EPISD board to weigh superintendent's 'employment status' at May 27 special meeting
The El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 27, at the EPISD Administration Building, located near Downtown El Paso.
The board will consult with legal counsel regarding Sayavedra's duties, responsibilities, and employment status. The meeting was called by board President Leah Hanany, according to the posted agenda.
The EPISD board members contacted by the El Paso Times cited confidentiality and declined to explain what's at stake at the special meeting.
EPISD spokesperson Ernie Chacon confirmed the meeting and said the agenda includes items related to the superintendent's duties and employment.
'We have no further information to share at this time. Our focus remains on supporting students and advancing our strategic blueprint,' Chacon said.
The discussion comes amid ongoing debate over school closures. In November, the board voted 4-3 to close eight elementary schools because of low enrollment. On May 20, the newly elected board reversed one of those closures, voting 5-2 to keep Lamar Elementary School open.
The closures were part of the district's 'Destination District Redesign' plan, aimed at addressing declining enrollment and budget constraints.
District 7 Trustee Daniel Call offered strong support for Sayavedra, calling her 'the most tireless and passionate advocate for public education' he's encountered.
"The current efforts against her (are) nothing more than a personal vendetta," Call said. He did not elaborate on what "efforts" were against Sayavedra.
The May 3 election shifted the EPISD school board's balance of power, replacing two of Sayavedra's supporters to extend her contract.
Hanany told the El Paso Times after her May election win that academics should remain the district's top priority.
'If academics are declining, then the system is failing at its most basic responsibility — no amount of financial posturing can excuse that,' Hanany said. 'No narrative of 'efficiency' makes up for failing our students.'
Sayavedra was hired as the district's first woman superintendent in 2021 but officially began her role in January 2022. In January, her contract was extended without a pay increase. She earns $320,000 annually.
Her original contract was set to run through 2025. The EPISD board unanimously approved her annual performance evaluation in September 2024, rating it favorably.
El Paso Times reporter Kristian Jaime contributed to this report.
Aaron Bedoya is a manager and content strategist for the El Paso Times. He can be reached at abedoya@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: EPISD board to weigh superintendent's 'employment status' at meeting
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