Due to severe budget shortfalls and dwindling enrollment, Phoenix and El Paso school districts are nearing crucial votes on recommendations for school closures. According to a statement received by FOX 10 Phoenix, the Roosevelt School District in Phoenix has revealed a plan that suggests closing five schools because of a shortfall of almost $5 million. The only alternative, according to school superintendent Dr. Dani Portillo, would be “to cut existing academic programs for all students and teaching positions across all Roosevelt schools,” which they believe would be harmful to students, if campuses weren’t consolidated.
In a similar vein, the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) has changed its original plan to eliminate schools in two stages, which could save the district millions of dollars in operating expenses as they deal with a significant budget deficit. El Paso Matters reported that trustees Leah Hanany, Jack Loveridge, and Alex Cuellar are still against the plan, citing flaws in the original process. The EPISD board is scheduled to vote on the revised proposal, which calls for closing six elementary schools in the upcoming school year and two more in the 2026–2027 academic year. Superintendent Diana Sayavedra emphasized the significance of these closures for the future of El Paso public education in a news release that El Paso Matters referenced.
1,364 kids would be impacted by the Roosevelt School District’s proposed closures, which include converting one site into an early childhood center and reopening another as a magnet school. The El Paso ISD school closure proposal, which was revised prior to the vote, still calls for the reassignment of almost 270 employees, with the majority of these positions being filled by open positions and only a small portion awaiting role assignments as they become available. This ensures that every employee from a closed school will be assigned to a role for the upcoming academic term.
Concerns over school closures and reassignments are plaguing parents and educators in Phoenix. Some people in El Paso believe that working-class and low-income neighborhoods are adversely impacted by the planned reforms. In order to accommodate children impacted by closures, EPISD intends to establish new bus routes within four zones without requiring additional buses or drivers. Given the financial constraints influencing these choices, the district anticipates saving roughly $3,780 per student at the first-round shuttered schools.
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