El Paso ISD trustees to consider financial exigency, possible staff cuts Tuesday<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cThis is the highest percentage of the budget that is allocated to payroll. We\u2019re at about 89%, which means we only have 11% that is available for the rest of the operation of the school district. So we simply just don\u2019t have enough cash reserves to continue on this course. There has to be a course correction,\u201d Hanany said.<\/p>\n
The waiting has been difficult for employees concerned about whether they will still have a job next year. Norma De La Rosa, president of the El Paso Teachers Association, said the uncertainty is causing stress for many workers.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust knowing that their job is possibly on the chopping block, I think a lot of them are very stressed simply because for a lot of them, this is the only work they\u2019ve ever done,\u201d De La Rosa said. \u201cThey\u2019re scared, and you can\u2019t blame them, you can\u2019t blame them, especially if this is the only job that they\u2019ve ever known their entire career. It is a scary prospect.\u201d<\/p>\n
District leaders also told trustees there is reason for cautious optimism. <\/p>\n
Deputy Superintendent and interim Chief Financial Officer David Bates said that if the plan moves forward, the district could recover faster than many expect \u2014 potentially as early as October of this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I will say this and I\u2019ll say it publicly, we will be better than that, we will right the ship, and in October I plan to come back to this board and ask for your termination of financial exigency. That\u2019s how confident I am in this plan,\u201d Bates said.<\/p>\n
Bates also said the projected deficits could shrink depending on what action the board takes this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe said we would end the year with a negative $52 million. Now you\u2019ll see on Thursday we\u2019re going to be better than that. And we\u2019ll start the year negative $42 million and you\u2019ll see on Thursday we\u2019ll be better than that still…but not by much,\u201d Bates said.<\/p>\n
The board is set to meet again on Thursday at 5 p.m., when members are expected to make a decision that could shape the district\u2019s financial future.<\/p>\n
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