1. Recommend approval of the revised Teacher Salary increases and the 2020-2021 Employee
Compensation Plan. Item 1 on Consent Agenda for Tuesday's Brownsville Independent School District
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Who's getting promoted, demoted, or left as they are?
The BISD's Compensation plan was voted on this Tuesday, but only its authors, Superintendent Dr. Rene Gutierrez, and a few board members could possibly know what is in it.
What pleasant (and unpleasant) surprises lurk in its secret pages?
No one knows because it wasn't included in the board's packet agenda that was made public, unlike all the other items.
(In contrast, the district did control the release of the general compensation to the local daily, headlining the release with the news that they were increasing the teachers' raises to $2,000, up from the $1,680 they worked out during the budget deliberations. They said Superintendent Dr. Rene Gutierrez had – under their direction – "found" the additional funds and approved a $1.1 million transfer for raises. Classified and maintenance staff received 4 percent raises.)
(In contrast, the district did control the release of the general compensation to the local daily, headlining the release with the news that they were increasing the teachers' raises to $2,000, up from the $1,680 they worked out during the budget deliberations. They said Superintendent Dr. Rene Gutierrez had – under their direction – "found" the additional funds and approved a $1.1 million transfer for raises. Classified and maintenance staff received 4 percent raises.)
Since the specifics were not made public before the meeting, the board unanimously voted sight unseen on a plan unknown to the public, including the district's teachers, lower level administrators and personnel. This despite the fact that the teachers' raises included in the document for their approval Tuesday.
Is something purposely being hidden, some people arbitrarily being promoted and others demoted? Specifics are lacking.
This sleight-of-hand reflects very badly on Gutierrez and Minerva Peña, president of the board who has revealed she will seek reelection in November. If she is so willing to be transparent about her political motives, why not on the compensation of the employees of the district before they voted on it?