EPISD Approves $5.6 Million In Cuts

Board members with the El Paso Independent School District eliminated 116 positions Tuesday night, saving the district an estimated $5.6 million.

These positions include 62 language proficiency assessment committee (LPAC) clerks, 26 at-risk coordinator positions and 28 central office positions. Board members said eliminating 62 LPAC positions will save the district $1.3 million. Cutting nine 9th grade and 17 middle school at-risk coordinator positions will result in $1.2 million in savings. Getting rid of 28 central office positions will save the district $3.1 million.

These eliminations are effective June 30, 2011.

One group that was not targeted included high school librarians. About half a dozen district librarians addressed board members, telling them why they feel their positions are crucial to the district. Board members who voted against eliminating these positions included Isela Castanon-Williams, Alfredo Borrego and Joel Barrios. Board President Patricia Hughes, Russel Wiggs and Lisa Colquitt-Munoz voted in favor of eliminating their posts. Eliminating the librarians’ positions would have saved the district about $500,000.

Board members said they may still have to use $9.9 million from the district’s general fund to balance the budget.