elpasospeak

I’ve had a few conversations with elementary school teachers in the last week where we discussed what our kids are learning.

Today’s students are taught about things earlier than we were.  An example is that algebraic principles are being taught in elementary schools whereas many of us did not learn them before high school.

The teachers shared with me their concern that while their students were ahead of us in many areas they notice a common failure to be able to perform subtraction.

Are we skipping basics by loading up their plates with too much too soon?

Brutus

A diligent reader sent this:

Here are some interesting facts you might find ‘eyebrow raising:’

1.  In the last five weeks, multiple positions have been filled without advertisement nor interview as required by the Texas Education Code and EPISD Board Policy DC (Legal).  Those positions include, but are not limited to:  Chief School Officer, Chief of Innovation (Academics Division), Chief of Staff, Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Operations and Deputy Superintendent of Administration.  Human Resources targeted by audit for not advertising and interviewing.  Positions are not ‘retitled.’  They are new positions with new responsibilities considered promotions.New Deputy Superintendent of Administration WAS Associate Super for Human Resources and is department is currently on Corrective Action Plan for inappropriate activities at HR.  http://www.episd.org/departments/internal_audit/audit_reports.php   2015-2016 audits…

2.  The person who was appointed Chief of Staff was the same person who started of as a mid-level Director of External Funding, then Senior Researcher then Executive Director then Chief of Staff all within a year and a half.  He is also the person who misread a report and reported to the Board of Trustees that the district would lose $6 million in ADA due to a decrease in population which, it turns out, did not happen.  Reported in September of 2016 by EP Times.  Pay increase over a year and a half:  At least $40,000 but truly unknown because pay level for Chief of Staff is unavailable at EPISD website.

3.  The new Deputy Superintendent of Administration has also received two promotions by appointment over the last two years.  Started off as Executive Director, the Associate Superintendent, now Deputy Superintendent.  No advertisement and no interview, as required by TEC 11.1513 and EPISD Board Policy DC (Legal).  Most recent pay increase:  Approximately $40,000

4.  All elementary and middle school principals met with last week Thursday to inform them of sweeping transfers for them and their staff for 2015-2016.

5.  15 Elementary and Middle School principals met with individually by Superintendent Cabrera and told that their campuses will be closing at end of school year.  Is a done deal.  Principals told that if parents, students or communities from these neighborhood schools are loud in protest or if teachers or others protest, the principal will be terminated for not following the company line on this.  Great level of fear among staff.

Here is the Education Code citation:

Sec. 11.1513.  EMPLOYMENT POLICY.  (a)  The board of trustees of each independent school district shall adopt a policy providing for the employment and duties of district personnel.

(d)  The employment policy must provide that not later than the 10th school day before the date on which a district fills a vacant position for which a certificate or license is required as provided by Section 21.003, other than a position that affects the safety and security of students as determined by the board of trustees, the district must provide to each current district employee:

(1)  notice of the position by posting the position on:

(A)  a bulletin board at:

(i)  a place convenient to the public in the district’s central administrative office; and

(ii)  the central administrative office of each campus in the district during any time the office is open; or

(B)  the district’s Internet website, if the district has a website; and

(2)  a reasonable opportunity to apply for the position.

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I fear that we are going to learn that these positions do not require certificates or licenses.

We deserve better

Brutus

The story behind our former city chief financial officer being hired by EPISD on the exact day that she first became eligible is getting more troubling.

Looking at the district’s web site they list the job descriptions of employees.

There is no job position listed for a deputy superintendent of finance and operations.

Were other people interviewed for the job?

We deserve better

Brutus