Big news out of El Paso as the EPISD Board of Trustees casts a crucial vote that will see Lamar Elementary School doors remain open. This decision reverses an earlier one aimed at shuttering the campus as part of an ambitious district-wide restructuring plan. Originally identified for closure due to metrics including enrollment numbers and facility conditions, Lamar was spared following an outcry from the local community.
The school was initially on the chopping block after being one of six to meet several criteria earmarked for consolidation. However, the newly elected Board decided it could not simply move to close without first fully considering the deep-rooted implications for El Paso's heart. "We want families to know their voices matter," Board President Leah Hanany said, as reported by El Paso ISD.
Lamar's reprieve is not without its cost. Keeping the school operational carries an estimated $3.2 million annual price tag, an additional weight on a district already navigating financial choppy waters. Superintendent Diana Sayavedra, per the El Paso ISD, acknowledged the tension between fiscal responsibility and educational mission, stating, “El Paso ISD remains committed to prioritizing the needs of our students, even as we navigate a larger deficit.”
