AMEEL'S ATTORNEY GET $19,000; SHE, A JOB FOR 2 YEARS

By Juan Montoya
Way back when, in the days when the trustees of the Brownsville Independent School District were trying to implement the STAMP (Science Technology, Architecture, and Medical Professions) College Preparatory Program at underused Veterans Memorial High School, a small group of students and parents resisted the change.
They organized a protest to coincide with the presentation by Superintendent Carl A. Montoya and trustees at the school to explain the benefits of the program. At that time, there were reports that the core group against the implementation of the STAMP program had been allowed to meet and organize in Principal Acacia Ameel's office at the school.
Veterans, parents, students and even opportunistic rabble-rousers from Cheezmeh formed the nucleus of the protest.
Montoya removed Ameel from the helm at Veterans Memorial following a board meeting at which plans for the STAMP College Preparatory Program at the school were first presented.
The agreement between both parties warded off two other lawsuits filed by by Ameel's attorney John Shergold against the BISD.

District counsel Arturo Michel told the local daily that one alleged violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act, the other violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act.Further, lawsuits alleging violations of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and of Ameel’s First Amendment rights had been pending, Michel said.
The BISD board voted 4-1 to approve settling all claims with trustees Herman Otis Powers Jr., Luci Longoria, Minerva Peña and Christina Saavedra voting for the settlement, while board President Enrique Escobedo voted against. Trustees Hector Chirinos and Catalina Presas-Garcia were not present.
Michel said BISD continued to stand by the decisions that resulted in Ameel’s removal as principal and her eventual reassignment as BISD’s administrator of Advanced Academic Services where she is guaranteed at least two years at the position contingent on her performance being satisfactory.In a statement as reported to the Herald, the district stated that: “BISD continues to believe its actions were justified but chooses to minimize expenditures by paying a modest amount, far less than trying a single lawsuit, to eliminate four lawsuits or potential lawsuits. The payment is expected to cover attorney’s fees; this matter does not involve loss of pay.”
Currently,  Ameel is the administrator of Advanced Academic Services, and Michel said that there would be a “compensation change and some additional duties.”
Shergold – eyeing the $19,000 payment for attorneys fees – was happy and told the Brownsville Herald he was "pleased with the way things turned out."
“Mrs. Ameel stood for what was right and is happy with the outcome of her case,” Shergold said. “She looks forward to working for the good of the school district and, more importantly, to working for the good of the students.”
Yeah.