EPISD Budget Reduction Plan
Dear EPISD Community,
Thank you for your interest in the education of students in the El Paso Independent School District. Thanks to our employees and students hard work and dedication, we achieved great academic success during the last four years. I am proud to share that our District has a record breaking 38 Exemplary schools, 41 Recognized, and 7 Academically Acceptable campuses. None of our schools are Unacceptable. Further, I am humbled to announce that EPISD is a Recognized school district under the State of Texas School Accountability System. I truly appreciate the time and dedication our employees, parents, and especially our students have given to achieve this outstanding goal.
We have a lot to celebrate and to be grateful for. At the same time, we have some financial challenges ahead of us. Many of you have expressed concerns and asked questions about how the District will move forward after the Tax Ratification Election did not pass.
First, I am confident that our employees will continue to do their very best for our students during these challenging times. Please rest assured that we have the support of our Board of Trustees which believes in the progress that we are making.
From a financial perspective, we are continuing to gather data to determine how we can trim $16 million to $19 million from our budget over the next two years.
We have notified all central office personnel and campuses to freeze expenditures except for emergency purchases, with few exceptions. In addition, we have put personnel vacancies on hold at the central office level. At the Board meeting on June 22, 2010, the Trustees approved the closure of Houston Elementary School, one of the three elementary campuses that had been identified last year as a possible closure. Other than these immediate steps, we are currently reviewing other possible areas where cuts can be made.
The District is responsible for many unfunded mandates from the state and faced with rising costs that are beyond our control. A Budget Stakeholder Committee has been formed. This committee, which includes employees, community business leaders, PTA members and parents among other citizens, will meet over the next two years. Its primary charge will be to protect the classroom and student programs. We will keep the Board of Trustees informed throughout the process.
Once again, our first priority will be to protect the classroom, student programs, and teaching jobs. The Committee's recommendations will assist our Board of Trustees in developing a plan for the upcoming school year and beyond.
Ultimately, the Board will be approving a budget for the 2010-11 school year later this summer. Please know that we will continue to do our best for our students, employees and community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lorenzo García
Superintendent
The El Paso ISD does not discriminate in its educational programs or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, military status, or on any other basis prohibited by law. Inquiries concerning the application of Titles VI, VII, IX and Section 504 may be referred to the district compliance officer, Vincent Sheffield, at 881-2619; Section 504 inquiries regarding students may be referred to Cecilia Whiteman at 881-2527.
