The San Benito CISD Board of Trustees met before a packed John F. Barron Administration building Thursday to discuss employee bonuses. (Staff photo by Heather Cathleen Cox)
By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
A resolution to award additional compensation for employees’ extra duties occasioned by 2011 district-wide reorganization, and to reward retained employees for their continued service to San Benito Consolidated Independent School District, in the amount of $1,000 has been approved for qualifying employees, both professional and paraprofessional alike.
Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón explained why SBCISD was in a position to award such incentives in 2012. Limón said the district had anticipated having a budget of $9.5 million by the year’s end; when the exact number was, they actually have $16.9 million. This is due in part to re-allocation of funds, unexpected funds, budget cuts and an unexpected savings in utilities.
Trustee Oscar Medrano said, “It’s always a pleasure when we have the resources to compensate our employees. To be able to keep on doing this, to have the funding should be one of our goals. Our employees with the district help our students be successful and help run our district.”
School Board President Yliana G. Rodriguez, who had denied two prior requests from fellow board members to hold a meeting to approve the incentives, ultimately approved the meeting for November 29.
Incentive amounts were originally suggested at the following rates: $1,000 for professional staff; $500 for hourly employees. At a workshop on Tuesday, November 27, however, some trustees suggested meeting-in-the-middle of the figure and offering $750 to all employees.
Secretary June Aguilera said on Thursday that she views all employees of the school district as part of a pillar which she said holds the district together collectively. Aguilera thereby motioned that all employees should receive an equal incentive of $1,000.
Trustee Hector Leal suggested that professional employees within the district should be awarded $1,000 and suggested that paraprofessionals receive $750.
Ultimately, all board members voted to approve $1,000 for all qualifying employees.
Medrano said, “In all my years as a board member, when the board has discussed compensation plans or raises, we have absolutely differentiated between professionals and non-professionals. Teachers and professionals are degreed, and (they serve) at the front-lines by working with our students.”
Additionally, employees of the district who did not want to be named agreed with Medrano. One said, “Professionals have worked hard for their degrees. There should be specific and appropriated incentives for people with degrees.”
Middle school math teacher Angel Smith said, “I think good things happened tonight, with everyone getting the bonus. But in my class, we teach kids to go to college to get an education.” While she expressed gratitude for the incentive and said she was happy for all who received the money, Smith said there should be a differentiation in incentives according to each employee’s position and whether or not said position comes with the price tag of obtaining a degree.
Medrano said, “The proposal that Mr. Leal put out last night made so much sense to me. I wish the board would have considered it more closely because it would have been fair across the board. I was in favor of Mr. Leal’s plan, of $1,000 and $750, but some concerns were brought up by other members of the board, and majority rules. That’s the compromise that they pushed forward, and I voted because I wanted to make sure that our employees were compensated.”
Vice President Anna Cruz said on Thursday, “I congratulate everyone and want to stress that society does want to award people for obtaining higher education.”
The approved incentive which meets regulated guidelines regarding how the district can allocate one-time funds for qualifying employees during the holiday season is different than a raise, Limón said. This incentive is not guaranteed for subsequent years, nor is it offered to part-time employees at this time.
“When we get the opportunity to address a salary increase,” said Medrano, “I am committed to doing so and including substitutes and part-timers because they are part of the district, and they work for the district like anyone else.” Medrano continued by saying, “I’m taking calls from anyone concerned. We (the board) want to make sure we keep our employees in San Benito.”
“This incentive is just a form of us saying thank you,” Medrano said. “It’s a way of asking them to stay in San Benito. We all are a team. You are valued as an employee and as a professional.”
Rodriguez had no comment regarding incentives.
Read this story in the Dec. 2 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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Touché Para, I knew you had it in you. It’s all good.
P.S. I do know what a conjunction is. I will use the word conjunction in a sentence for you. The school board president, in conjunction with June Aguilera, are determined to carry out their own personal agendas. lol
Para with a degree, I would strongly encourage you to take some Literacy classes before applying for an educator’s position. This is your 2nd submission in which you fail to start a sentence with capital letters, and you also place comma’s in the wrong indentions. Hope you take my criticism in a constructive manner. But trust me, you are much further along than your peer “Come on Man”.
