Latest news with #DianaSayavedra
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
EPISD outlines $347K payout in Sayavedra's retirement agreement: Read details
The El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees and Superintendent Diana Sayavedra have reached an agreement regarding her impending retirement, which includes a $347,000 payout. The board voted to accept Sayavedra's retirement after a meeting on Tuesday, June 3, that featured dozens of supporters pleading for the superintendent to keep her job. The board ultimately voted 4-2-1 to accept Sayavedra's retirement, with Trustees Daniel Call and Valerie Beals voting to retain her. Sayavedra's reassignment will take effect June 15. At that point, EPISD Chief Financial Officer Martha Aguirre will begin her tenure as interim superintendent, and Sayavedra will move to a superintendent emeritus position. She will officially retire from EPISD on Jan. 31, 2026. The board has so far provided no reason for its efforts to part ways with the superintendent and has presented no plan for when or how a search for a full-time superintendent might unfold. The effort against Sayavedra began nearly two weeks ago, on May 27, when EPISD Board President Leah Hanany called a special meeting to discuss Sayavedra's employment status. She was unable to seal the deal that night, but claimed victory in the latest meeting. 'It has been a great honor and privilege to lead El Paso ISD and serve the El Paso community,' Sayavedra said in a news release after Tuesday's meeting. 'Together, we have accomplished important work that positions the district for a thriving future." More: EPISD board accepts Diana Sayavedra's retirement, names interim superintendent "What I have learned about the El Paso community is its remarkable resilience — time and time again, it rises to meet challenges, and this moment is no different," she continued. "Because of this strength, I am confident that the community will come together to set students on a successful path to achieve their American dream.' Here are the highlights of the agreement: Sayavedra's reassignment and retirement: Diana Sayavedra will be reassigned to Superintendent Emeritus on June 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. She will retire from the district on Jan. 31, 2026. Role as superintendent emeritus: Advisory-only role to successor/interim superintendent. No administrative authority. Will be provided office space and necessary equipment. Report directly to the EPISD board. Compensation: Full salary and benefits through Jan. 31, 2026. Additional settlement of $347,851.39: $147,851.39 paid jointly to Sayavedra and her legal counsel. $200,000 allocated to retirement plans (403(b), 457, and 401(a)) in two installments. Attorney's fees and enforcement: Sayavedra may recover costs and attorney's fees if the district fails to make timely payments. Cleaning out of office: All district property must be returned by 5 p.m. on the Friday before the reassignment date. Personal effects must be removed from the superintendent's office by the reassignment date. System access: Sayavedra agrees to provide passwords and business information known only to her. Post-retirement assistance: Sayavedra will assist the district in legal matters post-retirement, with reimbursement for expenses and lost wages. Future legal aid: The district agrees to defend and indemnify Sayavedra for actions within her official duties, with exceptions for misconduct or criminal acts. Legal fees: Each party is responsible for their own legal fees related to the agreement. Release of legal liability Both parties release each other from all claims related to Sayavedra's employment, with exceptions for criminal or grossly negligent acts. Both parties agree not to sue or participate in legal proceedings against each other, except to enforce the agreement. Read the full agreement here. Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@ This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: EPISD releases Sayavedra retirement deal with $347K payout: Read
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EPISD board to take up superintendent's status — again
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — After a five-hour marathon meeting to discuss the employment status of Superintendent Diana Sayavedra, the El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees is scheduled to take up the topic again in a special meeting on Tuesday, June 3. The meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the EPISD Administration Building, 1014 N. Stanton St. The agenda for the meeting said they will consult with legal counsel concerning issues relating to the superintendent's duties, responsibilities and employment status. Any action will be taken in public session either at this meeting or at a future meeting, the agenda said. Possible actions listed included: discussion and action to approve a voluntary separation agreement with the superintendent; discussion and action on the superintendent's duties, responsibilities and employment status; and discussion and action to appoint an interim superintendent. It is not clear if there are enough votes to end Sayavedra's tenure as superintendent. El Paso ISD board takes no action on superintendent after marathon meeting During an emotionally charged meeting on May 27, the board discussed Sayavedra's employment status and possible future with the district for five hours, before adjourning and not taking action shortly after 10:30 p.m. Speaker after speaker defended Sayavedra, who has led the district since January 2022 and received a five-year contract extension last year. Some also warned that such a move would destabilize the district and force it to spend money on a buyout. The district is estimating that it is facing a $17 million shortfall for the 2025-26 school year. After hearing public comment, the board went into executive session for about two hours, came back out and heard more public comment. Briefly, the board discussed the superintendent in public session and that's when sparks flew among the board. Trustee Daniel Call said that new Board President Leah Hanany was leading the effort to oust Sayavedra 'not because of poor performance or scandal, but because she wouldn't bend the knee' to Hanany. Call also said that during the board's last search for a superintendent, Hanany advocated for a candidate who was a 'crony' and that is what she was seeking to do again, if she was successful in ousting Sayavedra. Hanany made a brief statement before adjourning the meeting without the board taking any action. Hanany accused Call of lying and violating a non-disclosure agreement from the superintendent search. She said she would not violate that same agreement and said that made defending herself impossible. Also, during the past week, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) confirmed that a complaint had been filed against Hanany. TEA: Complaint filed against EPISD board president 'TEA can confirm that a complaint has been filed and is currently under review. As is the case for all complaints submitted to the agency, the complaint is reviewed to determine what next steps, if any, are necessary,' reads part of TEA's statement. All this comes after the shape of the EPISD board was drastically altered after the May 3 school board election. Two incumbents — Israel Irrobali and Isabel Hernandez — were defeated for re-election. Newcomers Mindy Sutton and Robert Osterland were elected in their place. Also, Hanany and fellow incumbent Jack Loveridge were elected to new terms. Loveridge, who had been appointed to his seat after Josh Acevedo was elected to the City Council, was elected to a term in his own right. When the new board met for the first time, Hanany was elected the new board president and Loveridge as vice president. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
