El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees members Valerie Beals and Daniel Call have resigned from the district’s school board, leaving a vacancy in Districts 6 and 7, which include the Westside.

In a statement to KFOX14/CBS4, the district confirmed Beals’ resignation, stating that her resignation is effective June 6.

While the district has not provided a reason for her resignation, Beals’ term, which began in June 2023, had been set to run through May 2027.

Additionally, in a statement to KFOX14/CBS4, Call confirmed he is resigning and provided the following statement.

Seven years ago, the people of my district entrusted me with this office by electing me with 78% of the vote. Since then, I have given this position everything I had. I invested my time, energy, and best judgment into serving the students, families, employees, and taxpayers of El Paso ISD. That has come at the expense of time with my beautiful wife, my five children, and my livelihood.No trustee gets every decision right, and I certainly haven’t. But I leave with a clear conscience, knowing I always tried to do what I believed was best for the district. While I respectfully and strongly disagree with the direction this board has chosen for EPISD, I stood when it would have been easier to sit, and I spoke when it would have been easier to remain silent.Serving on this board has been an honor. I leave grateful for the trust placed in me and confident that, in the end, truth, accountability, and good governance will eventually prevail.

Call, whose term began in May 2023, was set to end in May 2027.

In a statement to KFOX14/CBS4, Leah Hanany, the district’s board president, said both Beals and Call submitted their resignations earlier today.

“Earlier today, Trustee Valerie Beals and Trustee Daniel Call submitted their resignations. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we thank them for their years of service and wish them well,” Hanany said.

District 6 covers several schools, including Brown Middle School, Franklin High School, Guerrero Elementary School, Herrera Elementary School, Hornedo Middle School, Kohlberg Elementary School, Lundy Elementary School, Polk Elementary School, and Tippin Elementary School.

District 7 covers White Elementary, Haskins PK-8, Murphree PK-8, Western Hills Elementary, and Coronado High School.

Meanwhile, the resignations come amid the district’s financial struggles as EPISD declared financial exigency yesterday, allowing for termination of contracts, employment agreements and programs without penalties.

The financial exigency declaration was voted on 5-1 at a special board meeting held on Thursday, in which Beals was not present, and Call voted against it.

The vote comes as district leaders have been working to balance the district’s budget by the end of June, as the district is projecting a shortfall of roughly $42.1 million for the 2026-2027 budget year.

After the vote, the course of action the board decided to take will decrease the projected budget shortfall to about $4.3 million and will cut 54 teacher positions, 40 contracted employees, and 150 “at will” employees.

RECOMMENDED: El Paso ISD declares financial exigency, paving way for contract and program terminations

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