Morath: Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD Properly Nonrenewed Teacher Over Copper Wire Theft Admission

Ruling: An ISD properly nonrenewed a teacher’s contract over his reported admission that he had sold — for personal gain — copper wire that he had requisitioned for the high school electrical courses he taught.

• Francisco Borrego v. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, No. 111-R1-08-2025 ($). Signed Oct. 7 2025, by Education Commissioner Mike Morath.

Background

In March 2025, an unusually large delivery of copper wire to Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) drew the interest of the district’s police department.

This led a PSJA police officer to interview Francisco Borrego, who for several years had routinely requisitioned copper wire for the high school electrical courses he taught.