El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) is on a mission to reconfigure its educational landscape with something they're calling the Destination District Redesign (DDR), and at the core of this initiative is a powerful thrust towards strengthening the fabric of school communities. On March 3, the district hosted a Building Community Retreat at the Professional Development Center to support schools and families during transitions sparked by school closures and redesigns, according to El Paso ISD. This recent meet-up centered around creating solid transition plans and fortifying relationships between school leaders, teachers, and parents from the affected schools.
The retreat is part of a broader effort to seamlessly merge students and staff from closing schools into new educational environments. "When we began these DDR retreats, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but now I’m incredibly grateful for the partnerships we’re forming with the amazing faculty and staff at Murphree PK-8," said Melissa Ortiz, Principal of Putnam Elementary, as per El Paso ISD. By clearly communicating and connecting these communities, the district hopes to facilitate a smoother adjustment for everyone involved. Affected schools include Lamar Elementary students who will join Mesita Elementary & Mesita ECDC, and several others engaged in a direct school-to-school transition.
El Paso ISD's approach is hands-on, with various activities such as video tours by counselors to familiarize students with their new campus surroundings, Valentine Grams sent by current students to their future classmates, open houses, and other community-building strategies that aim to warm up the welcome. Laila Ferris, Principal of Mesita Elementary, emphasized the district's respect for tradition, stating, "We will always honor the legacy of the schools we are consolidating," said Ferris, as obtained by El Paso ISD. She believes that the history of their former schools will remain celebrated even as they integrate into the new school's narrative.
Engagement between families and schools is crucial to the district's strategy and the provision of transportation for families to attend community events is part of that effort. Moreover, an exceptional 99% family response rate to priority registration is indicative of an involved parent base and a clear signal of commitment from both sides. Christine Miles, Principal of Murphree PK-8, was quick to highlight joint brainstorming sessions with Putnam Elementary to contemplate fresh opportunities, like adding clubs and activities for the upcoming school year.