El Paso ISD board takes no action on superintendent after marathon meeting
Editor's note: Video is from our 10 p.m. newscast. The EPISD board was still taking public comment as the newscast was happening. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — After more than five hours of public discussion and then meeting behind closed doors, the El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees took no action on the future of Superintendent Diana Sayavedra during a marathon meeting on Tuesday, May 27. EPISD board to review status, duties of superintendent The special meeting was called to discuss the employment status and duties of Sayavedra, who has led the district since January 2022. She was also given a five-year contract extension in January 2024. The special meeting was called on the heels of the board being drastically reformed after the May 3 election. Two trustees — Israel Irrobali and Isabel Hernandez — were defeated for re-election. Trustees Leah Hanany and Jack Loveridge were both re-elected and installed as board president and vice president, respectively. Speaker after speaker defended Sayavedra and said that any decision to possibly fire her would have been unjustified and politically motivated. Some also warned that such a move would destabilize the district and force it to spend money on a buyout. The district is estimating that it is facing a $17 million shortfall for the 2025-26 school year. The board heard public comment, much of it an impassioned defense of Sayavedra. It then went into executive session. After nearly two hours in executive session, the board re-emerged and took public comment again at about 10 p.m. It also briefly discussed the status of the superintendent as a board. Speaker after speaker defended Sayavedra's performance and leadership as the district navigates a budget shortball. Trustee Daniel Call said that Hanany was leading the effort to oust Sayavedra 'not because of poor performance or scandal, but because she refused to bend the knee' to Hanany. Call also said that during the board's search for a superintendent Hanany advocated for a candidate who was a 'crony' and that is what she sought to do again if she was successful in ousting Sayavedra. Trustee Valerie Ganelon Beals said she had 28 letters from teachers and staff supporting Sayavedra. Hanany made a brief statement before adjourning the meeting without the board taking action. She accused Call of 'lying' and violating a non-disclosure agreement from the superintendent search. She said she would not violate the same agreement and said that made it impossible to defend herself. She then adjourned the meeting without the board taking action. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
El Paso ISD board to consider reversing closing of Lamar Elementary
EL PASO, Texas (EL PASO MATTERS) — Just a week after newly elected El Paso Independent School District trustees were sworn in, they may reverse the previous board's decision to close one of eight elementary schools set to shutter its doors in the next two years. The EPISD school board is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday to vote whether to keep Lamar Elementary School open. 'The reconsideration of closing Lamar Elementary reflects the responsibility this new board has to make decisions that align with academic outcomes, equity and community trust,' board President Leah Hanany told El Paso Matters on Friday. 'Lamar is an A-rated, two-time National Blue Ribbon School serving a majority socioeconomically disadvantaged population, and scored in the top 1% nationally on a survey measuring student belonging.' The scheduled vote comes after a major shift in the board's power dynamics when four aligned school board candidates won their respective elections May 3 and ousted former trustees Israel Irrobali and Isabel Hernandez, who voted in favor of the closures. Hanany has been critical of the metrics used to decide what schools were recommended for closure to address declining enrollment by closing schools and improving the ones that remain open — an initiative known as Destination District Redesign. The plan was put forward by Superintendent Diana Sayavedra and her administration, and approved in November 2024 on a 4-3 vote. Only two trustees who supported the plan remain on the board – Daniel Call and Valerie Ganelon Beals. Beals expressed criticism at the idea of reversing the planned closure of just one school in Hanany's feeder pattern. 'Our staff, central office, put in so much work into DDR, that just for it to be reversed for one school,' Beals told El Paso Matters Friday. 'I feel like it would be a big slap in the face to do that. I feel like some of the trustees on the school board are using their position to please their constituents, not caring about how to leave the district once their term is up, because it's just a political stepping stone for them.' Call could not be reached for comment. Hanany said close to 180 elementary school-age students live within a half-mile of Lamar Elementary, while other campuses that were set to remain open had less than a few dozen. 'Voters gave this board a mandate to shift away from top-down decision-making and focus on students,' Hanany said. 'I would say, especially in times of fiscal constraint, we have to be even more strategic. And by placing Lamar back on the agenda, I think it's signaling that this board is willing to revisit harmful decisions and refocus our priorities where they belong.' If the board votes to reverse the closure, it will need to consider the costs of operating the school and potential increases in public school funding as it prepares its budget for the coming school year. Without any changes to the school closure plan or school funding, EPISD expects to have a $17 million deficit for the 2025-26 school year. Hanany said she is not aware of any plans to close another school in place of Lamar Elementary and that the board 'will be revisiting every available resource to ensure that we remain committed to being fiscally responsible.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
