City Council Votes To Discontinue Agreement To Help Pay For School Improvements

Members of El Pas City Council are hoping to avoid continuing to foot part of the bill for improvements to schools in El Paso.

City Council voted unanimously to have City officials write up a new standard to have school districts pay 100 percent of the cost for upcoming school improvements, with the exception of electricity costs for upkeep and running of crosswalk flashers.

Several examples were brought up about the need for crosswalks near schools with busy roads that students cross. City Rep. Cortney Niland got upset pointing out that school districts often don’t discuss the placement of schools with City Council, a point that was seconded by a member of the City’s Planning and Economic Department.

“Listen, if you continue to put schools on busy roads we’re not going to have any sympathy for you,” Niland said.

Niland and City Rep. Susie Byrd discussed the idea of the Planning Department coming up with design standards for schools, however, that issue was not voted on.