EPISD celebrating; looking for public input on projects after nearly $669 million bond passes

El Paso voters approved the largest school bond in the city’s history.

The nearly $669 million bond passed with 55 percent of the vote.

The majority of people in 19 precincts voted no. Some argued the bond was simply too high. Others worried the money would not be spread across the district.

In far northeast El Paso, the majority of people living near Nolan Richardson Middle and Nixon Elementary schools voted against the bond.

In the northeast, a majority of voters living near Lee Elementary and Magoffin Middle said no to EPISD.

On the west side, the majority of voters living near Tippin, Polk Elementary and Franklin High voted against the bond.

In the upper valley, the majority of voters in the precinct near Lincoln Middle School, Mitzi Bond and Zach White elementary voted against the bond.

On the east side, the district near Cielo Vista elementary reported a majority of voters said no to the largest bond in the city’s history.

Still, the bond passed and EPISD is now looking to future projects aimed at transforming the district.

EPISD Superintendent Juan Cabrera spoke at Burgess High School, one of seven schools slated for renovation.

“These modern learning spaces won’t have traditional classes. They are not going to have rows of desks. They will be much more collaborative and open to facilitate project and problem based learning,” Cabrera said.

The district is also looking to the community for input on the projects officials hope to finish in five years.

EPISD Board President Dori Fenenbock welcomes advice on issues such as surplus buildings once schools have been consolidated.

“Absolutely, there will be community discussions and opportunities for them to weigh in on the design and other decisions that they can help us make,” Fenenbock said.

Officials are calling the passage of the bond a vote of confidence in the district and a commitment to the city’s children.

District officials said they have made four promises to voters. They are in the process of creating a community bond oversight committee and hiring a third party bond oversight firm. Current and future trustees will be bound to the projects. And all projects will be listed on the EPISD website enabling the public to keep up with progress in real time.