Merry Christmas
First of all, before you attempt to correct me, I highly encourage you to take literacy classes, too. First, the word “literacy” does not need to be capitalized. Secondly, “2nd” is used incorrectly. It should be spelled out, “second.” Next, you also misused an apostrophe in the word “comma’s.” The way you used it demonstrates ownership, such as “of a comma.” Also, English professors do not recommend beginning a sentence with a conjunction. Do you know what a conjunction is? Therefore, you should have taken your own advice.
Wait a minute! Heather’s article was not written to discuss proper English grammar. While our grammar may be less than perfect, Heather’s article was well written and informative.
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
I don’t think it’s right for a teacher to put down para’s. i have a degree and i am a para.. i know what it is to do all the “dirty”work that no other teacher wants to do. soon enough i am going to be a teacher, but will never look down on a para, because i was once a para myself.
What i meant was that board members don’t have the power to hire or fire or keep an eye on people. That’s why they have an administrator that they answer to. But this sounds like you have a personal issue with this person. Like I said one of the objectives is Academics and to find out what kind of resources teachers need to help our students in San Benito. The Focus will continue to be education and to try and work together with the other board members.
I don’t think she’s worried at all about the president or what she does. One of her objectives is Academics and find out what kind of resources teachers need to help our students in San Benito. The last time i checked I don’t think Human Resources-was a part of the job/hiring-firing or checking up on people. That’s why they have an administrator that they answer to. People need to stop throwing their weight around and asking a friend or relative on the board to do their dirty work and spy on others. They can harrass their own Board members into doing that instead of harrassing others to do it for them. If it’s a personnal issue they should address it accordingly and go to their administer. As for Medrano I don’t know the man so I can’t speak for him. The school board members should be allowed to do their jobs to make lives easier for the students and teachers rather than addressing personal vendettas. Remember that the FOCUS is EDUCATION!
FOCUS IS EDUCATION? hmmm, I don’t see or hear about anything the school board is doing to help the children all I hear about it the board president doing this and that… Cruz and Medrano arguing who should get the incentive and how much. These school board members arent there for the children they are there for get back at one another. You are right HR isnt there to baby sit people or employees from coming in and out but they do process paperwor for new hires. 🙂 and the reason I mentioned for school board to look into PAYROLL is becuz Medrano is best friends with an employee in payroll and this individual is never there… I just wish that the school board stops focusing on getting back at one another or getting the insurance so Medrano or Cruz can get kickbacks like staying at the condo or even receiving 15,000 for voting for Trevino’s insurance…CHILDREN come first but it seems like SB school board members are there to get back at one another instead of putting the CHILDREN FIRST!!!!!
it’s funny how Medrano and Anna are so worried about the president and how she is doing this and that (not that I agree with all she does) however, what Medrano and Cruz should concentrate on is the HR dept. especially PAYROLL…. Why is it that payroll walks in and out of the building when they want to and are sometimes never there… arent there time cards that need to be punched in and out when leaving or returning? and another thing, dress code also needs to be enforced.. some of the payroll dept dress like they are going out on the town to have a good ole time… or maybe it’s becuz Medrano is best friends with this individual that makes her untouchable…. before making a decision on whether or not a para should receive a 500 or 1000 incentive make sure your PAYROLL DEPT is at work working to make these changes to their payroll checks…
Lol…Richard ‘s comment……so there you go greedy, jealous people – they are not getting the full $1000.00.
Merry Christmas Uncle Sam, just found out he is getting $250 of the incentive from everyone.
Merry Christmas to all the employees that work for the SBCISD-degree or non-degree..What is the big deal, I know many people who are hourly employees and work as hard a professional. City of San Benito, lets stop all this bickering even if its only for the month of December. In many people eyes NOT ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IS DOING THE RIGHT THING OR THE OTHER SIDE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING, or whatever stop and listen or read how ridiculous we sound sometimes.. Lets hope all the board members can start working together and stop fighting for power-our district looks like a joke-and we are not..We are a tough district with great employees and students…
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
I wish this comment had a like button. You said exactly what’s been on my mind.
Merry Christmas to you OMG hope you are one of the blessed employees getting the $1000.
