EPISD Board Approves Controversial Closure of Eight Elementary Schools

The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) has announced that it will close eight elementary schools in an effort to address significant budgetary challenges. The decision, confirmed late Tuesday night, was approved in a close vote by the EPISD Board of Trustees, with four members voting in favor and three voting against the closures. This move has been met with considerable opposition from parents and community members.

«When you close down the school, you’ll impact the community around it,» one community member remarked ahead of the vote. These schools, seen by some as the lifeblood of the neighborhoods they serve, are facing closure amidst concerns from parents and local residents about the potential adverse effects on their communities and children.

The vote came after a month-long deliberation following the board’s recommendation on October 17 to close 10 schools to combat a projected $32.2 million deficit for the fiscal year 2025–26. The revised plan, unveiled on Monday, reduces the number of schools slated for closure to eight, as Hillside and Park were removed following feedback from the public.

The closures will occur in two phases, with the first phase slated for the 2025–2026 academic year, followed by the second in 2026–2027. EPISD’s statement highlights the «severe consequences of inaction,» indicating a potential negative impact on educational programs and district financial health if closures do not proceed. The school district projects that the closures will ultimately reduce the budget deficit by 65.8 percent, translating to savings of $15.5 million in FY2026 and $5.7 million in FY2027.

Despite the financial rationale provided by the district, the announcement has reignited memories of the district’s last closure round in 2019 when four elementary schools were shut down. Residents have expressed concerns similar to those voiced during the previous closures, which included public protests and a hunger strike.

Anais Salcedo, a parent of a student at one of the schools facing closure, stated that the change would exert additional pressure on her family, particularly due to lack of transportation. «It would mean a lot of pressure for me because I don’t have a car to go to another school,» Salcedo explained. Her sentiment was echoed by former students and community members who described the local schools as integral to the neighborhood’s fabric.

EPISD has yet to address specific inquiries about how lessons learned from the 2019 closures might influence the current proposal. Nevertheless, the board asserts that the closures are a necessary step towards ensuring long-term financial stability and preserving educational standards across the district.