Ysleta ISD looks at consolidating 7 elementary, 4 middle schools

The Ysleta Independent School District has lost 8,000 students since 1988. Now the 42,000-student district must decide what to do with their half-empty, aging buildings.

At Wednesday’s board meeting, members heard from the Jacob’s firm, which they paid nearly $500,000 dollars to study their situation and offer suggestions.

Jacobs recommended cutting the district’s 60 schools to 46 over time. The firm found seven elementary schools and four middle schools that can be consolidated. The only proposed change to a high school involved Riverside High, which would be consolidated with Riverside Middle to become grades 7 through 12.

The firm also found $300 million in repairs over the next five years.

“I’m excited,” said YISD Superintendent Xavier De La Torre. “I think we have an opportunity to do some interesting and exciting things from a programmatic standpoint and that is rather than just close and consolidate schools and move students from one old school to another old school, the idea that we can start rebuilding our schools and introduce new construction district-wide, so that students have a 21st-century learning environment.”

The first community meeting for parents and taxpayers to look at the recommendation will be held Monday, Jan. 12, at Ysleta High at 6 p.m. This is the first meeting of seven.

Keep in mind, the district intends to hold a bond election this May to pay for any changes.