Just saying’…..Maybe if the criteria had been set for the incentive pay or bonus ahead of time there would not be such an issue of the fairness or unfairness of it. Teachers do have a right to incentive pay……INCENTIVE PAY means that you did something to deserve it. Maybe you worked harder the previous year and got test scores to go up…or you had perfect attendence record.. The most important thing being you help the students succeed in some way….like..for instance…helping them pass a class…Staying with a district for many years in my mind does not merit a bonus….What BONUS? Teachers do not get bonuses…They never have…It’s not the way schools are run.They should not get extra pay unless something was done to deserve it…thus that is your incentive…BYTW, I am a teacher. I don’t think that anyone should be rewarded for staying with the district…..again, give to teachers or related staff if they did something to deserve it….just sayin’
It dumb that teachers are say that they should get paid more come on if they say they can do it with us I really like to see that some can’t get off there butt and them to be out side in the sun come on
I’m sorry, “come on man”, but it took me several times to decipher what you were trying to say. But thank you very much for making a point. It is because of TEACHERS that most of society is able to write a grammatically correct sentence. First and foremost, anyone with a college degree should be held above a person who does not possess one. Secondly, we all have a choices in life. Some of us decide to make a smart decision and get a college degree in order to live a better life, while others decide not to pursue their education. Why am I to blame for those who opted NOT to obtain a college degree? Finally, instead of saying we are all equal, get off your behind and get a degree!
Sincerely,
Not Everyone is Equal
I know you have a degree but I know you can’t do thing i can do so that why we all have or owen profession and I don’t need a paper to tell me that
PS COME ON MAN
Perhaps a piece of paper that represents your ability to discipline yourself enough to complete a college education and maybe perhaps learn to do what you do faster would benefit us all. Anyone can do what others do if trained properly and allowed time to learn. Do not ever think you are above anyone and assume that no one can do what you can do. We can ALL be replaced. With today’s opportunities for an education, there are no excuses for not completing one. Do not look to blame anyone else, blame yourself.
It’s disheartening seeing all these innuendos being slung amongst SBISD employees. There is no question that all emoyees are appreciative of this incentive/retention, or what ever else you want to call this pay. But all this turmoil could have been avoided if the School Board would have come up with a unanimous decision on payouts to school personnel. I hope 19 yr old June Aguilera learns a valuable lesson here, that her self-described mentor is leading her down the wrong path, and that she should instead listen to experienced board members and a superintendent that see the bigger picture.
Sin Fin
To New Teacher and Disgruntled New Employee: Quit complaining and get to work! You are lucky you have a job! My goodness! The incentive was for those full time employees who have been working for San Benito CISD for a year. How difficult is that to understand? And if you feel other school districts will do more for you than San Benito CISD….then go ahead and roll the dice. You will see that it’s not always greener at the other side of the hill. I have many friends who work for Harlingen CISD and Weslaco ISD who wish they could have received this incentive or anythihng at all. Hats off to the SB School Board for this kind and thoughtful gesture especiall to Ms. Cruz, Mr. Leal and Mr. Medrano. These board members are looking out for the best interest of San Benito CISD. You all have my vote!!
So very true. If everyone was considered a “PILLAR” like June,the board member kept saying at the meeting, then ALL to INCLUDE PART TIME PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED The INCENTIVE.
Yea !
I think all employees are thrilled to get this incentive, we do realize how hard teachers work, and nobody disputes they are very important and deserve more money for the hard work they do everyday, but I don’t think if we would have gotten any less, they would have gotten any more, so we should just all thank god and our board that we’re getting something. Merry christmas
I agree with you new employee. I as well am a new teacher in the district and was disappointed about not receiving the incentive pay. How do they expect to retain new hires when they do not include us? Other surrounding districts pay a higher salary and come next school year, several of the new teachers will be applying in those districts.
bye!!
I hope that this decision was looked at from all angles. An incentive right before Christmas is great, and I thank the Board for granting it. However we should all look to the future. Will this cause people to be let go next school year? Did the board really look at all aspects? Should we have all been given a little less? I was not able to attend the board meeting. Was it explained how many millions of dollars this incentive was going to cost? Was all of this explained? When it comes to money everyone is going to have a very strong opinion. I just hope that certain board members did not make this decision based on the job that their family members hold within the district. Let’s hope that the budget for next year is safe.
To: DISGRUNTLED NEW EMPLOYEE, ….BE GRATEFUL THAT YOU have a JOB!!! U should be glad that u were hired instead of the other ppl that were interviewed for the job you are fortunate to have!!!!…..lol complaining about not getting a dime.
