🚫 Stop the Johnny Bean Horse Farm School Project — Demand Transparency, Safety, and Accountability from CISD
We, the concerned taxpayers, parents, and community members of Canutillo ISD, call for an immediate halt to the construction of the new middle school on the Johnny Bean Horse Farm property. This project has been pushed forward through secrecy, conflicts of interest, failure to notify nearby residents, questionable election conduct, and—according to CISD’s own geotechnical engineers—severe land safety hazards that make this site dangerous and inappropriate for a school. CISD should not gamble with children’s safety or taxpayer money.

 
🔍 WHY THIS PROJECT MUST BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY
1. CISD Trustees Failed Their Legal and Ethical Duties
Texas school board members have ethical and fiduciary responsibilities under Texas Education Code §§11.151 and 11.1511, requiring trustees to act in good faith, ensure transparency, and provide proper oversight of district operations. The TASB Code of Ethics further requires trustees to avoid conflicts of interest, act honestly, and represent the entire community—not select insiders. By advancing a project with major safety concerns, failing to notify surrounding neighborhoods, and withholding critical information, CISD leadership did not uphold these obligations. Public office is a public trust, and that trust has been broken.

 
2. CISD Never Put the Property Address on Any Agenda — The Public Was Shut Out
CISD never clearly listed the Johnny Bean property on any board agenda, making it impossible for taxpayers to understand what land was being discussed. The district held no public hearings, allowed no community questions, and provided no site comparisons. This multimillion-dollar decision was made behind closed doors with zero transparency. A school district should not operate in the shadows.

 
3. Surrounding Neighborhoods Were Never Notified or Included
Residents near the school site—those who will experience traffic delays, drainage impacts, construction noise, flooding risks, and slower emergency response times—were never notified of meetings, plans, or votes. The district did not send mailers, door notices, invitations, or hold community forums. If you were not a CISD parent, student, or employee, you would have had no idea these decisions were happening. A project of this scale demands robust community engagement, not silence.

 
💥 4. CISD’s Own Geotechnical Report Shows the Site Is Dangerous
a. The Site Is in a Flood Zone
The engineering report confirms documented flooding and states the site is difficult to access during flood conditions.

b. Groundwater Is Extremely Shallow
Groundwater was found at 7.5 feet during drilling and 4.7 feet afterward. Any trench deeper than 4 feet will hit water, making construction unstable and expensive.

c. Soil Can Collapse — “Quick-Sand Conditions”
Engineers reported piping, boiling, and quick-sand conditions, which are major red flags for foundation safety.

d. Mandatory 24/7 Dewatering
The site requires continuous pumping “24 hours per day, 7 days per week,” with backup pumps and staff, just to keep the ground stable. This could cost taxpayers millions.

e. Top 5 Feet Contain Horse Manure
Organic waste causes soil instability, voids, and future structural failure. All of it must be removed.

f. High-Swell Clays Will Damage Foundations
Engineers reported high swell potential and PVR values up to 2 inches, indicating likely slab cracking and structural movement.

g. Soil Is Corrosive
One sample contained 1,290 ppm chlorides, which can corrode steel, concrete, pipes, and utilities—shortening the lifespan of the school.

h. Massive Over-Excavation Required
Engineers recommend removing 2.5–7 feet of soil across the entire site. This is a multi-million-dollar fix before construction can even begin.

i. Environmental Testing Results Have Not Been Shared
The community has not been shown any results regarding animal waste, pesticides, or other contaminants—critical information when building a school.

 
⚠️ 5. Serious Procedural & Ethical Red Flags
a. The Superintendent Affidavit Was Signed Months After Closing
The Affidavit of Authority—required before executing the deal—was signed long after the purchase. This raises concerns about improper authorization and legal compliance.

b. Board President Admitted to 2 A.M. Coordination to “Ensure the Bond Passed”
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Board President Armando Rodriguez publicly stated he, Superintendent Pedro Galaviz, Oscar Rico, and PIO Gustavo Reveles exchanged 2 A.M. messages strategizing how to ensure the bond passed. This raises significant ethical and electioneering concerns.

c. Realtor for the Property Donated $500 to the Board President
Realtor Dan Olivas, connected to the land sale, contributed to the board president’s campaign. This creates a clear appearance of a conflict of interest.

 
6. Severe Traffic Impacts With No Approved Ingress/Egress Plan
The site sits off narrow Upper Valley Road, which is already congested. CISD has shared no approved traffic plan, no ingress/egress routes, and no verified TxDOT or county approvals. Without engineered traffic flow, ambulances, fire trucks, and police may be delayed—putting lives at risk. CISD has provided no answers.

 
📢 WHAT WE ARE DEMANDING
We respectfully demand that CISD:

Immediately halt all construction at the Johnny Bean property.
Release all records, including land purchase documents, communications, negotiations, engineering reports, and due-diligence materials.
Provide full public presentations of civil plans, hydrology studies, environmental testing, soil analyses, and traffic studies.
Initiate an independent investigation into the land acquisition, election conduct, the late-signed affidavit, and all safety concerns.
Hold open community forums before any further decisions.
 
📣 Our Students Deserve Safety. Our Taxpayers Deserve Honesty. Our Community Deserves Better.
CISD cannot continue a multimillion-dollar project on land with flooding, unstable soils, groundwater hazards, procedural irregularities, and no community oversight. We urge every resident who values safety, transparency, and ethical governance to sign and share this petition.

Together, we can protect our children — and hold CISD accountable.