Paperwork issues may cause some Española School District teachers and administrators to forgo training many believe could help improve classroom outcomes.
Teachers at several schools throughout the District will have to personally pay, up- front, travel costs and entry fees if they want to participate in professional development initiatives many believe will expand their skills and improve students’ ability to learn.
The teachers have to come up with the up-front expenses because the Department’s takeover of the District’s Finance Board left school officials without access to the resources, such as a credit card, needed to pay for the out-of-state travel.
The over-arching idea is for the teachers to attend the trainings and come back to the District and relay the information to their colleagues.
The revelation means the 17 Española Middle and Española Valley High School teachers and administrators slated to attend the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Summer Institute would have to come up with the $825 to $940 registration fee. That fee is in addition to the whatever it would cost buy a plane ticket and rent a hotel room.
Those hoping to attend the AVID institute aren’t the only ones who will have to pay up-front costs for training.
One high school teacher and three administrators who plan to attend this summer’s Career Pathways Leadership Institute in Las Vegas, Nev. will have to pay the $251 roundtrip airfare, the approximate $499 entry fee and the undisclosed room and board costs.
Hernandez Elementary School teachers will also have to pay the $7,947 expense to attend the Teaching and Engaging with Poverty in Mind Conference June 22 to 24 in San Antonio, Texas. When itemized, the five educators scheduled to attend the conference will have to pay the approximate $495 registration fee, $345 airfare and work out splitting the cost for the three double rooms, which run $451 per room.
Board member Gilbert Serrano said he believes mandating teachers pay for professional-development cost is a disservice to those involved.
“They are having a hard time with the POs (purchase orders) and the hotels won’t take them,” Serrano said. “I don’t know how they can go on travel if we can’t pay for their rooms. I guess the business office is suggesting they pay with their own money and get reimbursed and that is a little unfair.”
Middle School teacher Yvette Bakken has one year completed of the two-year AVID training. She needs to complete the second year to become certified in the program. She said if she can’t make it to the professional development conference in June, she will lose the year she gained and would have to start from scratch to earn the certification.
Board President Ruben Archuleta said the last time he had to get reimbursed for covering up-front Board travel, it took him a long time to get paid back.
“I spent $600 and it took me nine months to get reimbursed,” he said. “We are aware of this problem. It is difficult for everybody.”
Acting superintendent Denise Johnston said she consulted the Public Education Department-mandated Level II Business Manager Maria Fildalgo, and learned the travel rules governing the District’s out-of-state travel came via the direction of state regulators. The regulators maintain a purchase order must be approved before the District can pay travel expenses.
“I already talked with Ms. Fildalgo and she said these aren’t her rules, they are the Public Education Department’s,” Johnston said. “They are telling us, that in order for travel to occur, they have to use a purchase order or travelers need to be reimbursed.”
Like Serrano, Johnston said it is unconscionable to ask new teachers to pay travel and conference expenses up-front. An out-of-state trip, when entry fees are included, could cost several thousand dollars.
“I agree with you a 100-percent,” she said. “If you are a Level I teacher making $32,000 that is a huge burden.”
Board Member Pablo Lujan wanted to know why Business Office personnel don’t put the travel expenses on the District’s credit card. If the District had its finances in order, a credit card would be a work-around for not being able to use a purchase order.
The District’s credit card accounts were closed as part of the Department takeover of the Board’s financial authority.
His colleague Board member Patrick Herrera suggested the District try to work with one of two state-approved travel agencies to cover the costs.
However, Lujan questioned using travel agents because of hidden and extra fees.
“So there would be an extra expense?” Lujan asked.
Herrera said using a travel agent could reduce the cost, before reminding Lujan that he is responsible for the current crisis.
“We are in this mess because of your leadership,” Herrera said sparking laughter from those in attendance.
District Title I Director Larry DeAguero said the money is available, but it is difficult getting the various companies to accept the purchase orders and travel agencies very seldom will book rooms without cash deposits.
“It is not the lack of funding,” he said. “Some of these hotels don’t accept PO’s (purchase orders). “They are hesitant to book the rooms because then they are liable for any damages to the room.”
DeAguero said whatever solution the Board and finance officials find to solve the problem would be appreciated because time is slipping away.
“We’re running out of time,” he said. “We have a training here in June. It is not for lack of funding. We want to support these teachers.”