You know all this talk about the professionals complaining about the para’s and all the rest of the hourly employes of the district getting the same as them are really greedy and selfish without them where would you be NOWHERE! They are the ones who hold the district together they are the ones who get you out of a bind when you need help for anything they are the ones who take the calls from angry parents,fix the copier when you all mess it up they are the ones who clean you’re campuses bring the students to school safe keep grounds clean fix the ac when it goes down these are some of the things that hourly employes do to keep the district running if not for them where and what would you all do they deserve as much if not more than a teacher because without them there would be no district you all would be lost . This district should be ashamed of it self all acting all high and mighty thinking everyone is better than anyone else. And the bored acting like children that they are supposed to be teaching them to be better and educated people
First and foremost , I want to thank God for my employment. Secondly. for the board on deciding to give us the incentive. Yes, I am an employee of SBCISD and an employee without a degree. I have put alot of effort , commitment and hard work for almost 25 years on a daily basis. All I care is that God will not ask me if I have a degree to enter his kingdom. May God bless all of you..
I would like to mention that not ALL full-time employees including teachers are receiving this stipend. Those teachers and and staff that did not work with the district the previous school year are not getting an extra dime.
Very, very well said Educator!
How sad that SOME of the professional’s in San Benito are acting like professional Grinch’s….Merry Christmas to ALL SBCISD employees…..Tis the season for giving.
No one forced us to work hard for our degree. i personally forced myself to work hard for my degree. i’m not complaining about getting more or less, but do not put down the para’s or other support staff. you can look at it as, a day without a “mexican”. can a teacher really survive with out a para, security, or maintenance worker??? who is going to make copies for a teacher during the class???? who is gonna stop the fight if it occurs during class in the hallway or in the restroom??? who is gonna fix a busted water line, or build you a desk to throw your papers on???
maybe you should think again when putting down a support staff member.
How sad that SOME of the professional teachers in San Benito are acting like professional Grinchs…..an equal Merry Christmas to ALL SBCISD employees…tis the season for giving.
So, who “forced” you to work hard and obtain your degrees? No one promised you any preferences or perks when you chose your field of endeavor. The shirt you buy at Dillards costs the same for both you and the maintenance worker. You got your $1,000–why complain about what the others get. Mathew 20 (1-16). A teacher, eh–well, a “mouse in a cookie jar doesn’t make the mouse a cookie.” See you in church . . .
It is easy to lose sight of values when there is money involved. I think only one group is being favored here, and it is a conflict of interest. Certain board members have family that are non- professionals, and they benefited from the decision made on Thursday. Professionals did not get an improvement from previous year’s incentives, the non- professionals did. Some non-professionals were even left out of the incentive pay. If they would have kept things the way they were (professionals-$1000, non-professionals-$500), there would have been more money to go around to even the part- time employees. In the previous years, professionals have received more than non professionals. Whether we like it or not, there are certain levels of hierarchy in all businesses. If you are an administrator, the pay and incentives are greater, if you are a teacher, you expect that they will be less. If you are a paraprofessional, you expect to get less than teachers. That is how it is. If you want to make more, you earn a degree and find a job with better pay. We are all in charge of our own future. I was a paraprofessional with a degree last year, and I did not like the pay, so I applied for a teaching position and got better pay. With that title came more benefits. As a paraprofessional, I followed orders and directives from the teacher, because that was my title. I got paid minimum wage, despite the fact that I had a degree, because that was my title. It is sad when we work in a business that promotes the value of education, and as teachers, we tell students that if you have degree, things will be better. However, we also show them that things are not often fair. Such as in this case. No disrespect to all non professionals, but teachers are at the center of the institution in which we work. We would not be able to have school without teachers. Therefore, we are not truly equally important. Can a teacher drive a bus? Yes. Can a teacher serve food to students? Yes. Can a teacher stop a fight? Yes. If a student has a question about the use of animal imagery in William Shakespear’s Play, King Lear, or to balance a chemical equation, can a custodian, bus driver, or security officer answer? No. I am speaking the truth without arrogance. If you needed surgery would you walk into to the doctor’s office and ask the receptionist to perform the surgery? No. Because the they are not equally qualified to do so. Should they both receive the same pay and incentives? At the end of the day, it is about the students and their education. If the students do not perform well on the standardized tests. Who will be held accountable? The non-professionals or the teachers?
