San Elizario ISD is gearing up for a major shuffle of its elementary schools, with trustees voting this week to consolidate grade levels and close two campuses starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Under the approved plan, Josefa L. Sambrano Elementary will become a preschool-through-second-grade campus, while Alfonso Borrego Sr. Elementary will serve students in third through sixth grades. District leaders say the restructuring is aimed at tackling long-term enrollment decline and tightening finances, a decision families first heard about in a letter from Superintendent Dr. Jeannie Meza-Chavez.
In that letter, Meza-Chavez pointed to “declining student enrollment and financial challenges” and emphasized that instruction and student services remain top priorities. As reported by KFOX14, district officials say they want to "operate fewer buildings at greater capacity" so they can focus more resources on classrooms and staff instead of on underused facilities.
How the campuses will be rearranged
Under the new setup, Josefa L. Sambrano Elementary will house Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. Alfonso Borrego Sr. Elementary will take on third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, according to KFOX14. The changes are scheduled to kick in for the 2026-2027 school year, and officials say both campuses will keep their current leadership teams in place throughout the transition.
Numbers behind the move
Enrollment figures included in the board packet show the district’s total headcount dropping from 2,950 to 2,783 in a year, a loss of 167 students. District leaders have pointed to that decline as a key driver of the consolidation plan, saying fewer students mean tougher budget decisions and a closer look at how many buildings the district can afford to operate. The detailed campus and grade-level enrollment totals through May 6 are posted in BoardBook.
Leadership and campus contacts
District officials say campuses will continue to operate under their current principals during the reorganization. Josefa L. Sambrano Elementary lists Susana Frescas as principal, and Alfonso Borrego Sr. Elementary lists Martha Santana-Garcia as principal. Families looking for campus-specific contact information or announcements are encouraged to check each school’s website.
What comes next
Next up is the detailed work of figuring out exactly where every student will land and how they will get there. District officials say they will release more information on student assignments, transportation plans, and support services as they prepare for the 2026-2027 transition. Parents and guardians are advised to follow district and campus webpages for official notices, updates, and FAQs in the weeks ahead.
