NEISD board upholds administration decision denying extended assault leave for Windcrest teacher

The Northeast Independent School District board on Wednesday voted 6–1 to uphold the administration's level‑2 decision denying an extension of assault leave for a Windcrest Elementary teacher who was assaulted by a student on Sept. 8, 2023.

The vote followed a level‑3 grievance hearing during which the teacher, identified in the record as Catherine Bridal, and her attorney, Tom Cummins, urged trustees to restore assault leave retroactive to March 18, 2024, and to reinstate pay, insurance and other benefits denied after that date. "An employee of the school district who is physically assaulted during the performance of the employee's regular duties, is entitled to the number of days of leave necessary to recuperate from all physical injuries sustained as a result of the assault," Cummins told the board, quoting the statutory standard.

The administration, represented by Shaila Witten, executive director of human resources, said district medical review and independent examinations showed the teacher reached maximum medical improvement for the physical injuries related to the assault by March 17, 2024, and…