Teachers tell board they lack flexibility to supplement science textbook; union survey shows declines in morale and fears of retaliation

Two representatives of the American Federation of Teachers addressed the South San Antonio ISD board Monday with concerns about classroom resources, working conditions and teacher morale.

Valerie Rios, a reading teacher speaking on behalf of San Antonio AFT, said science teachers have been directed to use only the district-adopted Savas materials and are not permitted to supplement the curriculum with other vetted resources. Rios said the Savas text was written before the latest Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) clarifications and does not cover some specificity now tested on district exams. "We need more resources. We need teacher autonomy to be able to pick aligned resources to supplement our textbook, and we're not currently being allowed that," she said.

Tom Cummins, representing South San AFT, presented preliminary findings from a district-wide working-conditions survey. Cummins said 76% of respondents reported fear of retaliation for voicing professional concerns, and 89% reported lower morale compared with the previous year. Other findings presented included that 67% of teachers reported their contracted eight-and-a-half-hour workday is not honored and that 68% said lesson planning consumes 4–8 hours per week.

Cummins said the survey included 20 questions and emphasized open-ended comments, which he said highlighted excessive paperwork and poorly planned meetings. He said a full report will be provided to the board once the union finishes processing comments.

Board members acknowledged the concerns and noted administration’s continuing efforts with teacher supports; the superintendent and other administrators referenced district initiatives and coaching work that they said aim to improve student outcomes and support teachers in classrooms.