A PSJA ISD high school principal received a temporary restraining order Monday preventing the district from taking action against his position after claiming in a lawsuit that he is being politically retaliated against.
News of the district moving to reassign PSJA Early College High School Principal Alejandro Elias to a central office position last month sparked an online petition and a significant amount of criticism.
In his suit, Elias says the reassignment came up when Superintendent Jorge Arredondo and Chief Officer of Academics Rolando Treviño met with him in July.
“The Superintendent congratulated Dr. Elias for all of his campus’ success, but then stated that things were going to get “stressful” with the elections in November,” the lawsuit said. “The Superintendent advised Dr. Elias that “it was time he [Dr. Elias] got promoted” and he offered him the position of Administrator for ESSER Funds. Such position within the District did not exist, was not posted for applications and Dr. Elias had not only not applied for the position, but he was not interested in taking the position.”
Elias declined the position, the suit said, and was asked about other positions he would be interested in.
“Dr. Elias again respectfully declined and advised the Superintendent that he was most useful to the District in his current position as principal of PSJA High,” it said.
A few days later, Elias was again called in for a meeting with the administrators and was told that he would be reassigned to be director of enrollment, a position he was not interested in, the suit said.
Still, the meeting ended with Arredondo and Treviño giving Elias a new job description, the suit read, and the next day, the district issued two emails to the community announcing Elias would be the new director of strategy and planning.
“To date, Dr. Elias has not been not been notified in writing of his reassignment,” the suit said. “Moreover, the District has not notified Dr. Elias that he has been named the Director of Strategy and Planning.”
Speaking to The Monitor last week, PSJA ISD Board President Ricardo Pedraza largely declined to comment, but voiced his confidence in the district’s superintendent and said there were reasons behind the move, but did not elaborate on them.
In his suit, Elias claims he is being discriminated against for his political activities.
“Dr. Elias believes that the District and its School Board President are retaliating against him due to his known political affiliations,” the suit said. “Specifically, Dr. Elias is currently supporting a political faction that is opposite to PSJA Board President Pedraza’s interests in the upcoming November 2022 PSJA School Board Election. Superintendent Dr. Arredondo’s comments about things being stressful due to the November election coupled with the School Board President’s unfounded quote insinuating misconduct confirm Dr. Elias’ concerns.”
The PSJA board was originally slated to discuss the ECHS principal position at a meeting Wednesday. That item has been stricken from the agenda.
The TRO granted to Elias prevents the district from reassigning, terminating or suspending him. It also prevents the district from taking any action on the principal position at ECHS.
A hearing on that TRO is scheduled for August 15.
