EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 El Paso ISD central office administrators are heading back to the classroom this school year under a new plan the district says could save millions while also reconnecting decision-makers with the campuses they serve.<\/p>\n
The district is requiring salaried central office employees to work as substitute teachers eight days during the school year, four days each semester. <\/p>\n
Hourly employees are not required to participate, and some staff may be exempt depending on how their positions are funded.<\/p>\n
Julia Spencer reports on EPISD confirms central office staff, including superintendent, must sub eight days<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: Ysleta High School teacher recognized as Region 19 Secondary Teacher of the Year<\/a><\/p>\n On Friday morning, Micaela Varela, EPISD\u2019s director of elementary personnel and recruiting, spent the day as a substitute teacher in a fourth-grade classroom at Polk Elementary.<\/p>\n \u201cSo this is bringing us back into where the purpose behind all the work we do at Central Office,\u201d Varela said.<\/p>\n The initiative follows major budget actions taken this year. In June, EPISD declared financial exigency and made millions in cuts to reduce a projected $47 million budget deficit to $4.3 million.<\/p>\n Interim Chief Financial Officer David Bates said the district expects the administrator-substitute plan to reduce costs tied to paying substitutes.<\/p>\n \u201cFilling in as substitutes, having central office personnel serve in the campuses as substitues, which will help save the district some dollars,\u201d Varela explained. <\/p>\n In a June 4 presentation, Bates said, \u201cThat would eliminate my $4 million in substitute line codes that you approve each year.\u201d<\/p>\n Bates told KFOX14\/CBS34 he and Superintendent Dr. Brian Lusk brought the idea from their time working at Dallas ISD.<\/p>\n