EL PASO, Texas — El Paso Independent School District is accelerating a districtwide effort to repurpose and sell surplus properties, part of a broader strategy to responsibly manage public assets while returning unused facilities to productive use in the community.
As part of that work, the Board of Trustees recently approved the sale of the former Mitzi Bond Elementary School property.
District leaders say the initiative reflects a more deliberate push by the Board of Trustees and administration to address vacant or underutilized district properties that no longer serve students. The effort includes providing a clearer accounting of which properties have been sold, which remain available, and how remaining sites may be redeveloped in ways that align with neighborhood needs.
“This work begins with understanding what we own, what is currently in use, and what properties no longer support our operational needs,” said Deputy Superintendent of Operations David Bates. “From there, we can responsibly move forward with marketing those properties and identifying opportunities that bring them back into active use while remaining mindful of the surrounding community.”
The district has already completed the sale of several properties and continues to evaluate additional sites for potential sale or redevelopment. Officials say each property is reviewed carefully to determine whether it should remain part of the district’s long-term footprint or be transitioned for other uses.
District staff are working with real estate professionals and following state requirements to market surplus properties publicly. The process includes outreach and transparency about how properties are being considered and how potential future uses may affect surrounding neighborhoods.
“Our goal is not simply to sell property,” Bates said. “It is to ensure that these sites are transitioned thoughtfully and that the process reflects both fiscal responsibility and respect for the communities that have long been connected to these campuses.”
Board President Leah Hanany said the Board has asked district leadership to move more decisively in addressing unused facilities while ensuring the process remains transparent.
“Public assets should not sit idle while our district works to direct resources toward classrooms and student learning,” Hanany said. “The Board has asked for a clear and accountable process that shows what has been sold, what remains, and how these transitions will be handled in a way that respects our neighborhoods.”
District officials say updates will continue as additional properties move through the evaluation and sales process, guided in part by the ongoing work of the Citizens Bond Steering Committee. Leaders say the effort is designed to ensure district resources remain focused on supporting students while surplus properties are responsibly returned to productive use for the benefit of the broader community.