El Paso Independent School District Packet Summary — August 11, 2026
The El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet at 5:00 p.m. on August 11, 2026, at the EPISD Administration Building, 1014 North Stanton Street. The packet combines a large consent agenda with reports on projected state accountability, financial monitoring, staffing, and long-range facilities planning, followed by separate action items involving a potential November bond election, the district's five-year strategic blueprint, budget amendments, and changes to the internal audit plan.
Key Items on the Agenda
Proposed November 3 Bond Election
The Board is scheduled to consider an order calling an El Paso ISD bond election for November 3, 2026. The packet says the proposed projects grew out of work by a Citizens' Bond Steering Committee of more than 55 community members and that the election order would establish the ballot language and provisions needed to place the propositions before voters.
Administration recommends adopting the election order. The packet states that without Board approval, the proposed November 3 election cannot be held.
2026–2031 Strategic Blueprint
The Board is also scheduled to consider adopting the district's proposed 2026–2031 Strategic Blueprint, including strategic levers, Student Outcome Goals, Growth Progress Measures, and constraints. The proposal was developed through community listening sessions, Board workshops, and administrative analysis.
The blueprint is intended to establish measurable five-year goals, including early-childhood literacy and mathematics and college, career, and military readiness. Administration recommends adoption for implementation from the 2026–27 through 2030–31 school years.
Austin High School Track Field Naming
A separate action item asks the Board to consider naming the Austin High School track facility the Coach Truman Wills Track and Field. The packet says the naming process began in December 2025, included public nominations and committee review, and resulted in a unanimous April 23 recommendation from the Austin Campus Improvement Team.
The packet credits Wills with multiple Coach of the Year recognitions, induction into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, recognition as a Coaching Legends Honoree in 2016, and development of more than 120 UIL State Qualifiers. A $675 dedication plaque would be funded by the Austin High School Alumni Association.
Major Financial and Facilities Items
More Than $11 Million for Security Infrastructure
The consent agenda includes a proposed amendment to the APIC Solutions Texas, LLC contract for districtwide security and access-control infrastructure. The amendment would increase the original $10,914,397.10 contract by $377,724.89, bringing the total to $11,292,121.99 in budgeted grant funds.
The work is intended to support access control, surveillance, rapid response, and Silent Panic Alert Technology. The packet says non-approval could cause procurement and scheduling delays and setbacks in deploying security infrastructure.
Campus Secure Entry Projects
The Board is scheduled to consider two additional SAFE Grant-funded secure-entry construction awards:
- $2,274,100 to LDCM Solutions, LLC for Campus Secure Entry Regions 1 and 2, CSP #26-035, Project No. 24.555A.
- $380,500 to LDCM Solutions, LLC for Campus Secure Entry Region 4, CSP #26-034, Project No. 24.555C.
The proposed renovations are intended to improve controlled campus entrances. The Region 1 and 2 scope described in the packet includes entrance modifications, partitions, transaction windows, ceilings, lighting, HVAC work, cameras, card readers, and bullet-resistant film.
HVAC and Library Construction
The consent agenda also includes proposed construction awards for:
- $1,856,067 for the Dr. Torres Elementary School HVAC Conversion Building C, Project 24.554, with an allocation from the 2016 Bond Interest Fund.
- $832,380 for Coronado High School Library Renovations, Project 17.627F.
Both awards carry an administration recommendation for LDCM Solutions, LLC.
Fiscal Year 2026 Roll-Forward
The Board is scheduled to separately consider a $5,725,249 budget amendment to roll forward Fiscal Year 2026 funding. The packet identifies Maintenance Tax Note Funds and restricted, assigned, and unreserved/undesignated fund balance and says the amendment is intended to provide funding for previously encumbered goods and services.
Another proposed budget amendment would allocate $60,330 from the General Operating Fund for costs associated with instruction, staff development, school leadership, security and monitoring services, and community services.
Grants, Academics, and Student Programs
$2 Million World Language Grant
The consent agenda includes acceptance of a $2,000,000 World Language Advancement and Readiness Program grant for El Paso ISD's Roots and Routes Language, Culture, and Wellness Project. The stated purpose is to support world-language and cultural-enrichment opportunities for military-connected students.
School Action Fund Grants
Two substantial Texas Education Agency School Action Fund items are scheduled for consideration:
- $1,000,000 for the 2026–27 School Action Fund Planning Continuation, Year 2, Cycle 8.
- $575,000 for the 2026–27 School Action Fund Planning and Implementation Continuation, Year 1, Cycle 9.
The packet says both grants would support implementation and execution of previously planned whole-school actions.
Teacher Residency and Mentorship
The Board is scheduled to consider a PREP Residency Preservice Program agreement with the University of Texas at El Paso involving $252,000 in Texas Education Agency funds and a $210,000 district match from Title II funds. The proposal would establish UTEP as the selected Educator Preparation Program for a paid teacher residency.
