EPISD Interim Superintendent Purposes $7.2 Million In Pay Raises For District Employees

The Interim Superintendent for the El Paso Independent School District, Terri Jordan, presented the school board with $7.2 million in salary increases for district employees, expected for the 2012-13 school year, during Tuesday’s board meeting.

The proposal would provide 4,545 teachers in the district with a 3 percent annual raise or $1,400.

Librarians, counselors, nurses, student activities managers and speech pathologists would receive the same raise proposed for teachers.

Hourly employees (like bus drivers) could get a 4 percent increase or $1,000 more for the school year.

Daily employees may see a 2 percent pay raise or $7.49 more per day.

Professional staff (like school principals) would receive a 2 percent pay bump or $1,400 more per year.

The EPISD Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, Robert Almanzan, said some employees have gone two years without a raise.

The district, which is still under federal investigation, did not give any teachers a raise last year.

Three weeks ago the EPISD released the details of a massive internal investigation surrounding allegations of grade manipulation within the district.

The audit resulted in the removal of Bowie High School principal Jesus Chavez due to violations of district policy.

When asked if he thought the recent scandal surrounding EPISD would cause people to disapprove of the proposed raises for district employees, Almanzan responded, “You look and go down in the classroom, the students trust their teachers. Our teachers are working very hard. Our hourly custodial (employees), bus drivers, staff; they come in and do their best every day.”

According to a presentation by EPISD Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Parker, the funds allocated for these raises are already part of next year’s proposed $463 million budget.

EPISD school board members are expected to vote on the raise proposal during a May 22 meeting.