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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.

Has Moved Their Office To Our Present Location To Better Serve Our Members.

We Hope To See All Our Members At Our New Location:

The Ysleta Teachers Association

10940 Ben Crenshaw, Suite A

El Paso, Texas 79935

(915) 778-8222

All area school districts are back to school and everyone from teachers to students to support staff and administration, is buzz ‘in around, making sure school starts off without a hitch.  (It’s a dream, it never happens.)  Summer schedules are gone and have changed; early to bed and early alarm clocks ringing, “GET UP!”

For teachers, they are getting lessons plans done, learning the names of 180 students for those in high school and at least 22 in elementary.  Whoever said that teaching is an easy job should stand in front of a class of 22 or more pair of eyes looking back at them.  Those eyes are watching to see your every move.  Those eyes are also watching to see if they can pinpoint a weakness that they can capitalize on.  The majority of students are great but all you need is one to make a teachers life miserable.  One student that is uncooperative and unmotivated to learn can turn a great classroom into a nightmare.  Teachers not only have to teach their subject but they also have to be counselors, parents, and disciplinarians to their students.

Teachers are facing more than their normal share of hard work on the job.  Teachers are finding themselves facing more than usual staff meetings; professional staff development meetings for varies programs and the STARR test.  Let’s not forget the regular duties such as teaching, making their lesson plans, calling parents and grading papers.

Teaching has become a battle ground these days.  While politicians (who don’t know a thing about education) are arguing about how our students should be taught and tested, teachers are taking the bull by the horns and decorating their rooms and buying supplies with their own money. While politicians are cutting programs and funding, teachers are giving these students the best possible education they can.

Teachers are professionals in a very crucial profession and it’s a shame that they aren’t respected.  If they were respected then their salaries would look like doctors and lawyers salaries.  Instead, our legislators pass laws that allow furloughs, lower teacher pay, over-crowd classrooms, lay-offs, less preparation and ignore experience.

While politicians are fighting their party lines, students are loosing ground.  Some districts, in order to save money, are asking experience teachers to resign so that un-experienced teachers can replace them.   Education is one of the very few businesses where experience is considered costly instead of valued.

For all the teachers out there, we thank you for your hard work and dedication.  It is because of your determination to “Stand Strong” under so much adversity that our Public Education is the best in the world.  America’s educators teach everyone, from Special Education to Gifted and Talented, it doesn’t matter. Teachers are awesome! They affect the future by teaching doctors, lawyers and yes, politicians.  Too bad they don’t remember who helped them get where they are today.

The Ysleta District would not be a finalist if it were not for the hard work of all the employees of the district. This is the second year this honor has been bestowed upon the Ysleta District.  Congratulations to all for making Ysleta one of the best school districts in the nation.

The YISD team representing the district has been selected and is ready to travel to Washington D.C. in order to attend the awards ceremony on September 20^th.

The Broad’s Selected VIP Representative team will consist of:

Superintendent Dr. Michael Zolkoski

Hanks Trustee and Board President Rosa Kahoe

Ysleta Teachers Association President Arlinda Valencia

Additional members attending will consist of:

Eastwood Board Trustee Deby Lewis

Parkland Board Trustee Shane Haggerty

Riverside Board Trustee Andy Ramirez

Elementary T.O.Y. Lily Lara from East Point

Secondary T.O.Y. Jerry Bowles From Caesar Chavez

Ramona Elementary Principal Ana Silva

Del Valle High School Principal Carmen Crosse

When last year’s president, Noel Candelaria, moved up to the Texas State Teachers Association, Arlinda Valencia was once again asked to run for the full time position of YTA President.  With Arlinda Valencia as the Ysleta Teachers Association President, the members of this association receive the wisest and most experienced person to do the job.

The Ysleta Teachers Association welcomes Arlinda Valencia and invites you to stop by our offices to say hello.

Noel Candelaria, President of YTA was elected to be the next Vice President of the Texas State Teachers Association.  This is the second highest position in the TSTA organization, which was founded 132 years ago.   This is history making, no one from El Paso has ever held this high of an office in the state organization.  Noel will begin his new duties on July 15, 2011.  We wish to congratulate Noel on his new position and wish him and his family the best as they begin a new chapter in their lives.

The Texas Comptroller accidentally posted the personal information of about 3.5 million Texans.  Among those affected are members of the Teacher Retirement System, Texas Workforce Commission and Employees Retirement System of Texas.  The information has been open to the public for about a year now.

The information, which was made public, included birth dates and driver’s license numbers.   Both of which can be used to conduct identity theft.

Out of the 3.5 million Texans affected, 1.2 million were Texas teachers.  That means YOU!!!  There are steps you can take to see if your information was released and to also make sure you are protected.

Step 1: Call 1-855-474-2065.  They will ask you for your name and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.

Step 2:  If your name was included, you will be instructed to call one of the major credit bureaus in order to place a fraud alert on your credit.   You only need to call one, as they will send the information to the other two on your behalf.

The major credit bureau numbers are:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

Experian: 1-888-397-3742

Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

The system is completely automated and it takes about 10-15 minutes to complete the process.

Don’t delay!    Take immediate action to protect yourself and your identity.  It takes only a few minutes and it could be the most important phone call you make.

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