For a map showing the six TASPA Districts by Service center, click here
For the full contact information of each TASPA District representative, click here

TASPA District I

Dr. Rebecca Morrison, Mission CISD

We regret to announce that TASPA Board member and President Elect Michael Briones, from Corpus Christi ISD, resigned from the board earlier this month for health reasons. He is recovering very well, and we look forward to seeing him at our conferences as his recovery allows.  The TASPA Board at its June 19 meeting decided not to fill that position at present and to address the vacancy at the December TASPA Winter conference. 

We are deeply saddened by the loss of retired TASPA member Flavio Valdez, of North East ISD, who passed away on Monday May 25th of a pre-existing condition while on a bike ride.  He was 62, with 34 years of service to education. His obituary can be found here.  He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.  Flavio and his wife annually sponsored a high school senior student who could not afford to pay for all of the big and small costs associated with graduation, and his colleagues at North East ISD are coordinating donations to continue this for Flavio.  If any member would like to donate, please contact Midge Balanciere at mandre@neisd.net .

ESC Region I hosted a TASPA Personnel Skills workshop for Supervisors of Non-Exempt Staff, and Judson ISD hosted another one on the same day. The agenda for the ESC Region I workshop can be viewed here and the Judson ISD one can be viewed here. Many thanks to Melissa Aguero Ramirez, of ESC Region I, and to Debbie McNeill and Sharon Fuery, of Judson ISD, for volunteering to host these workshops!

Given the vast expanse covering TASPA District I, members in the San Antonio area meet monthly through SAAPA, the San Antonio Area Personnel Administrators, and those in the Valley meet monthly at ESC Region I.  For more information on SAAPA, please contact TASPA member Mildred A. Balanciere, North East ISD, mandre@neisd.net with “Interest in SAAPA” in the subject line. If you are interested in joining the group that meets at ESC Region I, please contact Dr. Rebecca Morrison, Mission CISD at rrmorr56@mcisd.org with “Interest in TASPA ESC Region I meetings” in the subject line.  TASPA District I also meets as a whole during the Summer and Winter Conferences.

TASPA District II

Dr. Timothy Rocka, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

District II held its Spring Gulf Coast meeting, hosted by the Alief ISD HR department,  February 28, 2009, at the Alief Administration Building.  Mr. John Crain provided a workshop on documentation of instructional employees. District II held its regional Job Fair at Aldine ISD- Campbell Center on June 15 and 16, 2009. Over 2,000 applicants registered for the fair. District II held its Personnel Skills workshop on June 25, 2009, at Region IV ESC.  Topics included supervision, documentation, employee discipline, and sexual harassment.  Many thanks to TASPA member Kurt Van Guilder and his team for a great workshop!
Congratulations to TASPA Member Dr. Toby York, formerly Assistant Superintendent for Personnel & Student Services at Goose Creek CISD, who is now the new Superintendent at the same ISD.  He has been with GCCISD since 2001 when he was hired as the district's Executive Director of Student Services.

Houston Area personnel administrators are served by the GCASPA (Gulf Coast Association of School Personnel Administrators) as well as by two smaller regional groups that meet more frequently—one for the the Bay area and one for the North area of Houston.  For more information on any of the three, please contact Tim Rocka at timothy.rocka@cfisd.net with “Regional HR groups” in the subject line.

TASPA District III

Karen Dooley, Georgetown ISD

District III had two meetings this Spring.  At the first meeting, HR Services presented an update of the FMLA guidelines.  Included in that update were the changes regarding military leave and the extension of time from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.

At the last meeting this Spring, the group received a Legislative Update presented by TASPA staff.  The information included bills that were identified as being pertinent to school HR.

Changes that had been made to recent proposed bills and bills that had already died were also provided.  Cindy Clegg with HR Services gave a summary of some upcoming workshops around the state.

ESC Region XIII hosted the TASPA District III Personnel Skills for Supervisors of Non-Exempt Staff workshop on June 2nd. Many thanks to TASPA member Lauralee Pankonien for hosting the workshop!

TASPA District IV

Dr. Linda Bass, Frisco ISD

Dr. Neil Dugger has been named Interim Superintendent for Irving ISD.  With his increased responsibilities, Dr. Dugger has stepped down from his leadership role as District IV representative.  District IV wishes to thank Neil for his numerous contributions and service.  Completing Dr. Dugger’s term of office is Dr. Linda Bass, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources with Frisco ISD.

Dr. Bobby Burns, Assistant Superintendent for Administration and Personnel for the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD has been named the lone finalist for the superintendent position.

The North Central area was impacted by the influenza A (H1N1) virus.  Ft. Worth ISD and Denton ISD closed completely, while Plano ISD and others closed campuses as needed.  Also cancelled was the NCTASPA Job Fair which was to be held on May 4th.  More than 4,200 applicants were registered for the event.   Several districts conducted interviews with those applicants who had come from out-of-state or from a great distance.  Those districts included Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Garland, Mesquite, Lewisville, Denton, and Frisco.   Districts that paid to attend the event will have their fee transferred to the Job Fair on May 3, 2010. 

On June 18th a TASPA Personnel Skills for Supervisors of Auxiliary Staff workshop was  held at HEB ISD. 

TASPA Districts V and VI

John Hancock, Amarillo ISD, and Dr. Georgia C. Lane, El Paso ISD, respectively

The District V and VI Spring meeting, normally hosted by Lubock ISD,  was cancelled because the districts in the region were involved in the SBEC Fingerprinting Blitz. 

The region has seen a huge influx of applicants this Spring and early Summer, especially from the Alt Cert programs, as well as a decrease in the number of persons leaving the district.   There were fewer retirements at Amarillo ISD, for example, than have occurred in over 11 years.

While TASPA Districts V and VI meet jointly in Lubbock twice a year due to the sparse population in the region, the members in the EL Paso area meet monthly with a group called PAR 19 (Personnel Administrators in [ESC] Region 19). At the February PAR meeting at Fabens ISD , topics included background checks of university interns; the Teacher Associate Program at  UTEP, which provides UTEP interns with opportunities for employment as paid substitutes in schools while they are enrolled in their undergraduate studies; issues of I-9s and VISAs due to the proximity with the border; and UTEPs career day, which was March 19th.   The June PAR Meeting was held at Canutillo ISD, and items discussed included NCLB; a UTEP ACP Update; criminal history/fingerprints for teachers; scheduling teacher training the last three weeks of school; as well as the PAR Schedule for 2009-2010.

TASPA District VI held a number of trainings this spring and early summer:
March 25, 2009 : Compensation and Finance presented by Joseph Mezher, TEA
June 4, 2009 : Managing Personnel Records presented by Rhonda Bauman, TASB : 50 participants. However, more people wanted to attend.
June 5, 20090 : Yes We Can Create Positive Communications With Staff, Regional Support Personnel Conference.