Parents and staff raise grievances, ACE-program transparency and pay concerns during public comment

Several United ISD community members used the meeting’s public-comment period to raise concerns about campus practices, program transparency and staff compensation.

Aurora Barrios, who identified herself as a substitute teacher with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, said an assistant principal at a campus publicly reprimanded and “humiliated” her on March 21, 2025, after she covered classes she said she had been assigned to fill. Barrios described being told by the assistant principal, in front of staff and students, “I don’t pay you to do anything.” She said she was not refusing assignments but had not received a break and that the reprimand was unfair.

Letty Juarez, who identified herself as an advocate for students and teachers and a 25-year classroom veteran, asked the board for clarity about the ACE (Accelerated Curriculum and Enrichment) program. Juarez referenced the district’s 2023–24 ACE program application and noted the application’s stated goal that “by 2024, students would meet their RIT growth target on MAP assessments.” She said she raised this point at a March workshop and was concerned that the ACE presentation did not include evidence of the district’s tracking of academic growth. “Transparency is accountability,” Juarez said.

Parent Abir Alhadad described a multi-year grievance over her 8‑year‑old’s treatment at San Isidro (San Ysidro in the public comment list) and said she had encountered delays, perceived retaliation and difficulty with the district’s grievance process. She said she requested the removal of a hearing officer for a Level 2 grievance and that the district refused. Alhadad said she would continue to press the board on her child’s behalf.

Community member Edna Olmeda urged the board to increase raises for teachers and staff, saying recent one-time payments and raises “have not kept pace with the rising cost of living” and citing that “since 02/2019, inflation has surged by approximately 22%.” Olmeda also warned that voucher proposals at the state level could threaten public school funding and asked the district to stop “wasteful spending” amid what she described as a budget deficit cited by community members.

Local organizer Joe Barone (identified in the transcript as Mr. Barone/Baron) updated the board on a community event, “Rocking the Spectrum,” planned for April 26 at Bartlett (Jovitas) Park. Barone said the event is free, that “Nobody is selling anything. The event is free to the public,” and that funds raised will be offered to the district special education department for sensory-room equipment if campuses request it.

None of the public comments resulted in board action during the meeting; the speakers used the district’s public-comment time to ask for follow-up, clarification or remedies from district staff and trustees.