Ysleta ISD delays vote on teacher union proposal for representation in discipline meetings

EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — A proposal aimed at guaranteeing teachers’ representation during disciplinary meetings is on hold for now in the Ysleta Independent School District after the school board voted to take time to review the policy.

The Ysleta teachers’ union has been pushing for a new policy that would ensure a union representative accompanies educators into any meetings that could lead to disciplinary action, adding that the change is about transparency.

The proposal would give employees the right to choose a representative to be present not only in disciplinary meetings but in earlier investigatory stages, not just in formal grievances.

During Thursday’s special board meeting, instead of adopting the policy immediately, the board passed a resolution allowing 60 days to review the proposal.

As part of the resolution, the district plans to set up a committee of board members and principals to fine-tune the language before making a final decision.

“It’s always been my opinion that the more brains we get in the room, the better off the documents are going to be, the solution is going to be,” said Shane Haggerty, a school board member.

Ysleta Teachers Association President Jeffrey Cynor called the board’s action progress for employees, but cautioned that without the guarantee written into policy, the process can still feel uncertain from case to case.

“This is a huge win for workers’ rights today; we got part of it, and we are at the bargaining table,” Cynor said. “They have not had any sort of guaranteed rights as far as what happens in the disciplinary process, and to have that guarantee is huge.”

Superintendent Xavier De La Torre said that while representation is always available to employees, the district expects to use the full review period.

“We have a good relationship with the teachers’ association, we don’t spend a lot on legal fees because we try to solve problems at the lowest level,” De La Torre said. We expect to use the full 45 – 60 days to work with the association to come up with language that meets their interests and protects the district from all the legal vulnerabilities that are out there.”

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