Sunday, March 9, 2008

Board member is not allowed on school property

Superintendent Mike Chambers said school board will have to make a decision

Audry Olmsted El Defensor Chieftain Managing Editor

A Magdalena school board member has been told he will need to resign from that position in order to comply with conditions of his probation after he pleaded guilty this week to public intoxication.

As of Thursday, Superinten-dent Mike Chambers said he had spoken to Herman Ganadonegro, but Ganadonegro had not indicated to him that he was going to resign from the school board.

Ganadonegro, 45, pleaded guilty to a single count of public intoxication Wednesday evening in Magdalena Municipal Court. The charge stemmed from an incident Feb. 21, when Ganadonegro showed up drunk for a basketball game at the school and started causing problems.

The charge of public intoxication is a misdemeanor.

Deputy Marshal Terry Flanigan said Ganadonegro was passed out on the floor at the game and that Ganadonegro was so drunk he could not walk out on his own.

Flanigan said there were young children at the game who witnessed the event.

"This is embarrassing, very embarrassing, being a school board member and showing up at the school intoxicated," said Judge Robert Serna.

"I don't think he needs to be on school property," Flanigan said.

On a recommendation by Flanigan, Serna sentenced Ganadonegro to the maximum sentence of a $500 fine. He deferred a sentence of 180 days, saying he was banned from being on school property and that he needed to seek alcohol treatment. He added that Ganadonegro would be on probation for six months and that during that time, he could not go to any bars.

Serna said if Ganadonegro is caught on school property, he will be arrested and will serve the 180-day jail sentence.

Serna scolded Ganadonegro, telling him he didn't know how many times he had appeared before him in court on various cases.

"Every time, you say that you're going to change," the judge said.

Ganadonegro said he understood the conditions set for him. "I can't be on school property for six months," he repeated for the judge.

Later, Ganadonegro said, "I cannot be on the board no more. I have to resign from my position."

Athena Gassoumis, a DWI counselor, told Ganadonegro he would have to go to the Alamo clinic to see about available in-patient treatment.

Serna said Ganadonegro would have to show verification that he was enrolled in an alcohol treatment program, otherwise, he would have to appear at court every week for an alcohol test.

Ganadonegro said initially that he was moving to another area, but did not specify where, and that he would not be going to a treatment facility.

"What kind of example are you setting for the kids at the school?" Serna questioned.

"You can say what you want to say to me," Ganadonegro said. "It's my personal business."

Ganadonegro said he did not want to go into a treatment program, but would attend Alcoholics Anonymous.

Gassoumis told Ganadonegro that he had a week to come up with a plan that worked for him before he had to appear before the judge again.

"The board does have to make some decisions," Chambers said.

The superintendent said when he spoke with Ganadonegro, the board member indicated to him that he wanted to continue serving as a school board member in some capacity. Chambers said he did not think that would be possible as there is a rule that if a school board member misses three meetings in a row, they are automatically removed from the board.

"The board will have to come together and decide how they want to handle it," he said.

aolmsted@dchieftain.com

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