EPISD Proposed Policy Change Divides Teachers’ Associations

El Paso Independent School District teachers’ associations are divided over proposed changes to a policy related to the way they air out concerns.

The policy in its current form allows all heads of qualifying teachers’ associations to take part in monthly consultation meetings with district leaders. The thing is, not all employees are part of a union.

EPISD’s largest association, the El Paso Federation of Teachers and Support Personnel, is proposing changes to the policy which would call for an election among all unions. The elected group would then be the only one allowed to sit in on consultations and represent all employees, regardless of union membership.

Two other unions, the El Paso Teacher’s Association and the Association of Texas Professional Educators, do not support the changes because they feel the changes would narrow down representation instead of expanding it.

Trustee Alfredo Borrego was the one who brought the proposal forward at the EPISD school board meeting Tuesday. The item caused such an uproar, though, the board decided not to vote on it at all until April 10.