EPISD discusses proposal with parents that would merge aspects of Mesita, Vilas schools

Mesita and Vilas elementary parents: Some programming changes may be coming to your school.

If approved by the El Paso Independent School District board of managers on March 18, Vilas Elementary School will become part of a Mesita Elementary School expansion that will focus on early childhood education. The proposal is being called one school, two campuses by the EPISD public relations team.

Thursday night parent meetings were held at both elementary schools. ABC-7 was told there was a bit of a shock at first, but parents we spoke with said they support the idea.

EPISD’s district spokeswoman said the early childhood center would be a partnership with the University of Texas at El Paso. It would focus on pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade students, offering dual language programs and more.

If EPISD’s board of managers approves this proposal, the changes would go into effect as early as next school year.

“Once the program gets started, people will be banging on the doors to get their children into that. Early childhood is so critical,” parent Keith Fong said. “For my own children, it’s made a huge difference. I’m happy for the district to do such a thing.”

All the logistics, such as transporting students and the like, will be fully explained to parents if the proposal passes.

The Vilas campus would be pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first graders. Mesita would be second through fifth.

ABC-7 will stay on top of any developments on this story.