Ysleta Teacher Association president claims harassment by YISD associate superintendent
Ysleta Teacher Association President Arlinda Valencia is accusing Ysleta Independent School District Associate Superintendent Jerry Molinoski of trying to silence her by using YISD-funded lawyers.
She is also accusing Molinoski of misusing YISD attorneys to do his daily responsibilities, which she says has contributed to YISD attorney fees nearing $600,000 over the last 16 months.
Unprofessional, manipulative, and an outspoken critic of YISD are all terms used to describe Valencia by YISD-funded Scott Hulse lawyers.
“One month in June, they had a charge of over $91,000,” Valencia said. “What did they do on one month that cost $91,000? I have to question that.”
Retired YISD teacher and president of the teacher association, Valencia has questioned much of what Molinoski does, including using the YISD-paid Scott Hulse law firm for what she says are his daily duties. One of those duties is dealing with her.
“We do make an effort of working with all employees organizations including YTA,” said YISD spokeswoman Patricia Ayala.
Valencia claims Molinoski shut YTA events down in retaliation and has intimidated and harassed her. So, she filed a complaint and that’s when she said Molinoski sent taxpayer-funded lawyers after her.
“The lawyer states that I either tone down the acrimony or they’ll go to the next level. My question is, what is the next level?” Valencia said.
In a five-page letter, Scott Hulse lawyers laid out why Valencia had no grounds to complain about Molinoski.
They said in the past, she conducted her own teacher surveys, a job the district usually handles, then went to the press with the results. They said she has wasted district money on frivolous complaints by taking them to court for not renewing a teacher’s contract, and represented another who complained of harassment.
“We have not seen the packet of information that you have,” Ayala told ABC-7, “So it is our practice of ascertaining all facts before commenting on them.”
Molinoski declined to go on camera but he said he has no idea what Valencia is talking about and he isn’t trying to go after her.
