Photo by Kelli WeldonIn split vote, trustees approve change starting in 2014–15 year
Some Austin ISD employees, including teachers, librarians and administrators, will be eligible for three-year contracts in 2014–15 following a 5-4 board of trustees vote Feb. 24 to change contracts from one year to three years.
More than 5,900 employees will be affected, according to the district.
"These teachers have earned the respect of a three-year contract," said Ken Zarifis, president of AISD employee union Education Austin, which gathered 700 signatures in support of the change. "So tonight, let's begin reclaiming the promise of public education for teachers and the future of all of our students."
For many years, AISD offered three-year contracts, Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said. In June 2011, Education Austin, along with the Austin Association of Public School Administrators, agreed to transition to one-year contracts for "professional employees."
Most area school districts offer one-year contracts, Carstarphen said.
AISD has discussed contracts and the district's financial conditions annually with the parties involved. The AAPSA still supports one-year contracts, but in January, Education Austin and the AISD administration reached an impasse regarding contract duration, trustee Tamala Barksdale said.
A board subcommittee recommended keeping one-year contracts after hearing feedback from Education Austin and the administration.
Trustees Barksdale, Gina Hinojosa, Jayme Mathias, Robert Schneider and Ann Teich voted to reinstate three-year contracts, and trustees Cheryl Bradley, Amber Elenz, Lori Moya and board President Vincent Torres opposed.
"We have no facts to support changing to a three-year contract at this time," Elenz said. She added she did not oppose three-year contracts but thought trustees needed more information.
Bradley suggested waiting to vote until after a judgment is issued on the ongoing state school finance lawsuit.
Fiscal responsibility should be a priority, said Kimberly Reeves, vice president of talent alignment with the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.
"I wish this was an argument about the value of our teachers. It's not," she said during citizens communication. "We are in a difficult financial situation that has not turned itself around. We as a chamber have supported tax increases for teacher pay raises, but we came into this year [with] a $33 million [shortfall], and that's not going away."
In a budget update, AISD Chief Financial Officer Nicole Conley said AISD will probably need to hold a tax ratification election, or TRE, in 2015 to gain revenue.
Torres said the Feb. 24 contracts vote will not serve AISD well if the district tries for a TRE next year.
Teacher James Fulbright said educators have taken on more responsibilities.
"I don't need to walk into that classroom worrying about whether or not I'm going to make my car payment or I'm going to have a job next year," he said.
