El Paso ISD: Authorities asked district to close schools for Pope visit

Three of the county’s largest school districts announced they will be giving all staff and students the day off for Pope Francis’ historic visit to Juarez on Feb. 17. But the biggest district of the three, El Paso ISD, carries much of the responsibility, which was the topic of discussion at Tuesday’s board meeting.

The board voted unanimously to give students the day offin favor of safety and logistics. The district said it’s following precedent created by Philadelphia, which gave all students three days off when Pope Francis visited last fall.

“We really can’t guarantee or foresee the volume of traffic or people that will be in that area,” said EPISD spokesperson Melissa Martinez.

The area of concern is directly across from the Border Highway, where the pope will pass through and where four EPISD schools are located. Already TXDOT has announced plans to close that section of the Border Highway. EPISD says local authorities requested they close schools.

“All of law enforcement efforts are being taken to that region, traffic is going to be logistically a big effort, and really, we expect the city will pretty much shut down that day,” Martinez said.

UTEP has also announced itps canceling class, expecting thousands to flood the Sun Bowl to watch the celebration through a live stream. EPISD also has schools in that same vicinity, meaning 12 schools would have lots of frustrated parents trying to get their kids to class on time in vain, that is, if there was even a class to go to.

“Think about nine districts,” Martinez said. “If you have staff across nine districts that all take a personal day to go to events, there aren’t enough substitutes, cafeteria workers and custodians to really cover the need to run a school day.”

School districts also lose money when students don’t show up, which is why EPISD has designated the make up day Feb. 15. That’s Presidents Day, which is a holiday. EPISD says if parents already have plans, work can be made up.

The board is also considering letting schools in South Central out early the day before the visit, Feb. 16, as authorities prep the area.