As El Paso Independent School District looks to the future, it is doing so with intention, and with the community at the center of the conversation.
This week, the District announced the launch of its Citizens Bond Steering Committee and Charter, marking an important step in shaping the next era of educational excellence for students across El Paso.
District leaders have been studying facilities through a technical lens. Using a comprehensive Facility Condition Index (FCI), architects and engineers evaluated campuses across the district, identifying structural needs, aging systems, and long-term capital priorities. The result was a detailed, data-driven snapshot of where our buildings stand today.
But schools are more than bricks and blueprints. They are built on the passion of the people who serve in them.
Now, El Paso ISD is broadening the conversation.
Through the Citizens Bond Steering Committee, students, parents, teachers, business leaders, and community members will help answer a different — and equally important — question:
What do we want our schools to be?
The committee will work collaboratively to review facility data, explore modernization possibilities, and define priorities that reflect the community’s aspirations. From innovative learning spaces and fine arts facilities to athletics, career and technical education, safety enhancements, and neighborhood identity, this effort is about aligning physical spaces with the district’s bold vision for student success.
“This is about ownership,” said David Bates, Deputy Superintendent Operations and Support Systems. “Our architects have told us what our buildings need. Now we’re asking our community to tell us what our students deserve.”
The creation of the committee represents more than planning, it represents partnership. Members will engage in thoughtful dialogue, examine financial realities, and help develop a potential framework that balances fiscal responsibility with transformational opportunity.