El Paso Independent School District is considering a $445 million bond package aimed at long-delayed campus upgrades, including major repairs and cooling improvements at aging schools across the district. District officials say the bond would not impact taxes.<\/p>\n
The largest share of the proposed bond would go toward deferred maintenance, estimated at $175 million. Another $93.8 million is earmarked for HVAC and cooling systems.<\/p>\n
District leaders recently highlighted the need during a walkthrough at Frederick Douglass Elementary School, one of the district\u2019s campuses built in the 1960s. Joel Valencia, EPISD\u2019s senior director of operations, described the challenges of keeping older buildings comfortable and functional as temperatures rise.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe history in this school, we’re proud of it, but now as El Paso weather is getting hotter, we’re getting hotter,\u201d Valencia said. \u201cAnd this is technology from years back. This isn’t current technology. This isn’t current. We need to upgrade services like we do in our homes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valencia said maintenance teams have made changes over time, but the systems remain outdated. \u201cSo units have been changed. Our maintenance staff has made improvements, but this is something that, you know the technology is old,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
RELATED: EPISD says budget deficit reduced to $4.3 million after financial cuts<\/a><\/p>\n He said the bond proposal also addresses safety-related upgrades. \u201cHVAC is important. We want to also make sure that life safety- which life safety is our alarms, our fire alarms. We’ve got to make sure our buildings are up to code,\u201d Valencia said.<\/p>\n Asked about relying on temporary cooling solutions, Valencia said, \u201cYeah, like you said, it’s temporary, but we need a permanent solution in order to ensure that our students have the best learning environment and have the experience in a school.\u201d<\/p>\n During the walkthrough, Valencia pointed to a classroom building used for early childhood students and described how the district has tried to cool it. \u201cSo this is where we have our little kids, our pre-K fours, pre-k threes, and this building was converted to refrigerators. We put package units on the roof and this is building is now cooled by refrigerator. As you can see the difference now the building is much cooler,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Valencia called the bond a significant investment. \u201cAs you can see, I mean, by the size of the bond, what we’re asking for that money, it’s a significant investment, but it’s an investment that’s worth it because at the end of the day, our children is what’s really being, are gonna benefit from this. Not only the current students, but generations to come,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n EPISD-2026-Bond-FAQ.EnglishPDF previewPreview PDF<\/p>\n EPISD-2026-Bond-FAQ.English<\/p>\n View PDF<\/a><\/p>\n The district\u2019s Citizens Bond Committee, which held 55 meetings to determine priorities, has outlined needs that include deferred maintenance, HVAC, technology and cybersecurity. The committee says three schools are in critical condition and more than 15 other campuses are categorized as being in poor condition.<\/p>\n Linda Rivas, a parent and a member of the Citizens Bond Steering Committee, said the process has not been rushed and pointed to broader financial concerns facing the district.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a parent and a committee member, I think something that’s very important is that this is not happening in a vacuum. We all hear of the budgetary crisis that is happening at EPISD and we are all rightfully concerned, but this bond is a way for the district to regain the trust and at the end of the day,\u201d Rivas said.<\/p>\n Starting tomorrow, the EPISD Board of Trustees will host a series of information nights focused on the future of the district and the potential bond proposal. EPISD families, staff and community members will be able to meet with their elected trustee, ask questions and provide feedback.<\/p>\n The first three events will be held at Mindy Sutton Elementary and Andress High School from 5:30 to 6:30. Another meeting will be held at Franklin High School starting at 6:45.<\/p>\n The district will also host candidate forums for those running for EPISD Board of Trustees seats in November.<\/p>\n More information and poll: click here. <\/a><\/p>\n