EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso Independent School District said it has revised its list of school closures but faces “severe consequences” if it doesn’t take action under its proposed Destination District Redesign, it said in a news release sent out on Monday, Nov. 18.
In response to community feedback and additional data analysis, the district says it has updated its school closure recommendations.
Travis Elementary is now slated for closure in 2026-27, according to revised recommendations from EPISD.
Park Elementary and Hillside Elementary have been removed from the closure list, and the timeline for closing Travis Elementary and Stanton Elementary has been extended to the 2026–2027 school year, the district said.
“These updates emphasize EPISD’s commitment to community engagement and data-driven decision-making,” it said in its news release.
The district says it will face a projected $32.2 million deficit for Fiscal Year 2025-26 if it does not take “decisive action.”
The El Paso ISD Board of Trustees will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, to review and discuss the updated recommendations. The meeting will be held at the EPISD Administration Building, 1014 N. Stanton St.
Here is a look at the revised recommendations for school closures:
Phase I (2025–2026): Carlos Rivera Elementary; Lamar Elementary; Newman Elementary; Putnam Elementary; Rusk Elementary; and Zavala Elementary.
Phase II (2026–2027): Stanton Elementary; and Travis Elementary
“Doing the right thing is never easy, but it is always necessary,” Superintendent Diana Sayavedra said. “We understand the profound impact these discussions have on our families, staff, and students. However, the consequences of inaction would harm every student, teacher, and family in our district. These decisions are difficult but essential to protect the future of public education in El Paso.”
The district says that failure to act will have “significant negative impacts.” These include, according to EPISD, workforce reductions including teacher and staff positions, program cuts and increasing size of classrooms at the secondary level.
The district says a projected revenue shortfall will increase to $39 million in FY2027 and $45 in FY2028.
The district says by consolidating underutilized schools it can redirect resources to improve classroom instruction, preserve and increase academic success for students and increase choice for parents, and help the district achieve long-term financial stability.
The closures are expected to result in cost reductions of approximately $15.5 million in FY2026, with an additional $5.7 million projected for FY2027, the district said.
These measures will reduce the district’s projected budget deficit of $32.2 million by 65.8%, it said.
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