Edinburg CISD puts principal on paid leave following harassment

EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District principal remains on the job even after his weekend arrest.

On Thursday, the school board held a special meeting to discuss the accusations against Economedes High School principal Jesus Ramon Mata. Several people at today's meeting hoped for swift action.

Mata is charged with harassment, a Class B Misdemeanor. Investigators said Mata sent harassing text messages to an individual in a group chat with other Edinburg CISD employees.

An affidavit, obtained by ValleyCentral, revealed that on August 19 police arrived at the Edinburg CISD Administrative Building to speak to an employee about the harassing messages.

The employee told authorities that on Aug. 9 she began receiving text messages from a burner phone. The associated number created a group chat with other people who are current and former employees of Edinburg CISD.

The number associated with the burner number was traced back to Mata.

Mata allegedly used the number to send obscene and embarrassing messages about the woman, her fiance and her brother.

“Bullying is going on and it has to stop and it needs to stop here today and that is why I mentioned because right now there is no punishment," said Fern McClaugherty, part of the organization Objective Watchers of the Legal System. "It's just another vacation.”

After 90 minutes in executive session, the school board decided to leave Mata under administrative leave with pay.

Residents like McClaugherty say this is only costing taxpayers while Mata's alleged victims continue to see him on the job.

Marsha Gonzalez, president of the Edinburg American Federation of Teachers says harassment victims can reach out to them if they feel intimidated.

“If you are within the two-year statute of limitations and have screenshots, print them out and go to the police department and do your report. This is more serious than what we thought it was," Gonzalez said. "And, it has been going on for a couple of years. So, we really want to put this to an end.”

School District Attorney Benjamin Castillo said this is an ongoing investigation and they cannot interfere with the case.

“If we do interfere with that investigation, we could be accused of obstruction of justice or interfering with their criminal investigation," Castillo said. "Our investigation is administrative in nature, so obviously their criminal investigation takes precedence over ours.”

Castillo hopes the process is swift so the district can take administrative action against Mata.