I’ve had some time to think some more about Hinojosa’s departure. And, of course, now we have two more pieces of information. First, Hinojosa says he really did mean it when he said his name was off the market. He says he turned away other districts that had approached him. Second, Hinojosa says that the birth of his first grandson in Atlanta played a big part in his decision.
Well, okay. He’s not a liar. I take it back. When he said his name wasn’t on the market, he was telling the truth. But then, a couple weeks ago, his name obviously was on the market. Seems like a distinction without a difference.
Now, about this whole grandfather business. We’re supposed to cut the guy some slack because he just wants to do what’s right for his family. For some perspective on that, I’d like to talk to Hinojosa’s son who is headed off to Harvard next year. Presumably the kid has a bunch of friends in Dallas. Have fun coming home to Georgia during the summers, kid!
Listen, if I were in Hinojosa’s shoes, I’d probably do the same thing. Atlanta’s a great town. Babies are great (if you can hand them off when they get cranky). And the money deal is sweet. Who wouldn’t want to get paid twice and make more than $400,000? But I’m not in Hinojosa’s shoes. I’m in mine, in Dallas, where Hinojosa told me his heart was.
Maybe he doesn’t deserve to be ridden out on a rail. But no high-fives either.
12 comments
Don’t start contemplating now!
http://movingimages.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/calvin-and-hobbes-on-ignorance.gif
“Babies are great (if you can hand them off when they get crank).”
Hand them off to whom? Child Protective Services?
I have no respect for the guy but I would have done the same thing. Does he have a buyout clause on his contract?
Babies and crank are not a good combination
He lied pretty emphatically (don’t call me, I’ll call you, unless your near my grandbaby)…but he has been one of the better superintendents…that didn’t take much, just be normal.
His new job looks easier, compared to Dallas he’s almost semi retired.
Hopefully the search for the new super won’t be beholden to interest groups, just pick the best candidate.
@Robert Wilonsky: Sorry, I meant cranky. And, thinking like a grandparent, I meant hand them off to their parents.
Can someone explain to me why he will get retirement money from Dallas when he is going to another job and not retiring?
@Avid Reader— because under the deal Hinojosa cut, and given allowable parameters under Texas state law, all he had to do was put in 5 years and then he is essentially paid to quit. It’s a monumentally wasteful system that would never fly in the private sector– all of us pay the price, through higher taxes, etc.
Is that correct, Wylie? Or is he treated just like a teacher, where you put in years + age = some percentage of salary as retirement?
I don’t know if he got some special deal with the Board, or it’s just the standard retirement for a Texas school employee.
in Jersey its called double dipping and is de rigueur.
Sammy is correct. He’s treated just like anyone else in the Teachers Retirement System. He would be eligible to retire just as if he were still in the classroom. It’s the rule of 80, which means age plus years of service, and that puts him over the top.
This has nothing do with a deal cut by anyone.
Well, except the deal cut by the Teachers Union. jerseyshorenuff had it right, it’s not just a Texas thing.