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YTA VS YISD OVER SALARY DISPUTE
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YISD sues state over teacher pay
By Caylor Ballinger \ El Paso Times
Posted: 10/11/2011 12:00:00 AM MDT
The Ysleta Independent School District filed a lawsuit Monday against Robert Scott, the Texas Commissioner of Education, in response to his ruling that said the district owed some teachers additional money. The Ysleta district’s lawsuit centers on a disagreement between the district itself and the Ysleta Teachers Association regarding teacher salaries. In 2006, the teachers association said that the state required districts to give teachers a raise and that the district did not give one to teachers with more than 26 years of experience. The association felt that action was unfair and accused the Ysleta district of age discrimination. Arlinda Valencia, president of the Ysleta Teachers Association, said the organization filed a grievance with the district. In it, Valencia said they asked the district to pay teachers with 26 years of experience $700 and those with 27 or more years would get $500. The district rejected the association’s request. Valencia also said the association would not give up on what the district owes teachers within the association. The Teachers Association followed up the 2006 grievance with a hearing against the Ysleta district, which it won. Valencia said the district still did not agree to make payments, so the district took it to the Commissioner of Education who also sided with the association. When the district tried to file against the decision, it was denied. The district’s only action remaining was to file an appeal or lawsuit against Scott. “I don’t see an end to this anytime soon,” Valencia said. “They have already been told three times they are wrong.” The commissioner ruled $250 per month is owed to those teachers based on a nine-month year. In addition, a longevity stipend is owed to each teacher with at least 26 years of experience, which is between $1,000 and $1,500. Valencia said the ruling was more than the association had asked for in 2006. Neither the association nor the district offered estimates on how much could be owed or how many people this could affect. Valencia thinks there are about 300 teachers with more than 26 years of experience in the association. Patricia Ayala, Ysleta public information officer, said Monday the district had to appeal a decision they felt was inaccurate. Ayala said if the Ysleta school board wants to withdraw the lawsuit, it could do so at its Wednesday board meeting. Officials offered no further comment Monday. Charlie Garza, State Board of Education representative for the El Paso area, said it concerns him that Ysleta is resorting to litigation, requiring more taxpayer money, rather than handling the matter themselves. Garza said it also bothers him that the district has not adhered to the commissioners’ ruling leading him to think “they believe they are above the law.” “This direction is not the best for the children,” he said. “I hope the school board will do what is right.”
Caylor Ballinger may be reached at cballinger@elpasotimes.com; 546-6133.
