EPISD votes to keep Lamar Elementary open
Update (9:15 p.m.) -- In a 5 to 2 vote, EPISD school board has voted to keep Lamar Elementary open this upcoming school year.
Board president Leah Hanany, Vice President Dr. Jack Loveridge, District 3 Trustee Alex Cuellar, District 4 Trustee Mindy Sutton, and District 5 Trustee Robert Osterland voted in favor of Lamar.
District 6 Trustee Valerie Beals and District 7 Trustee Daniel Call voted against the motion.
"The bottom line is an A-rated school, two time National Blue Ribbon School, a school that scored in the top 1% for student belonging, should have never been, considered for closure in the first place," said Hanany.
ABC-7 spoke to a parent of Lamar students who said that she's excited. They live close to Lamar and don't want to move schools.
"This is going to take a lot of strain off of them financially, and emotionally knowing they can keep their kids there," said Erika Morales.
Daniel Call was the most vocal trustee at the meeting. "Financially, we're on the Titanic and it's sinking," he said.
Call said that the district has a projected $31 million deficit for next year and bringing Lamar back would add $3 million more.
"This is like having a $31 million bonfire and throwing another $3.2 million on top of that. It's insane."
Hanany emphasized transparency for the community, and that having this conversation is important for the future. She said schools like Lamar are the ones they should be keeping open.
"If we are not looking at academic excellence first and foremost, and we are doing a great disservice to the students in this district. It is my intention and our intention as a board. I think going forward that academic excellence will be the absolute priority for this district."
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Independent School District School Board will be meeting on Tuesday, expected to vote on a possible reverse of a plan to close one elementary school.
Lamar Elementary Schools is one of 8 elementary schools they voted to close.
This plan was proposed by Superintendent Diana Sayavedra and her administration, which approved it back in November on a 4-3 vote.
Only two of the trustees who voted to close the school remain on the board.
The newest board president, Leah Hanany, told El Paso Matters that Lamar Elementary is an A-rated school that serves a big population of socio-economically disadvantaged students.
ABC-7 requested a comment from EPISD and they responded with a statement saying in part:
"... This decision reflects a collaborative effort to balance the district's commitment to delivering high-quality education for all students with the need to ensure long-term stability and sustainability..."
The board will be meeting at 5 p.m.
