EPISD Budget Battle: Board Divided On Key Financial Decisions

It’s a budget battle with your child’s education at stake. The El Paso Independent School District is bracing for a 5 percent budget cut that could turn out to be much larger, but so far the board is divided on some important financial decisions.

On Tuesday a close vote kept open two schools, Zavala Elementary and Schuster Elementary, that had previously been on the chopping block. A proposal to reduce the number of academic coaches in the district was also struck.

“The cuts that were avoided may have to come back to the table,” said trustee David Dodge in an interview with ABC-7.

He said the board is having too much trouble sticking to a 2011-2012 Preliminary Budget, even with the looming threat of deeper cuts once a final budget comes down from state lawmakers.

“There are no plans (for further cuts),” said Dodge.

Dodge did vote to keep the two schools open during Tuesday’s meeting because, he said, closing them would do more harm than good. To make up for that money, he suggested cutting more positions at EPISD’s central office and reducing the number of academic coaches.

“The board is going to wait until they have absolutely no other choice to make tough decisions,” said Dodge.

ABC-7 spoke with Board of Trustees President Patricia Hughes over the phone Wednesday. She agreed the faster, the better when it comes down to making cuts. Hughes said the extra time can help the district better prepare for the budget-cut fallout.

Hughes alluded to a round of cuts last month where 116 positions were eliminated. She said all the employees who previously filled those positions will have the choice to stay with the district in a different capacity.

Dodge said he worries the board’s hesitation to cut now will make for hasty decisions later. “We’re gonna have to, without any prior planning, run around and make some very quick decisions without really thinking them through,” he said. “They’re waiting to panic later.”

Dodge maintains there are more positions at the central office that need to be cut to balance the budget. “People are going to have to step up and take more responsibilities.”

EPISD Superintendent Dr. Lorenzo Garcia said he was not available to speak with ABC-7 Wednesday afternoon, but issued a statement regarding current reductions at the central office.

“The district?s focus is on academics and student achievement. With that in mind, we began cutting administrative costs during the last 5 years including reducing an additional $2.7 million in administrative costs this year. EPISD has among the lowest administrative costs in the State. We?ll continue to work hard to keep academics and student achievement our number one priority.”