Page 61 - 2017 GPISD Honor Board Application

8. Placement of the Welfare of Children

Served by the School System Above

Personal or Political Motives

Elimination of Incentive for Early Notification of Resignation or Retirement
In previous years, all staff members who notified the Human Resource Services Department of their intention
to resign or retire by the annual March deadline would earn an incentive payment in the amount of $300. This
year, the Board supported the administration’s recommendation for the incentive to be offered exclusively to
classroom teachers, which eliminated a large group of staff members from being eligible to receive the payment.

The decision was made to eliminate all other staff from this incentive opportunity because nationally the staffing
shortage was determined to affect classroom teacher positions, but not other non-instructional staff. Though
many non-teacher employees were upset by this change, the Board stood firm in offering the incentive to the
group that would have the greatest impact on educating children.

8.2 EXAMPLES OF PLACING DEDICATION TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ABOVE THE SPECIAL
FAVORS AND POLICY EXCEPTIONS

2016 Bond Referendum
The passing of the $290 million bond referendum in May 2016 required major decisions regarding the selection
of firms who would be awarded the tasks of rebuilding six schools and adding a building to a seventh school. The
possible economic benefit to selected firms could have easily presented itself as political in nature if the selections
had not been handled with the highest level of integrity. The Board was determined to follow
the rules and laws set forth by the state of Texas and was not politically
influenced by its choices. The Construction
Committee Board trustees, consisting of
Wilfred J. Broussard, Jr., Ramon Garza,
and Joe Stephens, each took time away from
their daily professional responsibilities to be
actively involved in the architect and program
manager selection process. Based on a fair and
impartial evaluation, without respect to business
affiliations, the Board Construction Committee
recommended the firms who were best qualified
to meet the needs of the District.

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