I was a little upset with the comment Mr. Medrano gave. i am a para-professional with the district and i have worked really hard for my degree and i am fully certified, as well as, 100% highly qualified to work for any school district in the state of Texas. if that was going to be one of the criteria to give more to professionals and less to para’s, you best bet i was going to bring it to his attention.d
Everybody keeps stating to report the idiot board president to the T.E.A.; however, it seems as if no one has actually taken the time to do so. I believe that this accusation from Yliana is merely an act to remove the attention from the infamous insurance letter she asked Janie to write. Instead of taking the time to comment, everybody should take the time to call the T.E.A. to conduct a thorough investigation. They should also ask for an investigation of the e-mail account she uses to communicate with the board, if it is a personal e-mail she uses it can still be investigated because it is the one given to communicate about school district issues. If we the citizens of San Benito do not take the time to call the T.E.A. and report Yliana, we are just as guilty for allowing this. I urge everyone to call or write to the T.E.A., I already have because I will not stand for this!
Texas Education Agency
1701 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas, 78701
(512) 463-9734
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/
So if Rodriguez, June and the Huerta relatives think everyone is important,
What happened to the Police Department? I am so glad my family did not vote for any of you.
I worked very hard and had a full time job while earning my degrees, and June, Rodriguez and those two Huerta’s think that we, as teachers, are like everybody else? Well we are not!! We are disgusted that you Four treated us the same.
Your comment of feeling more entitled to a higher raise over people who work just as hard as you do on a daily basis is disgusting. You’re going to get your $1000 so why not be happy for the custodian or maintenance work for also being able to get their $1000 as well. I don’t understand the spitefulness of some of you teachers angry over this issue….they didn’t take away any of your money so be happy you got something extra and worry and fuss about other things. I’m a county employee and we literally had not gotten a raise in 5 years!!! This year we finally got a $500 dollar incentive (divided throughout the whole year) so from my point of view BE GREATFULL not just for what you have been rewarded with but that your COWORKERS can also be equally rewarded.
Well put and correct
It seems Joe Corn in his letter to the editor has a new % to throw out . Typical Joe Corn uses Stats to his liking, makes them up I think. Joe Corn go back under your rock. Let the painter and his wife enjoy their bonus. They worked hard during the last election they earned it.
The article states this is an incentive to keep employees with the district, hourly employees have also stuck with the district for years without raises also, I realize that 1,000 dollars is apparently petty for professional, with all the complaints, for the hourly this is huge for these people that live paycheck to paycheck, it is practically a whole monthly check for them, and it probley will be spent to get ahead on bills not luxury items or spendy cash. When the district does give raises, trust me we are at the bottom of the barrel if it makes the pros feel better, but remember who is the first to call for extra duties, the hourly, who do they call to sub when the district wants to save money on subs, the hourly. I have even seen our maintence department doing cross walk duties for the students to cross safely, we may not have degrees and yes we live with that struggle everyday, it’s too bad that some believe they are above the rest because they had the chance to better themselves. Thank you board and Mr. Limon for recognizong all your employees.
That’s good for teachers and all the full time employees but what about the security personnel that aren’t part of that full time field? All new employees are hired as part time. They protect the staff, students, and everyone else at the schools and deserve a part of that incentive as well. Help out the little guys keeping your kids safe while you are away.
What did the voters expect when they elected a 19 year old?! And Rodriguez isn’t public at all considering she’s a public servant.
June Aguilera and Yliana Rodriguez want to talk about equality? Give me a break! We all know these people were looking out for their relatives who work for the maintenance and kitchen departments. Hello!! Just ask any maintenance worker and they will tell you that Yliana’s father walks around the maintenance department as if he owns the place bragging about his daughter. My question is what is he so proud of? His daughter has repeatedly voted AGAINST teacher and employee raises for years and now pretends to support us. Really Yliana? Sorry, but we don’t trust you mam!! Will someone please tell June Aguilera that education and having a degree does matter? Hello!!
I wholeheartedly agree with Mr Leal & Mr Medrano. Bonus allotment should have differentiated between teachers & hourly. It’s unheard of not to do so, case in point SB School Board President just received a $1500 Bonus in Los Fresnos, hourly employees received $750. Hhhmm, but then again, don’t her parents work for the SB School District in hourly positions?
And June Aguilera, give us a break. With your comments about equality across the board, it’s obvious you are merely attempting to save face in ligjht of u being in cahoots with Rodriguez & the Huertas. Nice try.
What do you mean, that the BOARD PRESIDENT HAD NO COMMENT? Unbelievable!!