Del Valle ISD teachers urge board to reverse 30‑minute duty‑day extension

Dozens of Del Valle ISD teachers and the Del Valle Education Association addressed the board July (public comment period), urging officials to reconsider a June 24 decision to extend the daily teacher duty day by 30 minutes for 2025–26.

Teachers said the district gave little notice and no meaningful staff input. “The decision was unilateral with no meaningful input or consultation with teachers,” Jessica Marquez, president of the Del Valle Education Association, told the board. Marquez said the association’s survey of 209 teachers found “over three quarters” of respondents were “very unhappy” with the change.

Why it matters: Teachers say the extra half hour adds work time without added planning time or pay and will worsen retention and burnout at a time when campuses are already stretched. The district presented the time change in June; teachers said contracts had already been signed and that the timing trapped some who might have resigned.

Teachers described practical impacts and inequities. “The proposed extended duty days [are] 93 additional hours of duty time over the course of the year,” Marquez said — a figure teachers in public comment repeated and used to illustrate the cumulative effect (about 11 school days). Several speakers noted the district gave state raises for classroom teachers but did not commit district funds to compensate for the additional duty time.

First‑grade teacher Melissa Michael said she uses planning time to prepare materials and feared the added half hour would be “co‑opted for tasks that will not directly impact student outcomes.” Carmen Rivera, another first‑grade teacher, said the shift disrupted her caregiving and second‑job responsibilities and was announced without consultation.

Teachers cited comparisons to nearby districts and state law. Cynthia Overton, a special education teacher, said Del Valle’s new day would amount to about “8 hours and 30 minutes,” longer than many neighboring districts. She cited the Texas Education Code’s minimum instruction requirement (Section 25.081) in noting how district minutes compare to the region, and said the district’s calculation would increase annual instructional minutes from 79,590 to 86,410 based on the calendar used.

Union and organizing perspectives: Jason Wiley, a TSTA organizer working with the local association, said the change followed a pattern of decisions taken without adequate engagement and warned it would drive teachers to competitors such as Austin ISD. Several speakers urged the board to treat staff as partners in change and to delay or withdraw the schedule change for a collaborative review.

What the board heard from staff: Speakers from the administration were not asked to take action during public comment; the record shows the item was raised repeatedly in comments but no final board decision on the duty‑day change was recorded in open session that night.

Next steps: Teachers asked the board to reopen consultation, delay implementation, or reverse the decision. The district’s human resources communications (referenced by speakers) indicated compensation discussions would occur later; several teachers said any district pay decisions for the extra time were “not specified” at the time of the meeting.

Ending: Teachers closed their remarks by asking the board to reconsider and to involve teachers in any further changes. The public comment period ended before the board’s agenda moved to information and action items.