SISD non-renews 43 teacher contracts amid budget cuts

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Socorro Independent School District is not renewing the contracts of 43 teachers as they go through the final steps of balancing their budget.

The board announced in February that they would be laying off 300 employees as they faced a $38 million budget deficit. They decided to eliminate fine arts programs at elementary schools, a move that saved them nearly $20 million.

The district also allowed employees to leave their positions for a $2,500 incentive. All 100 spots for that incentive were filled. In total, the district saved around $30 million.

The meeting's agenda shows that teachers who are at risk of contract nonrenewal tonight are fine arts and engineering teachers. As part of the "Elementary Fine Arts Redesign", the teachers at risk are:

• K. Eby, Fine Arts Department, TSA Fine Arts
• J. Gallardo, Fine Arts Department, TSA Fine Arts
• A. Govea, Fine Arts Department, TSA Fine Arts
• E. Matula, Fine Arts Department, TSA Fine Arts
• J. Montoya, Fine Arts Department, TSA Fine Arts
• P. Mora, Fine Arts Department, TSA Fine Arts
• K. Perez, Fine Arts Department, TSA Fine Arts
• J. Ramirez, Fine Arts Department, TSA Fine Arts

K. Kessler from Socorro High School as the CTE Engineering Design Teacher is the other one at risk.

The district is also going to talk about the increase in class size for a number of teachers throughout multiple schools. The district let go of these teachers, increasing class size to 26 students per teacher in certain schools:

• C. Amato, William D. Slider Middle School, 6th grade Math Teacher
• D. Brown, William D. Slider Middle School, Physical Education Teacher
• S. Diamondstein, Spc. Rafael Hernando III Middle School, Spanish LOTE Teacher
• C. Dockens, Montwood Middle School, Science Teacher
• R. Franco, Spc. Rafael Hernando III Middle School, General Art Teacher
• C. Garcia, Bill Sybert PK8 School, SCE/CSR/ELAR Teacher
• E. Genova, SSG. Manuel R. Puentes Middle School, General Art Teacher
• I. Griego, Jane A. Hambric PK8 School, Physical Education Teacher
• I. Lopez, Salvador H. Sanchez Middle School, ELAR Lab Teacher
• J. Matus, William D. Slider Middle School, Intervention Teacher
• J. McQuien, Jane A. Hambric PK8 School, Guitar/Choir Music Teacher
• M. Nava, Salvador H. Sanchez Middle School, Orchestra Music Teacher
• D. Nunez, Montwood Middle School, Social Studies Teacher
• D. Phillips, Hurshel Antwine Middle School, Math Teacher
• C. Ramos, Eastlake Middle School, 7th grade Reading ESL Teacher
• L. Renovato, Jane A. Hambric PK8 School, Spanish LOTE Teacher
• B. Cardiel, Salvador H. Sanchez Middle School, Intervention Lab Math Teacher
• J. Cepeda, William D. Slider Middle School, Choir Music Teacher
• C. Cuevas, SSG. Manuel R. Puentes Middle School, English Language Arts/ESL Teacher
• M. Garza, Socorro Middle School, 6th grade Science Teacher
• H. Orozco, Salvador H. Sanchez Middle School, Physical Education Teacher
• L. Rodriguez, Sun Ridge Middle School, Science Teacher
• A. Vasquez, Sun Ridge Middle School, AVID Teacher
• K. Vicencio, Montwood Middle School, Health/Physical Education Teacher

After the meeting, interim Superintendent James Vasquez told ABC-7 it was not an easy decision. This will be a multi-year process, and he hopes there won't be more layoffs but it is still on the table.

"This was not an easy recommendation by the administration. And this was a difficult vote by our board this evening. But, as you know, our financial situation was, as painful as it was, it was necessary for the financial stability of our district."