Canutillo ISD: Board rejects Hunt Communities $10K donation for removing U.S. flag

The Canutillo Independent School District board voted 6-1 to not accept a donation from the Hunt Communities at Tuesday ‘s board meeting.

Six trustees were in favor of the rejection, one abstained.

Earlier this month Reyes Elementary, named after former El Paso Congressman Silvestre Reyes and his wife Carolina, painted an American flag on the side of the school.

Reyes agreed with the art. But Reyes Elementary is located in an area in Canutillo developed by Hunt Communities, which has strict color-scheme standards in the covenant, set in 2011. The district knew about the covenant, but after the covenant was signed, the impression of a flag was imprinted on the school wall. The district said with a flag design already on the wall, the district and Hunt Communities are exploring different designs, including painting a flag.

Hunt Communities did not like the idea and made the school paint over the flag, something veterans and Reyes took issue with.

Hunt Communities responded by offering a $10,000 donation to build a flag pole or veterans memorial. The board took issue with the donation because the district had already purchased a flag pole for the school.

The board rejected the donation, believing it was earmarked specifically for a flag pole. But District Spokesperson Shane B. Griffith said conversations continue between CISD and Hunt Communities continue.

“All I can say is that conversation with all parties, including veterans and Hunt are on-going and so we’ll see what the future holds,” Griffith said.

Hunt Communities told ABC-7 they are not commenting publicly.