will provide further information to the extent I am permitted,” Harvey’s letter stated. “Until that time, I ask for and greatly appreciate your patience and understanding.”
The Examiner obtained email correspondence between La Vernia School Board Superintendent Dr. Thomas Harvey and a resident of Wilson County that reveals the superintendent was contacted about a March 10th arrested teacher’s drug problems as early as October, 2010.
According to La Vernia Independent School Districts own policy and the Texas State Education Code 21.006, 19 TAC 249.14, “The Superintendent shall promptly notify SBEC in writing by filing a report with SBEC not later than the seventh day after the Superintendent first learns about a criminal record or alleged incident of misconduct, as described at DF, involving a certified educator.”
On March 30th, the community was saddened by the sudden death of a very popular assistant principal who reportedly visited the arrested teacher in jail that Wednesday morning.
Glenn Hendrickson, the husband of an elementary school teacher and father of two boys, was assistant vice principal of junior high school where the teacher taught.
Sources indicated Hendrickson left the school after 10 a.m. to drive to Floresville to deliver test papers. He then visited the teacher at the Wilson Country Jail and soon called his mother, Jenny Hendrickson in Houston.
When Mrs. Hendrickson became concerned about the phone conversation she traveled to La Vernia to discover her son dead in his bedroom at home in the Rosewood sub-division. His remains and home were quickly cleaned up by a New Braunfels cleaning company.
According to several sources, Hendrickson delivered a $4000 check from the Parents-Teachers-Organization (PTO) to Junior High Principal Maria Wildenstein during the school board meeting prior to his death.
The weekend before he died, Hendrickson discussed concerns he had about work with at least one friend who contacted the Examiner prior to his funeral services in March.
“Glenn was very worried about some shady things going on with money and was afraid he might be a scapegoat,” Hendrickson’s acquaintance said. “I believe he told some of his family about it too.”
“He was an honest man and he didn’t want to have anything to do with what he was being asked to do,” the friend revealed. “He mentioned a shell game being played with some grant money and other funds and it was eating him up not knowing what to do with what he knew.”
Wildenstein, who served as the junior high principal during the 2010-2011 school term, suddenly ceased to work for the school district earlier this month.
Not long after the death of the vice principal and the arrest of the teacher, two parents were chastised by an ex-school official, Theo Gerlich, who had reportedly resigned in the midst of the controversy.
Dr.Harvey, who worked close with Gerlich on the facility operations and awarding of contracts of new construction and other projects, indicated “Hendrickson was aware of the district's investigation into the teacher prior to the arrest, and gave no indication he was under any particular stress because of it.”
Some parents and teachers say they have little recourse but to assume “because we can’t get any information from the administration or the school board,” and have heard rumors that “Gerlich may be back on the payroll despite a hiring and wage freeze.”
One teacher indicates Gerlich is director of the new district auditorium, while another said “I heard he was on a contract, as needed basis because they never taught anyone how to use the audio, visual and lights, but we wonder what the purpose for the auditorium, or the new track is we spent taxes on because the auditorium is not used and they lock the track gates in the evening.”
"You need to check on the school board members because they have relatives working in the school district," said a teacher. "One school board member left the board and then after his realtive was hired, he came back on the board."
"Check into who owned the real estate the school district bought for the new facilities and the ties they have with school officials," the teacher added. "It's common knowledge here the district paid far more than it was worth and who it was bought from."
Shortly after the Gerlich encounter, many parents left a school board meeting when they were not allowed to address the board over their issues.
“I know I am not alone in my concerns as quite a few have expressed that they are absolutely afraid for their children’s future, their children’s education and know that the ramifications of standing up to defend it will ultimately harm their child,” said Amanda Russell, the only parent allowed to speak at the March board meeting.
“I have been told by teachers that if they were to speak up to the school board about their concerns or attend a school board meeting that Dr. Harvey takes into account who they are,” Russell added. “There is also a perception by some in the community that people who have challenged Dr. Harvey in the past have been reprimanded, terminated, or he made sure their jobs became very difficult in order to push them out.”
Jack Dennis welcomes your comments and can be reached at jackdennistexas@yahoo.com.
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