Group calls on EPISD to reconsider school closure proposal

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — A coalition of parents, students and community organizations are calling on El Paso ISD to reconsider its proposal to potentially close 10 schools as part of its ongoing redesign initiative.

The group, calling itself the Save Our Schools Coalition, is also asking that EPISD Board President Israel Irrobali to recuse himself from any future vote on school closures because of what they are calling "a clear conflict of interest."

The group said that Irrobali's role as executive director of the El Paso Association of Contractors could benefit members of his organization, who serve as district vendors.

The group held a news conference on Saturday morning, Nov. 8 to voice their concerns and demands.

The group issued the following statement in its invitation to the news media:

"This newly established coalition demands that EPISD delay its plan to close 10 schools until the equity audit is completed and reliable financial and facilities data is available, ensuring a more responsible approach to addressing the district's budget deficit. Additionally, the coalition is calling on EPISD Board President Israel Irrobali to recuse himself from the vote on school closures due to a clear conflict of interest. As the full-time Executive Director of the El Paso Association of Contractors (EPAC), Irrobali's vote could benefit EPAC members, who serve as EPISD vendors and are also his employers."

If approved the school closures would take effect for the 2025-26 school year, as we previously reported. The EPISD board is expected to vote on the closure recommendations in late November.

Diana Ramirez, an EPISD parent, said the Save Our Schools Coaltion wants the district to hold off on any plans or proposals to close schools until they get better data.

The proposal to close 10 schools could impact about 2,000 children, Ramirez said. "Most of the schools are in the most vulnerable areas of the City — lower income and higher immigrant population, just disadvantaged communities," Ramirez said. "We think that it is unfair to be balancing the budget on the backs of children."

EPISD has been hosting a series of community meetings to gather input into the process.

The next ones are scheduled as follows:

Propososed "right-sizing campuses"

Proposed receiving campuses 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov 13 Cooley Elementary School, 107 N. Collingsworth St. 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 Murphree PK-8 School, 7420 Remcon Circle 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov 14 Coldwell Elementary School, 4101 Altura Ave. 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 Mesita ECDC & Elementary School, 3307 N. Stanton (Rescheduled from Oct 30)

We have reached out to the El Paso ISD for a response.