Children Of Evacuees Begin School

EL PASO, TX. – Wednesday will be a very special day for many of the younger evacuees now residing at the Convention Center. EPISD officials tell ABC-7 that the 50 evacuee-students living at El Paso’s convention center will have their first day in class.

Eight El Paso ISD teachers will begin teaching classes bright and early Wednesday morning. According to the district, the eight teachers coming to the Convention Center have been selected and they won’t be missed.

Officials tell ABC-7 that the group of “master teachers” would normally train regular teachers and don’t have designated class rooms, so no EPISD students will miss out their teachers. EPISD officials also tell ABC-7 that they will begin enrolling students in class early Wednesday.

There are 43 student age children at the convention center ranging from pre-kinder to 12th grade. The largest group of students are in middle school. With eight teachers on hand, that means there will be approximately one teacher for every six students.

Rooms will be set aside in the convention center where teachers will bring textbooks, school supplies, dry erase boards and computers. EPISD says if the families decide to make El Paso their permanent home, students will then be enrolled in an actual school within the district.

In the meantime, the EPISD teachers will be at the convention center six to eight hours a day, teaching all subjects ranging from math and science to literacy. A special education teacher will also be on hand.

Social workers and school counselors will also be on hand to help students with the transition. While other school districts have held fund raisers and donation drives, since the convention center lies within the EPISD district, that’s why their teachers will be there.