Eagle Pass Independent School District employees are expressing their discontent with the percent of salary increase they will receive this school year which they state is a 2.9 percent increase; nowhere near the percentage they were told they'd be receiving as part of the Tax Ratification Election that was recently approved by the community.

A small group of employees including teachers were present at the EPISD Board of Trustees meeting held on Tuesday, August 22, but did not formally address the board.

However some employees did speak out about the issue.

"They promised us a 6 percent increase when they were pushing the TRE approval. We are only receiving 2.9% increase. This is a farce," said a one teacher.

"The disdain that they have towards us is something that needs to stop. Again you have promises that are not kept," said another employee.

The Eagle Pass Independent School District, under the direction of Superintendent Gilbert Gonzalez, approved a 4 percent increase for administrators, paraprofessionals and manual trade employees. The 4 percent pay increase for classroom teacher included a $570 step increase.

Maestros disgustados por promesa falsa de aumento

Jose G. Landa

   Los empleados del Distrito Escolar Independiente de Eagle Pass están expresando su descontento con el porcentaje de aumento de sueldo que recibirán este año escolar, el cual afirman que es un aumento del 2.9% mucho mas bajo que les dijeron que recibirían como parte de la Elección de Ratificación de Impuestos que fue recientemente aprobado por la comunidad.

  Un pequeño grupo de empleados, incluyendo maestros, estuvieron presente en la reunión del Consejo de Administración de EPISD el martes 22 de agosto, pero no se dirigieron formalmente al directorio.

 Sin embargo, algunos empleados expresaron su deacuerdo sobre el tema.

 "Nos prometieron un aumento del 6% cuando estaban pidiendo la aprobación del TRE, sólo estamos recibiendo un aumento del 2.9%, esto es una farsa" dijo un maestro.

 "El desprecio que tienen hacia nosotros es algo que debe detenerse, y de nuevo tienes promesas que no se cumplen" dijo otro empleado.

 El Distrito Escolar Independiente de Eagle Pass, bajo la dirección del Superintendente Gilbert González, aprobó un aumento del 4% para los administradores, paraprofesionales y empleados de comercio. El aumento de salario del 4% para los maestros de clase incluyó un incremento de costo de vida de $570 que se agregó a un aumento de 2.9% en el salario.

The LBJ Head Start center received a $1600 donation from Walmart to help with costs for the non-profit agency, Kids Are First, which runs the Head Start program.

After weeks of debating how to prevent school districts from becoming financial losers, the House Public Education Committee voted 10-1 on Tuesday to adopt its leading school finance bill, which would inject an extra  $1.6 billion into the state public education system.