EPISD’s school closure plan down to four elementary schools
The El Paso Independent School District is now considering the closure of four schools instead of ten.
Thursday, ABC-7 learned the four elementary schools being considered for possible closure are Beall, Burleson, Alta Vista and Schuster. All four could close for the 2019-2020 school year. Schuster elementary was already approved for consolidation with Dowell and Crosby elementary schools.
About a dozen grandparents and parents of students attending Beall Elementary showed up to protest at Thursday’s school board meeting.
“We want the district to recognize a large number of families depend greatly in the existence of Beall Elementary because it’s in the center of our community,” said Hilda Villegas, a concerned parent.
District officials said EPISD is facing a shrinking budget because student enrollment numbers are dropping. All schools considered for closure have fewer than 65 percent capacity rates.
Board President Trent Hatch said closing four schools will not fix the district’s budget problems right away. “Because we have four schools that we’re considering closing to right size our district, that doesn’t mean we’re done and we’re off the hook. If the numbers keep dropping, we’ve gotta continue this discussion,” said Hatch.
Beall parents told ABC-7 they will not go down without a fight and said they have the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aide on their side if the board moves forward to approve the closure. “We are ready to take some legal action when it’s necessary,” said Villegas.
Thursday’s school board meeting was only a workshop. No vote was taken to move forward with the school closures. Hatch told ABC-7 the district has not decided when that vote will come.
