El Paso ISD modernization plan approved by managers but not a sure thing

The El Paso Independent School District officially has its road map for the future, the board of managers now fully supporting what has been coined “the modernization plan.” But the managers won’t be the ones implementing it.

Elected Trustee Susie Byrd will be just one of seven who eventually to implement this plan Superintendent Juan Cabrera created and the managers approved. Both she and elected trustee Bob Geske support it, but not without reservation.

“I think there’s a lot a tweaking that needs to happen before we implement it,” Byrd said.

The goal is to go from 83 schools to 69, and upgrade those 69, which on average are more than 45 years old. Elementary schools will be slashed from 57 to 43, middle schools from 15 to 9. Pre-K-8’s will grow from 1 to 7. Fourteen elementary schools would be consolidated, some combined with six nearby middles to become Pre-K-8th, others to join schools set for reconstruction. Bassett Middle will be the only school to close.

The district would also create its first and only Mesita Early Childhood Center for Pre-K-1st graders, a second medical magnet program at Franklin, and New Tech High programs at Irvin, Bowie and Franklin.

The cost is estimated to be about $657 million paid through multiple bond elections.

“We’re going to go slowly, we’re going to ask our community what they want,” said trustee Bob Geske. “We’re going to say here’s our plan, here’s how we’re going to do it, here’s how much it’s going to cost, this is why we’re doing it, here are the benefits to the children and ask do you want it and see what they say.”

Although Geske is now a manager on the board, he’s keeping an open mind, willing to wait for the other six trustees who take office after the May 9 election, before making any decisions.Byrd though has concerns, namely adding an additional medical magnet program at Franklin, for fear Silva could lose out.

“They have provided a good road map,” Byrd said. “That doesn’t mean the board of trustees might not deviate a little bit after getting feedback from the public, but I do think they’ve really left the district in a good place.”

Before the managers leave office, they intend on adopting a budget, leaving the elected trustees to not only implement the modernization plan, but adopt a tax rate too.