EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 Some El Paso Independent School District employees could receive up to $3,000 if they choose to retire or resign at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, under an incentive program approved by the school board Monday morning.<\/p>\n
District leaders said the incentive is designed to encourage early notification from employees as EPISD works to finalize its budget and staffing plans ahead of the 2026-2027 school year.<\/p>\n
“Teachers and campus personnel certainly make up the largest percentage of our employees here in El Paso ISD,” said Board President Leah Hanany. “But I do think it\u2019s very important that we are mindful as we right-size our district.”<\/p>\n
The program targets campus-based instructional staff, including teachers, coaches, advisors, magnet coordinators and other instructional positions. <\/p>\n
RELATED: Socorro ISD offers buyout program to stabilize finances<\/a><\/p>\n An amendment added and approved by the board during its meeting on Monday morning also expanded eligibility to certain central office employees.<\/p>\n Under the plan, employees who submit their resignation by February 20 and complete the school year will receive a $3,000 stipend added to their final paycheck. <\/p>\n Those who submit between February 20 and February 27 would receive $1,500.<\/p>\n The local teachers union, El Paso American Federation of Teachers, said the incentive could be meaningful for employees already considering retirement or a career change.<\/p>\n “That’s respectable,” said Ross Moore, president of El Paso AFT. “If you’re at that point where you’re seriously thinking about retiring or looking at another career field, take advantage of this program.”<\/p>\n However, not everyone believes the incentive goes far enough.<\/p>\n Julia Spencer reports on EPISD offering $3K exit incentives<\/p>\n At least one parent questioned whether the amount reflects the value of educators’ work.<\/p>\n “They deserve a little bit more,” said Joshua Lucero, an El Paso parent. “It’s a small amount when you think about our kids’ future and everything.”<\/p>\n District leaders said the money for the incentive will come from EPISD’s general operating fund and noted the strategy has been used before. <\/p>\n According to Chief Financial Officer Martha Aguirre, a similar early notification program last year paid out approximately $270,000.<\/p>\n “But based on the way we assess attrition year over year, this helps ensure our staffing is aligned,” Aguirre said.<\/p>\n Still, with employees potentially leaving, questions remain about how the incentive could impact classrooms. <\/p>\n Hanany said the district has seen a decline in student enrollment, which she believes will help offset staffing changes.<\/p>\n “With a teacher vacancy, what we’re seeing is a decline in enrollment,” Hanany said. “There are fewer students compared to the number of teachers we have, so it will really just be redistributed.”<\/p>\n District officials said eligible employees will receive additional information about the incentive through email in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n You can watch the full board discussion during its special meeting below:<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: <\/a>Applications open this week for Texas school voucher program<\/a><\/p>\n