HOUSTON—The Houston Educational Support Personnel is calling on the Houston Independent School District Board of Education to come back to the table and pass a budget by June 30 that includes no additional cuts of support personnel.

Last Thursday, the school board rejected a budget proposal for the 2018-19 school year, which leaves just 10 days to finalize a budget.

“Houston ISD families are anxious for the district to get a deal done,” HESP President Wretha Thomas said. “Our district’s bus drivers and aides, nutrition personnel, maintenance staff and groundskeepers dedicate their lives to our schools while earning very little money. They live paycheck to paycheck, often working additional jobs to pay their bills. These are the staff who work over the summer, and they expect their paycheck after June 30.”

Thomas added: “Through Hurricane Harvey, the superintendent change and the threat of a state takeover, Houston ISD support personnel have kept focused on doing what’s best for our kids. The board should stand up for what’s right and fight for the district as whole, including the important jobs that the support personnel handle.”