This came in from Dan Wever:
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Posted on facebook
While trying to figure out why a Teachers Union would support a bond issue that in my opinion, would cost people jobs and hurt neighborhood school children, I mentioned the term perception and a lot of people got upset with me and said I was attacking someone. When you are in the limelight you need to get used to any kind of difference of opinion.
I have since thought of something else that might account for a Teachers Union wanting to support this bond issue.
I had forgotten that this same Union supported the District of Innovation and I did not understand this either, as this State statute(Sec.12A.004) has in it the option to take away any power the Unions do now have. The District of Innovation which the EPISD has already obtained can ask the Texas Education Commissioner to be exempt from certain education laws that are now on the books. Let’s look at what cannot be done in this area.
Sec. 12A.004. LIMITATION OF PERMISSIBLE EXEMPTIONS. (a) A local innovation plan may not provide for the exemption of a district designated as a district of innovation from the following provisions of this title: (1) a state or federal requirement applicable to an open enrollment charter school operating under Subchapter D, Chapter 12; (2) Subchapters A, C, D, and E, Chapter 11, except that a district may be exempt from Sections 11.1511(b)(5) and (14) and Section 11.162;
11.1511(14) = make decisions relating to terminating the employment of district employees employed under a contract to whichChapter 21 applies, including terminating or not renewing an employment contract to which that chapter applies
Chapter 21 is teacher contracts and certification rules.
In other words the District can hire and fire anyone without worrying about Texas State laws that give employees some protection, thus what is the need for Unions which if anyone would have paid attention was the reason for the creation of the District of Innovation in the first place.
While this is probably a legal question, I do not even think that the district has to ask for this exemption as it is already given in this language but, they might have to ask the Commissioner.
With the is mind I have come to the conclusion that the answer to my question of why is a Union supporting something that will hurt neighborhood children, is because the district holds the HAMMER over them and they are submitting. The Unions will exist at the pleasure of the District or until this law is changed.
Posted by Brutus 
elpasospeak 
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