San Benito CISD board approves emergency-closure pay, time-and-a-half for staff called in

San Benito Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a resolution to compensate employees for a recent emergency closure and to pay time-and-a-half to staff who were called in during that closure.

Chiefly affecting hourly employees, the board voted to grant paid time for the closure day and to authorize premium pay for those called in. Trustee Alfredo Perez introduced the item and explained the administration’s recommendation, saying, “We’re asking the board, for the emergency closure that we had in the previous week. Our employees lost some time, especially our hourly employees. So we’re asking that you all approve that they get that day.” Perez added that a small group of employees who were called in would receive time-and-a-half for reporting to work.

Perez told trustees the district had checked with the Texas Education Agency and had determined “we don’t have to make up the day if we don't need to. That's one of the weather makeup days.” The board’s motion to approve the resolution was made by Trustee Frutoso Gomez and seconded by Trustee Crystal Hernandez. When asked about the vote, the presiding officer announced, “Motion passed.” The transcript does not record a roll-call vote tally.

There were no public comments on the item. The administration framed the action as relief for employees who lost work hours during the closure and recognition for staff who reported to campuses to maintain safety and operations during the event.

The board moved next into closed session. The resolution’s implementing details such as the budget line or exact payroll mechanics were not specified during the open discussion recorded in the transcript.