The El Paso ISD Board of Trustees voted to eliminate 55 contracted employee positions districtwide as the district moves to address its budget crisis. <\/p>\n
El Paso ISD employees and parents urged trustees during Monday’s special board meeting to reconsider planned job cuts, warning that students who rely on campus support services could be hurt as the district works to close a projected multimillion-dollar budget shortfall.<\/p>\n
With a Friday deadline approaching to make final job reductions, employees stepped up to the microphone to ask board members to preserve positions they say provide critical services for students.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight, I am here to respectfully ask you to reconsider the proposed elimination of student outreach specialist positions,\u201d one community outreach specialist told trustees.<\/p>\n
Another outreach specialist asked board members for more direct communication before decisions are made, saying, \u201cWe ask that you please talk to us before you make your decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Julia Spencer reports on EPISD approves 55 job cuts as parents, staff plead to protect positions (Credit: KFOX14)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Trustees also heard concerns about student mental health staffing. <\/p>\n
One speaker told the board, \u201cI\u2019m here this evening to appeal to you to keep as many mental health professionals on staff as possible so that we can continue to help protect our most vulnerable students.\u201d<\/p>\n
For parent Jessica Delgado, the proposed cuts are personal. <\/p>\n
She said outreach specialists helped her daughter get back on track to graduate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we were thinking that she was going to graduate and it was really hard to get her back on track, but the outreach program was just having us. He helped her get back on track,\u201d Delgado said.<\/p>\n
As previously reported, the board voted to declare financial exigency on June 4. <\/p>\n
District leaders said in May they were facing a projected $42 million shortfall for the next school year. The board approved a plan aimed at cutting the deficit to $4.3 million.<\/p>\n
One outreach specialist told trustees she understood the financial pressures but argued the positions are part of addressing them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand that the district is facing difficult financial decisions and declining enrollment. However, I respectfully ask you to consider that student outreach specialists are not separate from those challenges. We are part of the solution,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Last week, El Paso ISD officials notified the Texas Workforce Commission of the positions it plans to eliminate. <\/p>\n