A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

In what is being heralded as the best news coming from the EPISD in recent memory, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved a proposed increase for all personnel effective this September.

EPISD Superintendent Gilbert Gonzalez presented his recommendation to the board during the second budget workshop after the presentation made by Executive Director for Finance Ismael Mijares.

"It was something that was long overdue," stated Board President Ignacio Saucedo, "The superintendent and I have been discussing it for some time and we appreciate our employees' patience during the years we were in our cost savings plan.  We understand that their jobs are ever more strenuous now in the age of accountability and the amount of work that is having to take place because of state and federal mandates are much more stringent than when I was a student."

School Board trustee Hector Alvarez made the motion for the salary increase and newest board member Bennie Rodriguez seconded the motion.

The recommended increases are as follows: Professionals will receive a 4.2% pay hike, a 3% increase plus a 1.2% step increase; Campus Administrators will receive a 3% increase; Non-Campus administrators will get 2.25%; Paraprofessionals will get 3.5%; and manual Trades will get a 3.5% increase as well.

The board met last night to discuss recommendations for a replacement for exiting board member Ana Santleben, but results of this meeting were not available at press time.