EPISD to upgrade school buses if $669 million bond is approved

The El Paso Independent School District is looking to add more new buses to its fleet in the next few years.

Up until last year, the average age of an EPISD school bus was more than 20 years old.

A fleet of new buses is already in use to take students to school everyday. The purchase of new buses was made after voters approved the 2015 Penny Swap election.

It allowed EPISD to move three cents around to help pay for day-to-day operations by moving the change from the portion of the district’s tax rate that pays for debt and putting it into teacher raises, classroom technologies, educational programs and school bus modernization efforts.

EPISD transportation director Oscar Anchondo said it will cost $8.4 million to replace the remaining buses.

The district wants to purchase 81 new buses if voters approve the upcoming $669 million bond election on November 8.

“The students will have a more comfortable bus ride, all buses come equipped with air conditioning and camera systems,” saind Anchondo.

The special-needs buses will have seat belts and motorized wheelchair lifts.

Anchondo said the new buses are fueled by propane gas.

“Propane fuel is less-expensive and more environmentally friendly because it burns cleaner,” Anchondo said.

The group ‘Taxpayers, Veterans and Friends of Education Coalition’ is opposed to the bond election. Members said not enough funding will go to educational programs or to schools in south El Paso.

The organization said it will aggressively campaign against the bond until election day.

Election day is November 8, early voting takes place from Oct. 24-Nov. 4.