Ysleta ISD board approves resolution on employee representation and forms stakeholder review committee

The Ysleta Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 5–1 at a special meeting to approve a resolution affirming district employees’ representation rights and to establish a stakeholder policy review committee to return revised DGBA language within 60 days.

Public commenters and union representatives urged the board to adopt explicit representation protections. "Representation is not simply a procedural matter. It is about ensuring employees are treated fairly, respectfully, and with due process," said Jeff Senor during public comment, arguing that teachers deserve the same procedural protections afforded other public employees.

Jaime Abbatea, speaking next, told trustees the proposed protections are not intended to shield employees who violate the law but to guarantee representation and basic due process. "The purpose of this agenda item is straightforward: to ensure district employees have guaranteed representation and basic due process during disciplinary and investigatory meetings," he said, urging trustees to focus on the redline policy language before them.

Trustee Hagerty, who moved the resolution, outlined nine specific points in the board communication and said the proposal sets a maximum, not a mandatory delay: "Section 3 of the resolution states that the meeting can be paused, rescheduled, or continued as necessary but the 10 business days is a maximum cap not a minimum," he said, adding the proposal cites Texas Government Code section 617.005, Texas Education Code 11.171 and related appellate case law.

Legal counsel and staff cautioned that aspects of the proposal could conflict with other timelines and confidentiality rules. Mr. Asafi, the board’s legal advisor, warned that the resolution’s 10-business-day window for obtaining representation could create "ripple effects" with existing grievance deadlines (DGBA’s 15-business-day decision window and certain harassment complaint processes with 10-business-day targets). A staff member also noted federal privacy protections under FERPA could limit disclosure of student-related records and recommended redaction or qualifying language where necessary.

Trustees also discussed concerns tied to SB12, a state law referenced during the meeting that increases liability if local boards adopt policies and fail to follow them. Staff recommended care in drafting to avoid inadvertently waiving attorney-client privilege or creating new legal exposures; staff said redaction and withholding options exist and offered to help revise language.

After discussion, Trustee Hagerty moved to adopt the resolution affirming employee representation rights and to form a stakeholder policy review committee that would include principals from elementary, middle and high schools, a teachers-association representative, and two board members; the committee would return proposed policy language within 60 days. The motion passed 5–1; the transcript records the final tally but does not list individual votes.

The board did not adopt the DGBA amendment language on the spot as a final, unamended policy; instead the approved motion directs stakeholders and administration to produce revised policy language for board consideration. The committee and revised text are to be presented to the board within the 60-day timeline specified in the motion.

The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.