Trustees deal with personnel issues

In a special and regular board meeting Tuesday, ECISD trustees dealt with several personnel issues, including a grievance and motion to fire alternative center teacher Robert Bell.

During the special board meeting, trustees conducted a hearing to discuss a grievance filed by Chester Glenn Castleman, who works in the maintenance department's special services division. Castleman said he felt slighted by being passed over for a promotion in the department. He said he believed the district needed to post the job opening.

District lawyer Mike Atkins said the maintenance department had to hire from outside for the supervisory position and posting positions only is needed for certified/professional positions. After 35 minutes, trustees voted unanimously to uphold several proposed remedies to the grievance. The special services department will be moved under David Finley. The human resources department will do the hiring to avoid any perceived unfairness in the future. Castleman had asked for the management change, but he did not receive a pay increase like he wanted. After the meeting, Castleman said he did not like the outcome with a simple "no."

At the regular board meeting later Tuesday evening, trustees went into closed session to discuss a motion to fire alternative center teacher Robert Bell on an undisclosed issue of insubordination. Upon returning from closed session, Mendez reported no action was necessary since Bell had tendered his resignation. Efforts to contact Bell were unsuccessful.

In other action, migrant students presented a PowerPoint on their trip to the Bert Corona Learning Institute. The students said they learned about leadership and met with U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland. They presented an agenda to the board modified from their trip, including greater education on sexually transmitted diseases, financial aid, higher wages for school staff, greater school security, community integration and more efforts to prevent boredom for youth that leads to crime.

The board also heard a report on curriculum and instruction in the district, updating trustees on how the district is trying to reach students from different ability levels. District instructional officer Janet Baker said one key method is differentiated instruction, which is teaching the same concepts in different ways and ability levels. Baker also said consistency and alignment in what is being taught is important. Director of Elementary Operations Wendy Hines said the district needs to improve in math and science despite doing well in language arts and social studies. Hines said the district may need to focus more in science for non-TAKS grades.

"It is kind of brutal, but we  need to take a look and intervene," Hines said.

Tonya Tillman, assistant superintendent for business operations, reported that the district's investments did not earn as much in 2007-'08 compared to 2006-'07. For 2007, the district earned $4.2 million, while in 2006, the district earned $6.9 million. A big part of the decrease is due to capital projects from the bond winding down, and the report does not cover the recent stock market crash. However, Tillman did say no investments had direct exposure to the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

At the start of the meeting, the 2007-2008 outstanding teachers recognized at the start-of-the-year convocation were presented with their checks from John Bushman, who owns KOSA-TV and other businesses.

Trustees also voted to approve Tracie M. Gibson as a new black Tri-Ethnic Committee member and a request for the Odessa High choir to travel to Hawaii in May for several performances.