The Sad Saga of the "Maquina Amarilla", and the Edcouch-Elsa School Board President...

The web site for the Edcouch-Elsa School District proudly boasts the motto, "Viva La Maquina". Long live the Machine. A reference to an athletic program that any high school coach from Roma to Brownsville will tell you is a force to be reckoned with. Regardless of what sport you are talking about, be it volleyball, basketball, or football. When these student athletes take to the court or the field, they mean business, and so do the fans. Half of which have long since graduated their own sons and daughters, but can't get over that fever, that spirit which grabbed their attention like a vice grip when their kids donned the black and gold. It is a spirit that isn't used to losing. No matter which way you slice it. It is not uncommon for a football fan to be rushed to a local hospital because their blood pressure shot up due to a frustrating, heartwrenching loss to District rival Mercedes by one "measly" point in double overtime for the District Championship. Losing is not in anybody's blood in the Rio Grande Valley, and it is especially not in the blood that runs through the veins of a student, teacher, parent in the Edcouch-Elsa School District. It came as no surprise, then, that the web site for the school district proudly proclaims itself "as the vehicle through which each student can embark to success. In this role we commit ourselves to providing an environment that promotes, fosters, and ensures the personal dignity of each student and encourages all students to develop physical, emotional, and mental abilities to their fullest potential." Unfortunately, encouraging words like these have fallen victim to a scandalous occurence that began in December of 2005, with the arrest of School Board President Aaron Gonzalez. Well into his third term, Mr. Gonzalez was arrested in what the United States District Attorney's Office would charge him with "one count of conspiracy, one count of violating the Travel Act in 2000 and 2004 to promote state bribery, and three counts of extortion under color of official right". As the local news would report the bribery charges stem from "big claims he awarded construction contracts in exchange for money and trips". Despite these indictments, and the recent arrest without bond for a new charge of witness tampering, Gonzalez awaits his trial set for May 2, 2006 in police custody, but still holds his seat as School Board President for the Edcouch-Elsa School District. No mention of his removal or resignation on the School Board Agenda page of the School District web site. Reaction is mixed in this small town, but most citizens seem to hold on to the American judicial pledge of innocent until proven guilty. For instance, in a report for The Monitor, Elsa mayor Senorio Castillo is quoted as saying "He has to be, in my opinion, convicted. Right now at this point, it's not that I'm defending the man because of th business the city has with him, but at this point he's being indicted and he still needs to go to court". Please note that this quote was taken from a December 15, 2005 article in The Monitor. No further comments have been made public by the mayor since Mr. Gonzalez' recent arrest on February 24. The idea of innocent until proven guilty is one of the foundations of our society. Without it, justice would serve only those of influence, and power. However, when the citizen in question is a member of the school board, a board which encourages honesty, and integrity in it's students, the fact that Mr. Gonzalez was indicted, period, should be enough for the rest of the school board to take action. Whether that includes removal, or asking for his resignation, the board, a responsible one at least, should take action within it's legal power to do so on something. The teachers, administrators, parents, and most importantly the students of Edcouch-Elsa, Home of the Maquina Amarilla deserve that. "Viva La Maquina".