EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 An audit obtained by KFOX 14\/CBS4 revealed multiple deficiencies in how technology was purchased and used in the El Paso Independent School District this year.<\/p>\n
The audit found the district had a surplus of technology, some of which was never placed in classrooms, and had some items missing. <\/p>\n
The audit conducted in April of 2026 focuses on the purchase and allocation of interactive touchscreens, some of which were purchased with federal funds and other technology bought with EPISD’s 2016 bond money. <\/p>\n
According to the audit, EPISD had a surplus of 929 interactive touchscreens amounting to $2.3 million, with some of the screens left in storage for well over a year before they were put in classrooms. <\/p>\n
There was also a purchase of over $800,000 in Dell servers, but according to the audit, of the 88 purchased, only 22 were operational. <\/p>\n
Additionally, two years after the purchase, they still hadn’t been used, the audit states. <\/p>\n
READ THE FULL AUDIT: <\/p>\n
The audit also showed some servers went missing.<\/p>\n
There was also questions over why some of the touchscreens in classrooms that were only a few years old and still under warranty were swapped out for new ones. <\/p>\n
After being questioned by auditors, the former assistant superintendent of the technology department, said the new technology offered more advantages for the students to learn. <\/p>\n
The former assistant superintendent also acknowledged the surplus, saying there were over 100 unused touchscreens stored at closed campuses and would be repurposed at other open schools, the audit states. <\/p>\n
Additionally, the audit states the technology department is understaffed and at times unable to complete work. <\/p>\n
Some of the other discrepancies include incorrectly reporting tech inventory to the Texas Education agency, correctly documenting purchases and some change orders were made without approval, according to the audit. <\/p>\n
The audit concluded EPISD’s technology department “underutilized district assets and inefficiently used funds that could have otherwise supported instructional needs.” It also states that out of the 80 tech inventory items looked at, 53 discrepancies were found. <\/p>\n
Several recommendations were made in the audit to include better oversight of not just inventory but purchases as well and how equipment is distributed to campuses. <\/p>\n
KFOX14\/CBS4 has reached out to EPISD officials for comment on the audit and whether the recommendations from auditors have been implemented. A district spokesperson said they were looking into it and would get back to us. <\/p>\n
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