One pair of assignments in DISD's massive central office reorganization isn't going over well with some trustees: a husband who is chief over his wife's department.
The plan moves Patricia Viramontes to a director's job in the Transformation Management Office, headed by her husband, Arnold Viramontes. Mrs. Viramontes' supervisor will report directly to her husband.
The Dallas Independent School District strengthened its nepotism policy in the last decade in response to criticism that the payroll included too many people related to each other. But the Viramonteses' arrangement has some district trustees questioning whether the district is violating its own policy.
"It wasn't developed to do things like that," Trustee Jerome Garza said of the Viramonteses. He said DISD should have discussed the couple's assignments with the board since it sets district policy.
The nepotism policy states, "In all cases, family members shall not be in a direct supervisor/subordinate relationship."
District officials don't consider the couple's assignments to be in violation of the policy because Mr. Viramontes doesn't directly supervise his wife, DISD spokesman Jon Dahlander said. He said the district's general counsel researched the matter and made the determination.
"It's been examined, it's been reviewed, and it's not an issue," Mr. Dahlander said. "He did not recommend her for hire, and he does not directly supervise his wife."
... School board President Jack Lowe said he accepts the Viramonteses' arrangement, though it did raise a red flag and required some research.
... Some school trustees are questioning the move. "I know we're trying to do the right thing," Mr. Garza said. "But in this case, we need to re-evaluate and err on the side of being more conservative. I think that this is a very liberal interpretation of our ethics."
Trustee Ron Price said board policy is clear that family members and spouses can't supervise one another, directly or indirectly. He believes that Mr. Viramontes is in a supervisory role over his whole department.
"So it opens up the question, 'How many other administrators in the school district have spouses or family members that have been hired by the district?' " Mr. Price said.
Trustee Edwin Flores said he favors a nepotism policy that would forbid family members from working for the district. He said he believes DISD employs hundreds of relatives. ...
