The last time the El Paso Independent School District placed a bond before the voters was November 8, 2016. The bond passed by 55.41% and cost a record $668,695,577 plus interest. The projects it funded are not expected to be totally completed until 2025.
Since that bond election, student enrollment in EPISD has declined by more than 20% and numerous school campuses have closed permanently, yet over the same period the budget has grown significantly (when adjusted for inflation).
The highest paid employee is Superintendent Diana Sayavedra, who earns $320,000 per year, followed by many hundreds of administrators and support staff, of which 98 earn over $100,000.
Our analysis of current EPISD salaries found there is not one teacher among the top 472 wage earners!
According to US News and World Report, middle school students have an average proficiency of 23% in mathematics and 31% in reading.
It is no wonder that EPISD joined with dozens of other Texas school districts in a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency aimed at preventing the release of new accountability ratings.
And what about the elected Board of Trustees? Claudia Lorena Silva of El Paso Matters just reported that their President, Israel Irrobali, has been appointed Executive Director of the El Paso Association of Contractors. No conflict of interest there, right?
We invite you to read the bios of the current trustees by clicking their photos. It is stunning how little financial or accounting acumen there is on a board that manages a budget of $543 million.
Meanwhile, residents of the school district contribute 41% of their property tax to a system that is perpetually in financial trouble and provides their children with a below-average education.
EMAIL INTERCEPTED: LARGE NEW BOND IS IN THE WORKS
We reported last October that Sayavedra began maneuvering to issue a new $600 million bond, which will certainly increase the property tax for all residents within her school district.
Yet when we spoke to two members of the EPISD Board of Trustees, neither had a clue that such a large general obligation bond was in the works, and that is because Sayavedra did not tell them.
We found a Facebook post from Ross Moore, President of the El Paso American Federation of Teachers, dated September 29, in which he stated “EPISD is gearing up for another $600 million plus Bond.”
It’s a sad state of affairs when the teachers’ union knows more than the Board of Trustees!
Just yesterday, we intercepted an email from the EPISD administration dated March 8, 2024 soliciting bids for “Bond Strategist Services.”
According to the email, “The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) is requesting proposals from firms qualified and experienced in providing Bond Strategist Services, including, but not limited to:
-“Reviewing projects from District plans, Capital Improvements Program, and any special projects identified by District staff.
-Formulating and working with a Bond Steering Committee and the public to prioritize projects to include timelines and phasing for project construction.
-Packaging the recommendations from the Bond Steering Committee to present to the Board of Trustees and assist with the review and ranking by the Board of Trustees.
-Support and provide expertise in starting the bond election process, including but not limited to assisting with drafting bond language, ensuring proper calling of a Bond Election by the Board of Trustees, preparing financial impact statements, etc.”
Interested parties are invited to write to Ms. Sandy Ramirez, Purchasing Coordinator in the Office of Procurement & School Resources, at bids@episd.org.
THE GREAT EL PASO DEBT BINGE
Amazingly, there has not been a single report from our local media on EPISD’s scheme to issue a $600 million bond, even though we have learned about plans for a $387 million bond for Canutillo ISD and $769 million for Socorro ISD.
In total, we are talking about up to $1.75 billion worth of school bonds coming though the pipeline.
Add to that the $500 million debt issuance planned by the County, a new UMC Eastside campus costing at least that much, and $600 million of voter-approved debt that the City has yet to issue, and the taxpayers of El Paso County could be on the hook for more than $3.3 billion in new debt, exploding our property tax through the roof and damaging our economy.
Enjoy your weekend.