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Socorro ISD, Canutillo ISD layoffs begin as notices go out [1]
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Date: 2025-04-08
The lives of some Socorro and Canutillo independent school district employees were upended late last week as they received a piece of paper informing them that their contracts would not be renewed after the end of the school year.
Some of those employees who have been laid off include middle and elementary school music teachers from Socorro ISD and registered nurses from Canutillo ISD. Several SISD employees who received the notices Friday declined to comment at this time, saying they were going to first consult with their teacher unions.
Socorro ISD officials would not yet disclose how many employees have been laid off or how many more will be affected. The district plans to give the updates “when it presents the final list of impacted employees to the board,” said Daniel Escobar, the district’s chief communications officer. The next regularly scheduled board meeting is April 16 but it’s unclear if a meeting might be called sooner.
In February, the Socorro ISD board voted to lay off about 300 employees, eliminate elementary fine arts programs and increase class sizes in an effort to cut the district’s budget by $38 million.
Socorro ISD initially said it would notify impacted employees that their contracts would not be renewed by April 1, but the district extended the deadline to see how many would take a $2,500 incentive to retire or resign voluntarily. Employees had until Monday to qualify for the buyout.
Most school employees’ contracts are 12 months long and end June 30.
“We are deeply saddened by the layoff notices that have already been issued to our dedicated teachers, and we share in the disappointment that these circumstances have brought,” West Texas Alliance President Rosie Perez told El Paso Matters via text.
“In this challenging time, it is our responsibility to stand together in solidarity and offer the full support and resources needed to help those affected navigate this next chapter with dignity and confidence.”
Perez said the organization has focused on supporting members who were given layoff notices, such as providing information on applying for unemployment insurance and accessing retirement.
Socorro American Federation of Teachers President Veronica Hernandez said most of the union’s members who received a notice were probationary employees who have been with the district for less than three years and can have their contracts pulled for non-renewal with no cause.
“They don’t need a particular reason at all, much less if you have situations like the district’s (budget) deficiency. That’s a good cause,” Hernandez told El Paso Matters.
She said the organization is working with its attorney to see how many of its members are being affected and if there is any recourse non-probationary employees can take to keep their jobs.
The Socorro AFT is also working with teachers to help them get their special education certification, possibly allowing them to take new positions within the district.
“Several teachers have expressed that they’re willing to take this test this coming month,” Hernandez said. “So, we might be able to save a couple there.”
Canutillo ISD cuts registered nurses
The Canutillo ISD board voted in March to lay off employees and cut programs to address a projected $5.8 million deficit for the coming school year. The district did not specify how many employees would be affected.
Canutillo ISD officials have not responded to El Paso Matters’ questions about the layoffs.
Some of those who received layoff notices have debated whether it’s worth working the rest of the school year, knowing they won’t have a job with the district after the summer.
“I come back for the kids, because I know they need me. I have so many kids with chronic illnesses. I have kids with asthma, seizures, diabetes, so I’m coming for them, but I’m devastated, I’m heartbroken,” one registered nurse from Canutillo ISD who received a layoff notice told El Paso Matters.
Canutillo ISD did not give a deadline for notifying employees, but will need to do so before approving contracts for the next school year, which typically happens in April or May.
See Also 6 things to know about May 3 school board elections in El Paso Voters will choose trustees for EPISD, SISD and EPCC in a May 3 election that could shape the future of local schools amid closures, layoffs and budget cuts.
Canutillo ISD plans to reduce the number of registered nurses it has to just three for all 10 of its campuses and hire licensed vocational nurses — or LVNs — to tend to students.
LVNs generally require less schooling and can practice as school nurses under the supervision of a registered nurse, according to the Texas Board of Nursing.
On April 3, Canutillo ISD posted a job listing for seven LVN positions across multiple campuses.
Once the positions are filled, each campus will have either a registered nurse or LVN on duty, district staff said in March.
Listen: Why El Paso school districts face layoffs, school closures El Paso Matters education reporter Claudia Silva explains why El Paso school districts are in tight financial situations.
The school board also voted to eliminate its nurse coordinator position, which was in charge of overseeing the district’s nurses and implementing health programs.
Some nurses El Paso Matters spoke to were concerned that the quality of care students receive would be affected without enough registered nurses to supervise.
“The way they plan to do this is to have an RN at a different campus, there is no way they’re going to be closely supervised,” a Canutillo ISD nurse said in an interview.
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https://elpasomatters.org/2025/04/08/socorro-isd-canutillo-isd-layoff-notices-sent-out/
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