When El Paso Independent School District employees were shocked by downsizing, little did they know they would be given priority for future district positions.
The EPISD Board of Trustees created a pool of priority candidates who were dismissed because of financial exigency during a special session held Tuesday, June 23, at district headquarters. Those procedures match downsized former employees to positions for which they are best qualified when such openings occur. The policy even addresses who qualifies for the pool.
The administrative policy, which takes effect on Wednesday, June 24, impacts both contract and at-will positions and will prioritize candidates dismissed in the reduction of force as part of financial exigency. A total of 195 employees were impacted by the cuts, according to EPISD data.
“We’re committed to doing the very best for our team members who have been displaced,” EPISD superintendent Brian Lusk said. “So we’ve created a document that outlines all those efforts.”
Under the new policy, hiring priority includes preferential consideration for interviews from candidates in the priority pool. That is comprised of former employees who have opted to still be considered for district vacancies.
The policy will even attempt to place them at their former school.
What are the EPISD requirements for priority consideration?
The eligibility requirements for the priority pool will be for:
EPISD has already started to reach out to former employees to give them an opportunity to be considered for the pool.
“Our budget to actual spending was severely deficient,” EPISD Board of Trustees President Leah Hanany said. “We have to deal with declining enrollment and we’re continuing to increase our payroll expenditures, which represents the largest percentage of our budget.”
The district also outlined the factors considered to be a priority candidate. They will include qualifications, performance, years of experience and seniority.
Former EPISD employees as part of placement efforts
During the session, the board also was updated on the number of former employees who have been part of the placement program following downsizing.
“We submitted a mass claim on behalf of our employees with the Texas Workforce Commission so employees wouldn’t have to submit their own claim,” said Patricia Cortez, EPISD chief human capital management officer. “We provided employees who were dismissed about vacancies in the district so they can start to consider those openings.”
Thus far, the district has attempted to place 11 diagnosticians, seven instructional coaches, eight climate behavior specialists, two SPED facilitators, one early childhood facilitator, two transition to career specialists, one autism specialist, one coordinator accountability specialist, one SEL facilitator and some at-will placements.
Placement efforts continue for 12 contracted employees, 38 probationary teachers and 145 at-will employees.
EPISD is also working with the Texas Workforce Solutions Borderplex to initiate meetings on resources for employees.
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at Kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: How will EPISD support its downsized staff amid financial exigency?
Reporting by Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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By Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
