EPISD To Close Houston Elementary School
Still reeling from a failed tax ratification election, the El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday night to close Houston Elementary School.
Houston is located on Grant Avenue in central El Paso.
EPISD estimates its closure will save the financially-troubled district $1.5 million dollars.
It was back in May of 2009 when EPISD administrators told Houston it needed to improve its attendance numbers.
A goal of 384 students was set for this year’s enrollment but the school only managed to reach 333 students.
Houston’s capacity is 901 students.
Schuster Elementary School in northeast El Paso and Zavala Elementary in south-central found themselves in the same boat as Houston.
Board trustees decided to give those two campuses another year to improve enrollment.
Not fair, if you ask Houston parent Marissa Torres.
Torres said she’s now considering home schooling or private school for her 9-year-old son.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she told ABC-7. “His dad went to (Houston), his cousins, uncles. It’s been in the family.”
Houston’s students will move to either Coldwell Elementary or Moreno Elementary next school year.
The district says all school staff will be re-assigned in time for the fall semester.
Meetings will be held and newsletters sent out to inform Houston parents of the school’s closure.
