Ysleta ISD employees and parents press board for union representation and principal input

Parents and district employees packed the Ysleta Independent School District board meeting to press trustees for two related requests: that the next principal at Alicia Chacon be chosen with strong family input and bilingual fluency, and that employees be guaranteed union representation at meetings that could lead to discipline.

Mary Louise Pinosa, a parent at Alicia Chacon, told the board she appreciates the district’s survey but urged trustees to select a principal who is fluent in Spanish and committed to preserving the campus’s dual‑language, multicultural identity. "The next principal should be fluent in Spanish... Families deserve direct access to the person leading their school," Pinosa said.

The meeting then shifted to dozens of Ysleta employees and union representatives who pressed for a policy to allow union representation—what speakers called "Weingarten rights"—at investigatory and disciplinary conferences. Alejandro de la Pena Jr., a special‑education teacher in Ysleta, described being "blindsided" in past investigations and said representation is about balance and dignity, not avoidance of accountability. "Union representation is not about avoiding accountability. It's about ensuring professionalism, fairness, transparency, and dignity," he said.

YTA leaders and members—speakers included Jaime Abeytia, Jeff Senior and others—told trustees the item requesting a policy had been submitted under district rules but was not placed on the agenda. Jaime Abeytia, representing Ysleta Teachers Association, said pushing the discussion into next month when schools are out would blunt the momentum of employees who had organized to speak: "Next month...when school is out...that's not a remedy, that's a strategy."

Rosie Pedez of West Texas Alliance urged accuracy and contextualized the demand by saying representation is practiced in some neighboring districts and under grievance procedures, but that the problem is inconsistent application and awareness. "The issue is whether employees know to assert it, whether administrators honor it consistently, and whether members have strong representation when they walk into a meeting that could affect their employment," she said.

Trustees listened throughout the public comment period but did not take action on the representation proposal at the meeting. Speakers said the board told them the remedy was to place the item on next month’s agenda; union organizers vowed to return and continue pressing for a formal policy and consistent application.

The comment period also included parents and community members asking for campus continuity and more cultural programming, and several speakers tied personnel fairness to student outcomes and staff morale.

The board did not vote on a district‑wide representation policy at this meeting; trustees and staff indicated the proposal would be considered at a future board session.