In a reversal that has kept the doors of Lamar Elementary School open, the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) Board of Trustees has decided not to go gently on the campus's fate. Catering to the sentiments of a vocal Central El Paso community, the Board chose not to permanently close the elementary school, going against an earlier resolution to shutter it due to poor performance on various fronts. As reported by El Paso ISD, Lamar Elementary met four out of five worrying signs: low quality seat scores, declining enrollment, declining facility conditions, high transfer-out rates, and low capacity utilization, but still, the new Board saw fit to abrogate the closure decision.
Despite the $3.2 million annual hit to the budget this decision entails, the freshly appointed trustees were persuaded by public opinion to fully commit to maintaining the spirit of neighborhood schools. In steps that echo a much-needed respect for communal voice, EPISD's superintendent, Diana Sayavedra, acknowledged the financial challenges while reinforcing the district's dedication to "prioritizing the needs of our students." She told El Paso ISD, "We will continue to work diligently to balance our educational mission with our fiscal responsibilities."
Board President Leah Hanany and Vice President Dr. Jack Loveridge, spearheads of the reevaluation, stressed the importance of listening to the community and upholding accessible education. Hanany was quoted by El Paso ISD as saying, "We want families to know their voices matter." The sentiment captures the board's direction towards community-centric decision-making and its effect in shaping education policy.
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