I don’t know what the right balance is with the teacher contracts but I do know that I don’t want this non-elected board to make decisions that should be left to an elected board.
This from Xavier Miranda:
Morning All,
I am forwarding you excerpted information pertaining to potential changes to our Continuing Contracts by the Board of Managers. Please take note of this as it affects all employees.
Regards,
Xavier Miranda
DEIC Representative
Social Studies Department
Coronado High School
“It is Teacher Appreciation Week. At what is hopefully the Board of
Manager’s last meeting on Thursday, May 7th, you will get to see how much
the Managers and Administration appreciate you.
The Budget and Compensation Package is being left to the elected Board of Trustees, though
the Managers and Administration have finalized that together. You will
remain the lowest paid of major districts in El Paso County and far below
the average for the Eight Major Urban Districts in Texas.
The Board of Managers is slated to show their appreciation for you by
voting to radically change the Reduction In Force (RIF) policy for those of
you on Continuing Contracts. They plan to vote delete the current
DFCA(LOCAL) which contains well founded limits on when a RIF can occur,
under what circumstances, as well as provides real due process and real
opportunities at other positions AND meets the Texas Education Code
21.157. Current DFCA(LOCAL) limits the causes of RIF to “financial
exigency” or “program change”.
The Board of Managers and Administration will show their appreciation of
you by approving a new and dangerously anti-teacher DFFC(LOCAL).
*Short version: Those of you on a Continuing Contract will have little
more job security than a Walmart greeter.*
Long version. The changes include:
1. The reasons for a RIF are changed to “financial exigency” AND when the
Superintendent “*Determines another need to reduce personnel on Continuing
Contracts.” *In other words, if he feels like it.
2. It is worded in such a manner as to allow him to target specific
teachers on specific campuses who have annoyed him or his leadership team.
And remember, one of his Executive Cabinet reportedly said in a meeting,
“If you rock the boat, I’ll throw you overboard.”
3. Under the new policy, you can be “dismissed” at any time in the year,
not just at year end.
*4. The net effect is to nullify your Continuing Contract and leave you,
for all practical purposes an “at will employee”.*
Mr. Margo tried to impose this change last year, but the item was
withdrawn. Over his tenure as a Manager and before in the Legislature in
2011, he has shown disdain and contempt at best towards public school
teachers. He has twice stated publicly that he wants to “get rid of
teachers who just occupy a chair”.
So, join me Thursday evening at 5:00 watch Administration and Managers show
their appreciation of teachers by further Walmartizing the EPISD.”
p.s. If you check their Agenda, Teacher Appreciation Week is not on it.
That alone speaks volumes.
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El Paso ISD Non-discrimination disclaimer
http://www.episd.org/employment/disclaimer/20140602.php
“I am EPISD, Excellence Starts With Me”
Posted by Brutus 
elpasospeak 
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