PSJA ISD's problemos – Principal files a TRO, says he never wanted to leave PSJA High

As a follow-up to last week’s front-page story — Why is PSJA changing principals so close to this election? – turns out, according to a recent court filing, the principal in question was forced out of his position by the superintendent, Jorge Arredondo and one of his right-hand guys, Rolando Trevino, chief officer of academics.

The principal at the center of it all, Dr. Alejandro Elias, filed a petition in Hidalgo County court Monday (8/1), claiming that he believes the district and school board president, Rick Pedraza, are retaliating against him due to his known political affiliations. Those affiliations are in opposition to Pedraza’s interests in the upcoming November 2022 PSJA School Board Election, which includes three seats up for grabs, including Pedraza’s.

For some background, up until last week, Elias was principal at PSJA High (Early College), which is one of the district’s most recognized campuses. Then he wasn’t.

According to Elias’s court filing, PSJA ISD, through its board of trustees (not including trustees Cynthia Gutierrez and Carlos Villegas) and its administration entered into a conspiracy to reassign him and potentially attempt to terminate him from his current position. Last week, he was stripped of his principal’s job and sent to central administration.

This week’s school board meeting has been moved to Wednesday. Elias believes the board majority and superintendent will name someone to replace him (political retaliation), and that constitutes a violation of state law.

As such, part of Elias’s Aug. 1 court filings includes an application for a Temporary Restraining Order in an attempt to stop the district from filling his position at the Aug. 3 board meeting. Replacing him, presumably, with someone more willing to support the board majority in the November election and help reel in needed votes.

According to Dr. Elias’s court petition, he has worked with PSJA ISD for the past 18 years and served as PSJA High principal for the past eight years. During that time, according to his petition, his performance has always received the highest marks, and his evaluations have almost always been categorized as “Distinguished.”

On July 21, according to Elias, PSJA Superintendent Arredondo and Rolando Trevino requested a meeting. Arredondo congratulated him on his accomplishments, according to the court filing, but then said that things were going to get “stressful” with the upcoming November election.

That being said, Arredondo advised “Dr. Elias that it was time” that he got a promotion, and he offered him the position of administrator of ESSER Funds (COVID related to help fund schools).

According to Elias’s court filing, the job hadn’t been posted, had never before existed, and not only that, but the seasoned principal liked what he was doing at PSJA High and didn’t want to switch positions.

No matter, both Arredondo and Trevino asked Elias what other position he might want with the district. After all, he was a great asset to PSJA ISD, and they wanted to promote him due to his success at PSJA High.

Again, according to Elias’s court petition, he politely declined the offer and advised both men that he was most useful to the district by staying where he was at – PSJA High.

No matter, said Arredondo, think about it and get back with me.

Five days later, Arredondo and Trevino made a second call on Elias, asking him to meet once again. That only served as a replay of July 21. Same job offer, same pat on the back, same answer from Elias – I’m happy where I am. Thank you just the same.

That didn’t matter, according to the court petition. Both Arredondo and Trevino told him, basically, that they were giving him the new position, newly created, by the way, and that there would be some communication sent regarding the change.

That same afternoon, July 26, according to Dr. Elias’s court petition, Trevino issued two email communications – one to all PSJA High staff and one to all PSJA High parents, touting Dr. Elias’s accomplishments, advising them that he was going to be the new Director of Strategy and Planning.

Then, to make matters even more skewed, Trevino wrote in the email that Dr. Elias “looks forward to serving in this new leadership capacity.”

According to Elias’s court petition, dated Aug. 1, he still has not been notified in writing of his reassignment.

So how can he be looking forward to it?

“Moreover, the District has not notified Dr. Elias that he has been named the Director of Strategy and Planning,” reads the principal’s petition.

Stay tuned.

For daily updates concerning this story, check: anjournal.com.