Canutillo Independent School District celebrated the start of construction for the new Deanna Davenport Elementary School with a groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, officials said. This event, held in the Enchanted Hills subdivision, signals the onset of a $73.9 million project under the Canutillo Bond 2024 program, which will establish the school as a beacon for growth and unity in the district. According to Canutillo ISD, the investment is part of a district-wide initiative to cater to the expanding needs of the Northwest El Paso area.
As they spoke to the assembly of district leaders, community partners, and the Canutillo ISD Board of Trustees, amongst the students and families gathered, Interim Superintendent Dr. Jesica Arellano described the groundbreaking as more than just a construction milestone. "This is a proud and emotional day for us," Arellano told Canutillo ISD, stating it "symbolizes unity, growth and our shared future." Despite having served the Westway neighborhood for decades, the new facility will translocate the community legacy to blend with Enchanted Hills' vibrance.
The proposed campus, expected to conclude construction in 2027, will stretch across 119,000 square feet, featuring 36 classrooms, collaborative learning zones, and space for physical education and extracurricular activities. Guadalupe Montañez, the current principal of Davenport Elementary, praised the future site by expressing that it will endow both staff and students with the means to perpetuate their academic strides. "The new Deanna Davenport Elementary will give our students and teachers the tools and spaces they need to continue excelling," Montañez said, as per Canutillo ISD.
The ceremony also merged with a community-friendly "Day Out for School Safety" occasion where law enforcement engaged families with safety resources while children reveled in early trick-or-treating. "Events like these strengthen the bond between our schools and our community," shared Arellano, as obtained by Canutillo ISD, grateful for the law enforcement's contributions to community welfare. Christian Lopez, President of the Enchanted Hills Neighborhood Association, also exemplified the neighborhood's support for the project, highlighting the school as a source of pride and opportunity.
