Ysleta ISD campus equity plans: ABC-7 takes a tour of two very different schools

On Wednesday the Ysleta Independent School District board will vote on whether to send a $442.5 million bond to voters this May.

The bond will pay for major upgrades to schools, as well as fund the district’s “Equity Access Initiatives.” These initiatives are a strategy to give YISD students the same educational experience as kids anywhere else in El Paso.

“The equity initiative probably was driven in part by my experience as a superintendent at Socorro Independent School District and having been involved and passing that bond there,” said YISD Superintendent Xavier De La Torre,PhD.

YISD committees visited schools inside and outside the district to see the strengths and weaknesses of the schools. They found three areas where YISD should devote money: athletic needs, such as better gyms; fine arts needs, such as better auditoriums; technology needs, such as better computer labs.

ABC-7 asked the district for an example of inequity within the district, and the district offered two elementary schools that offered two completely different experiences.

Mission Valley Elementary and Del Valle Elementary,both in the Lower Valley and barely five minutes apart, is stunning.

While Mission Valley has holes in the walls, cramped classrooms with broken windows, and a gym that doubles as an auditorium and cafeteria.

“The condition of our building is in desperate need of repair,” said Mission Valley Elementary Principal Ruben Cardena.

Del Valle is a green campus with windows in every classroom, some that stretch the span of the walls.This newer campus has iPads for each of the higher grade levels, digital cafes, and cozy learning areas.

“There are many opportunities for lessons in science,” said Del Valle Elementary Principal Lisa Lopez.

According to YISD’s preliminary Facilities Master Plan, students in substandard school buildings perform at lower levels than students in newer facilities.

The plan also said students in classrooms with windows, and more exposure to daylight as opposed to florescent light have a 21 percent increase in performance.
Student attitudes and morale are affected by deteriorating schools.

While Mission Valley is representative of many of YISD’s aging buildings, Del Valle is what it’s like for kids in the newer Socorro ISD.

“It’s great for the students in Socorro and I’m glad they have the opportunity and that access,” De La Torre said. “But I want the kids in Ysleta to have that same opportunity as well.”