HOUSTON – Several teachers at a Heights area elementary school are refusing to teach until the administration pays them.
A mother at the Houston Heights Learning Academy Charter School contacted KPRC2 on Wednesday after teachers sent text messages to parents explaining they are refusing to work because the school has missed multiple pay periods.
According to several teachers KPRC 2 talked with, they weren't coming to work because they weren't getting paid.
Parents were at the school Thursday trying to figure out if they should drop off their children. Parents said the students have been going to school without teachers since Tuesday.
A board member said an accounting error resulted in the school missing one pay period and the issue has not been resolved because the superintendent took a leave of absence. The board member said there are teachers on campus.
Officials told parents the children have been watching movies and doing craft activities in the auditorium. The board member said the students are learning.
Erica Luque, a parent of a Houston Height student, said the administration did not notify her or the other parents about the issue.
“We just want to know the truth about what’s going on so we can know what do with our children,” Luque said.
Many parents have been bringing their children to school this week but are searching for alternatives. One mother took her child out of Houston Heights and was told her daughter would be marked absent.
Houston Heights, which is not a Houston ISD school, houses kindergarten through fifth grades.
Abbie D’Alessandro is one of many Houston Heights parents who have been supportive of the teachers.
Instead of doing homework last night, D’Alessandro said her oldest daughter made posters asking administrators to pay the instructors.
“The teachers here are wonderful — wonderful is an understatement. They care about your kids. If something is going on, they call you. They text you,” D’Alessandro said.
KPRC2 learned that some teachers have sent the parents text messages apologizing for the inconvenience.
“I don't know if it’s a board issue, but for them to not be paid for that long, it’s a problem and somebody needs to figure out what's going on,” D’Alessandro said.
Lalla Morris, a school board member explained, "We are doing everything in our power as rapidly as possible to ensure that everything is back to normal."
KPRC 2 did some digging with the Texas Education Agency to get to the bottom of the issue.
Late Thursday they told KPRC 2 the school is not out of money and claim the superintendent took a leave of absence and didn't designate a person in his place. Therefore, no one could draw down state funds.
The Texas Education Agency stated:
"It was an unfortunate incident, but the school has their funds. They should continue to be open, pay their teachers and hold school."
We're told the schools records and information have been updated and it should be able to pull their state funds by Friday.
Morris said, "Our students are our number one priority and we value our teachers immensely."