El Paso ISD now facing $17 million deficit

The El Paso Independent School District confirmed Monday, it is now facing a $17 million deficit, up from the $11.8 million administrators first reported. A spokeswoman for the district said the increase is due mainly to lower student enrollment numbers, which mean the district will receive less money from the state.

At a community meeting at Jefferson High, administrators spoke with concerned teachers and parents about the looming budget short fall and it’s effect on the 2014-2015 school year.

“Uh yeah, there’s frustration,” said Jim Clark, Athletic Coordinator at Jefferson High. “Teachers are frustrated.”

It wasn’t a big turn out at Jefferson High’s community budget meeting, but Clark made sure to be there.

“What are we going to do right now, that’s the big question,” Clark said.

The district is estimating it’ll have $17 million less — a number that continues to grow as more data comes in. Not only will there be less state funding due to lower enrollment, but the district needs new textbooks, new vehicles, upgrades to its technology tools and buildings, all which costs upwards of $13 million.

Superintendent Juan Cabrera wrote just last week on the district’s site:

“In the past few days, it has become evident that bigger cuts will have to be made and our financial health is in worse shape than previously thought.”

So far he and his team decided to:
– Eliminate 1 of the 2 prep periods for teachers, so they can help in other classrooms
– Move middle schools from block scheduling to traditional
– and they may raise the 21-to-1 student to teacher ratio

These changes, along with lower student attendance, mean the district doesn’t need as many teachers.

“There’s nervousness on the displacements,” said EPISD Associate Superintendent of Human Resources Robert Almanzan.

About 131 people will be displaced next school year because the district just can’t support these positions with fewer students. EPISD offered a $2,500 incentive for teachers who resigned or retired this year, and are now in a hiring freeze, with the hope it will open up more jobs for the surplus of teachers.

But even though they’re not being laid off, Almanzan said the main concern he’s hearing at these community meetings is teachers don’t want to move.

“You hear folks say well I’m a Jeff teacher or I’m a Bowie teacher,” Almanzan said. “What our goal is over the years if for folks to say well I’m an EPISD teacher.”