Months after his arrest, Progreso school board trustee resigns

PROGRESO, TEXAS ( ValleyCentral ) — Progreso school board Trustee Francisco “Frank” Alanis resigned Monday, seven months after Homeland Security Investigations arrested him on federal drug trafficking charges.

Frank Alanis submitted his resignation letter on Monday afternoon.

“Throughout the years, my only role has always been to give the very best of my abilities for the best interest of the students,” Frank Alanis wrote. “I find my way (sic) in a position to move on apart from the School District.”

About 1,400 students attend the Progreso Independent School District, which is governed by a seven-member board of trustees. The board sets policy, approves the budget and makes personnel decisions.

In Progreso, where the school district is the largest employer, many people view the board president as the area’s most powerful politician.

Frank Alanis, 41, works at Progreso City Hall, where he’s the assistant city manager.

His brother, Alejandro “Alex” Alanis, won a seat on the school board in May 2015. Frank Alanis followed in his footsteps.

On May 18, 2016 — minutes after he took the oath of office — the other trustees unanimously voted to make Frank Alanis the school board president.

Nearly 74% of voters had supported Frank Alanis. The results cemented the family’s political power in Progreso.

Frank’s other brother, Gerardo “Jerry” Alanis, became the mayor in November 2017.

The family dominated local politics for years.

Nobody ran against Alex in 2018 or 2021. Nobody ran against Frank in 2019 or 2022. And nobody ran against Jerry in 2020.

In 2023, though, a federal investigation hit the family hard.

Homeland Security Investigations, which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, arrested Frank Alanis in October.

Documents filed by federal prosecutors link Frank Alanis to smugglers who transported cocaine from the Rio Grande Valley to Houston. During the investigation, agents searched a home owned by Frank’s mother and seized more than $722,000 in cash.

Frank Alanis pleaded not guilty.

After his arrest, the school board selected a new president.

While he remained a trustee, Frank Alanis stopped attending school board meetings.

Agents returned to Progreso in March with a warrant for Jerry Alanis.

Informants told the government that Jerry Alanis, a computer technician at Progreso ISD, participated in a conspiracy to store and package drugs at Dorothy Thompson Middle School.

Jerry Alanis pleaded not guilty.

Progreso ISD fired Jerry Alanis after his arrest. He also resigned as mayor.

Alex Alanis wasn’t arrested or charged with any crime.

On Saturday, however, Alex Alanis lost his seat on the school board to a candidate who campaigned against corruption at Progreso ISD.

Frank Alanis resigned less than 48 hours later.

“I wish the very best to the School District, the Progreso Community,” Frank Alanis wrote.

Progreso ISD plans to hold a special meeting on Thursday, said Superintendent Sergio Coronado, when the school board may appoint someone to serve the remainder of Frank Alanis’ term.

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