Laredo ISD approves one director of safety initiatives after debate over two proposed FTEs

Laredo ISD trustees voted Thursday to approve funding for a director of safety initiatives (pay grade 9, 226 days) after debate over an initial proposal that would have created two new senior administrative positions.

The board met in a special call meeting on Sept. 19 at the Amber Eury Boardroom. The item brought to the trustees would have added two full-time-equivalent (FTE) positions: director of safety initiatives and director of emergency strategic communications management. Following public comment and questions from trustees, a motion to approve only the director of safety initiatives was offered, seconded and approved; the board recorded “one against,” and the motion passed.

The vote followed public comment from Guadalupe De La Garza, identified in the meeting as president of TSTA, who questioned creating two new pay-grade-9 positions after a district wage study and multiple years without raises. “How is it now that this board wants to spend over $200,000 on 2 FTE positions?” De La Garza asked, and urged that money instead be used to hire and retain school police and security staff.

A district staff member identified in the meeting as "Mr. Pro" defended the positions as part of a strategic reorganization and said the roles would identify and reduce safety and security vulnerabilities across campuses. “Safety is non negotiable,” the staff member said, describing recent incidents elsewhere and in the city that prompted a review of procedures and the need for a dedicated administrator to work closely with cabinet and law enforcement partners.

Trustee Alfredo Gustavo Perez pressed administration on the cost and details, asking whether existing safety and communications departments could absorb the work and requesting the midpoint of pay-grade 9 and supervisory responsibilities for the new roles. The staff member said the pay grade is a range and that human resources would recommend a hire within that range; the district would share job descriptions and compensation details via email to trustees.

Trustee Rodolfo Morales III offered an amendment to limit approval to the director of safety initiatives only, which was seconded and ultimately passed. During discussion, trustees raised concerns about internal equity, referencing a separate TASB (Texas Association of School Boards) wage study that the district commissioned and is reviewing with HR and finance to address perceived salary inequities among principals and administrators.

Administrators said they are working on a multi‑phase plan to address those inequities and will present formulas and scenarios to the board for approval. Administrators also said some savings for these positions would come from prior consolidation of nonessential programs and other efficiencies, but they did not specify exact funding sources in the meeting.

The board’s communications at the meeting also included calendar items for upcoming events and meetings, including a board safety and security meeting on Sept. 23 and a special called meeting on Sept. 30.

The approved position will become part of the cabinet, according to the presenting staff member, and administrators said they will return to the board with job descriptions, recommended compensation within the pay-grade range, and plans addressing broader salary equity across district administrators.