EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) – El Paso Independent School District trustees are expected to discuss a proposed $445 million bond package Tuesday as the district considers whether to put the measure before voters in November.
District leaders say the proposed bond would address aging campuses and infrastructure needs across EPISD, including heating and cooling systems, deferred maintenance, technology and other improvements.
EPISD Superintendent Dr. Brian Lusk said the age of many district campuses is contributing to the need for repairs.
“We have 32 schools that are over 60 years old,” Lusk said. “And just to put that in perspective, the average of schools across this country, the average age is 49. We have swamp coolers in our schools.”
Under the current proposal, nearly $94 million would go toward HVAC and cooling upgrades, while about $175 million would be dedicated to deferred maintenance.
Dr. Lusk said the bond would help replace evaporative cooling systems and update refrigerated air systems at campuses where improvements are needed.
“This bond proposal would provide HVAC support for all of our schools that have swamp coolers,” Lusk said. “It would also take care of refrigerated air for schools that need updates.”
In the meantime, Dr. Lusk said EPISD is using temporary cooling systems at some campuses that rely on evaporative coolers as the district works to address immediate needs.
RELATED: EPISD weighs $445M bond, with $175M for repairs and $93.8M for cooling upgrades
The proposed bond comes after months of work examining facility conditions across EPISD.
Board President Leah Hanany said an 85-member Citizens Bond Advisory Committee held 55 meetings as it reviewed the district’s needs.
Hanany said the process identified roughly $1 billion in needs across EPISD, with much of that tied to deferred maintenance.
Hanany adds the proposal is focused largely on basic facility needs rather than constructing new buildings.
Some of those problems are already affecting students.
“The boys at Bowie High School are showering every morning in cold water, and that’s heartbreaking,” Hanany said. “We want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can as the adults in the room to give our kids the very basics.”
Hanany also pointed to refrigerated air conditioning, plumbing, classroom improvements, athletic facilities and fine arts spaces as areas identified through the bond process.
The potential bond comes as EPISD works to move forward from a difficult financial period that included a major budget shortfall and job cuts.
Dr. Lusk said the district’s financial position has since improved. He said EPISD now has more than 40 days of fund balance, totaling more than $60 million.
Dr. Lusk also adds the district has overcome the $4 million deficit included in the 2026-27 budget approved by trustees in June.
Hanany acknowledged the district still faces questions about community trust as it considers asking voters to approve hundreds of millions of dollars in new debt.
She said district leaders have been mindful of the financial pressure on families and are considering a bond structured without an increase to the district’s tax rate.
“We do not want to raise the tax rate,” Hanany said. “We want to be able to borrow money to address our critical infrastructure needs without raising the tax rate.”
Hanany said rebuilding trust will also require continued communication with families and taxpayers. She said recent community information nights were designed both to explain the bond process and allow district leaders to hear concerns from residents.
The EPISD Board of Trustees is expected to discuss the bond proposal during its meeting Tuesday evening.
The proposal is not yet on the November ballot.
Trustees are expected to discuss whether to move forward with placing the bond before voters. If the proposal advances, voters would ultimately decide whether to approve the bond in the November election.
EPISD has posted additional information about the proposed bond, facility needs and the Citizens Bond Advisory Committee’s work on its website.
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