Ysleta Superintendent Xavier De La Torre gets board's approval for paid consulting job

Ysleta Independent School District trustees on Wednesday gave Superintendent Xavier De La Torre permission to be paid for a consulting job unrelated to his duties at the district.

De La Torre had to ask the board for permission because of a provision in the Texas Education Code that states any financial benefit superintendents receive for personal services must be approved by the board on a case-by-case basis.

De La Torre requested approval to be compensated for giving presentations nationwide over the next year for aspiring superintendents through JG Consulting, an education leader development firm based in San Antonio. JG Consulting is not a district vendor. 

"I think that as a board we’re happy to see the influence of YISD reaching out to the state and to the nation," said board President Connie Woodruff. "There could be future superintendents who are impacted by the knowledge he’s going to share and all the great things we’ve done as a district."

The vote was 6-0 under a consent agenda. Trustee Charlie Bustillos was absent.

The presentations would occur on days the district is closed or on designated vacation days, documentation states.

De La Torre said JG Consulting would pay for his transportation, lodging and a nominal speaking fee for each of the three events. He declined to disclose how much he would be paid.

"Always, always, my priority is here," De La Torre said. "It would only be in the event that I get the chance to meet new, young superintendents."

The Ysleta superintendent said JG Consulting reached out to him for their Leadership Academy, which De La Torre said is like a "superintendent 101" course. 

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JG Consulting's website says the course is a seven-month program in which school system leaders can prepare for the role of superintendent. Participants in the academy pay $2,100 to attend.

De La Torre said this is his first time taking on a consulting job.

"If it works out great, and if not, they can find someone else," De La Torre said.

The first session of the academy took place in Fort Worth during spring break. De La Torre said he went to observe and to decide whether the program was something he'd want to pursue.

The next session will take place in June in San Antonio, and the final one will be in September in Dallas.

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De La Torre's contract does not include any provisions that either allow or prohibit him from taking consulting jobs.

In comparison, El Paso Independent School District Superintendent Juan Cabrera's contract allows him to serve on various boards and consult.

Cabrera's contract includes a paragraph in which the board ratifies him serving on various state and national boards of directors, saying he is permitted to participate in consulting and speaking engagements as long as those engagements do not interfere with his duties as superintendent, conflict with district business or violate state law.

A spokeswoman for the Texas Association of School Boards said most local policies don't directly address superintendent consulting.

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Sara Sanchez can be reached at 546-6147; ssanchez@elpasotimes.com; @siempresarita on Twitter.