Save our schools!
The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) is proposing to close 10 elementary schools. They claim there’s no other choice—but there is! The Board of Trustees, elected by us, will vote on a plan on November 19th. Now is the time to hold them accountable! This is about our children, our neighborhoods, and our future. We need every voice to speak out against these harmful school closures. Please sign the petition below to make your voice heard. ~Save Our Schools Coalition
Contact/questions
915-209-2128 - saveourschoolsepisd@gmail.com
More information
https://www.projectamanecer.org/closures
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Comments
Dear School Board Trustees, Superintendent Sayavedra, Senator Blanco, and Congresswoman Escobar, I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed school closures in El Paso ISD. Given our district's history and ongoing issues with transparency, I fear that this decision may cause more harm than good. Our community has faced repeated cycles of corruption and poor decisions, and these closures would deepen mistrust between families and the district, ultimately harming the very children we are meant to serve. History of Mistrust El Paso ISD has a history of making decisions without sufficient community input, leading to outcomes that have left families feeling ignored and undervalued. Past closures were made under the guise of improving educational outcomes or managing budgets, but these actions led to broken promises and left many communities with fewer resources and opportunities. Families remember promises of better educational environments and increased support that never materialized. Instead, they saw their schools close, support systems disintegrate, and their neighborhoods suffer as a result. Families had no choice but to sue EPISD and, as a result of that settlement, EPISD is in the process of conducting an equity audit. We must wait for this audit to be complete before closing more schools and harming more communities. Continued Corruption at EPISD The Board President, Israel Irrobali, is the Executive Director of a contractors association. His members, who are his bosses, stand to benefit from a plan that ties millions of dollars in contracts to the closing of schools. Mr. Irrobali must abstain from the vote and discussions on school closures and any real estate matter, including the upcoming bond proposal. El Paso ISD should focus on repairing its reputation, not jump into another corruption scandal. Negative Impact on Schools and Students Closing 20% of our elementary schools in six months would be devastating for our children, families, and communities. Many of these schools are in areas already lacking proper investment, and shutting them down would only remove what little support these students have left. Children thrive on stability, and uprooting them by moving them to new schools, separating them from friends, and adjusting to new teachers will undoubtedly cause stress and academic setbacks. Many of the students in these schools are already facing challenges, and disrupting their education will only worsen their outcomes. Our district is struggling with low academic performance, and this plan threatens to push students even further behind, particularly those who are most vulnerable. This plan would also create school deserts in many communities, pushing students into charter schools and out of public education. Financial Considerations and Lack of Clarity The financial argument for these closures remains unclear and, frankly, unconvincing. The projected savings have not been fully explained, and there has been no transparent accounting of the hidden costs involved. Moving students to other schools means increased transportation costs, potential staffing challenges, and possible facility maintenance expenses for empty buildings that attract vandalism and crime. Families have seen promises of savings before, only to find that costs end up being much higher due to poor planning and unexpected issues. Without a clear and honest assessment of the financial implications, this plan risks creating more problems than it solves, all while eroding the community's trust in the district even further. I urge you to reconsider this path and engage the community in finding better solutions that will not dismantle our schools or deepen the mistrust that already exists. We need to invest in our schools and children, not abandon them. Thank you for considering these concerns. I hope you do right by children and families. Sincerely,
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