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Parents and staff raise safety, pay and payroll concerns during PXU public comment
Summary
During the call to the public, parents and staff raised multiple concerns: alleged mishandling of a volleyball incident at Alhambra High School, ESS pay and retention issues, alleged overpayment and wage garnishment notices for 0.2 stipends, and broader safety and culture complaints.
Multiple speakers used the board's call-to-public period to press the district on safety, compensation and payroll clarity.
Rob Potts, a parent, described an incident at Alhambra High School that he said left his daughter with a panic attack and alleged inconsistent discipline and retaliation for students who filed written statements. The board asked Superintendent Andrade to look into the incident and report back by email to the board.
A different Rob Potts (ESS facilitator at Trevor Brown) detailed pay disparities between ESS contract teachers (he said those contracts pay about $100,000—00,000) and district TESS teachers (which he said top out below about $95,000). He said more than half of ESS staff at Trevor Brown are retirement-eligible soon and that an anonymous survey showed 85% were exploring other employment. He urged stipends of $5,000—0,000 for hard-to-fill roles to retain staff.
Fernando Sanchez told the board that 0.2 stipend payments were issued on Oct. 21 but recipients received a later email saying they had been overpaid and that wages would be garnished. Sanchez said staff had not signed agreements specifying pay amounts. Board members requested an audit and follow-up from the talent/payroll team.
Other public commenters praised the Native American Education Program, thanked canvassers for the override campaign, and urged pedagogical changes such as neuroeducation and stronger college-readiness programs. Esteban Flemons, PXU CTA president, urged collaboration with the board and recognized voters' support for the overrides.
What happens next: the board requested targeted follow-ups (volleyball safety incident review and a payroll audit for 0.2 stipends). District staff reiterated they will investigate and respond to the board and public.