A separate PREP Mentorship Program item involves an estimated $120,000 in TEA funds and a $21,000 Title II district match to support mentorship for beginning teachers.
Texas Mathematics and Reading Academies
The packet proposes agreements with Education Service Center Region 19 for state-required training:
- $15,600 for Texas Mathematics Academies implementation. The agreement identifies 13 participants at $1,200 each.
- $48,000 for four Texas Reading Academies comprehensive cohorts serving kindergarten through third-grade educators.
The mathematics implementation is scheduled to begin August 17, 2026. The Reading Academies timeline runs from October 1, 2026, through February 1, 2028.
UT Austin OnRamps
The Board is scheduled to consider a 2026–27 OnRamps agreement with the University of Texas at Austin for an amount not to exceed $202,150 in budgeted federal funds.
OnRamps allows high school students to earn district high-school credit while having the opportunity to earn UT Austin college credit through distance-education courses. The packet says the program would be available at all district high schools.
Student Satellite Program
Another proposed agreement would bring the Aldrin Family Foundation of Texas' Student Satellites in Space (S-Cubed) program to a participating district high school. Students would have opportunities to design, build, test, and potentially participate in launch-related satellite activities.
The foundation would provide curriculum, equipment, technical support, professional development, and mentorship resources for a maximum of 20 students. The agreement runs through the conclusion of the 2027–28 academic year, and completion of the program makes a school eligible to compete for a launch opportunity but does not guarantee a launch.
Preventive Dental and Behavioral Health Services
The consent agenda includes an agreement with the Texas Department of State Health Services that would provide eligible students preventive dental education and services at no cost to the district or students. The proposed term is September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2031.
A separate agreement with William Beaumont Army Medical Center would establish a School Behavioral Health Program for military-connected students at select campuses. The packet describes screenings, counseling, therapy, crisis intervention, family support, staff training, and consultation, with the agreement potentially remaining in effect for up to 10 years.
Literacy Initiative Could Receive $500,000
The packet includes authorization related to an Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant of up to $500,000 for the district's It Starts with a Book initiative. El Paso ISD submitted the application June 9, 2026, and the packet says an award notification is anticipated before October 1.
If awarded, the five-year grant would provide $100,000 annually from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2031 and expand the literacy initiative across 17 campuses in three high-school feeder patterns.
The proposed annual budget includes:
- $49,887 for supplies, including campus library materials and books for students and community events.
- $30,000 for contractual expenses, including Beanstack subscriptions, professional development, authors, and presenters.
- $8,000 for personnel costs.
- $8,000 for outreach materials and food for family-engagement events.
- $4,113 in indirect costs.
The program is designed around book launches, library lessons, independent-reading tracking, writing activities, author engagement, family programming, and an annual districtwide literacy festival.
Policy and Governance Items
The consent agenda includes several policy and governance changes scheduled for consideration.
Student Welfare and Discipline
Proposed revisions to Board Policy FFH (Local) address student welfare, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and are intended to ensure compliance with Senate Bill 12 from the 89th Texas Legislative Session.
Proposed revisions to Board Policy FO (Local) would clarify student-discipline language in alignment with the Student Code of Conduct. The Board is also scheduled to consider the 2026–27 Student Code of Conduct.
Superintendent Nonrenewal Policy
Proposed revisions to Board Policy BJCF (Local) concerning superintendent nonrenewal are presented as changes needed to comply with new legislative requirements and TASB Update 127.
Class-Size Exception Authority
The Board is scheduled to consider authorizing administration to submit annual maximum class-size exception waivers to the Texas Education Agency for the 2026–27 school year. The authority would apply when a prekindergarten through fourth-grade class exceeds the allowable 22-student class-size limit.
Accountability and Financial Oversight Reports
Projected State Accountability
Administration is scheduled to present projected 2025–26 state accountability results covering Student Achievement, Student Growth/Relative Performance, and Closing the Gaps.
Packet presentation materials show projected changes of +3 for Domain 1, +1 for Domain 2A, +3 for Domain 2B, and no change for Domain 3. The presentation also reports 89% College, Career and Military Readiness for the Class of 2025 and an 89.1% graduation rate measure.
The packet identifies August 14, 2026, as the anticipated public release date for official A–F district and campus ratings, distinction designations, and federal accountability results, so the August 11 presentation is explicitly a projection rather than a final accountability release.
Monthly Financial Monitoring
Administration is scheduled to update the Board on a Financial Accountability Template intended for monthly reporting. The monitoring framework includes full-time-equivalent staffing and payroll information and is designed to strengthen continuing financial oversight.
Internal Audit Plan Changes
The Board is scheduled to consider significant revisions to the 2026–27 Internal Audit Plan, which was originally approved in April with 14 engagements.
The Chief Internal Auditor proposes adding two roll-forward audits and three new engagements, including a Budget Surplus Corrective Action Plan follow-up, a Budget Management and Monitoring Review with quarterly Board reporting, and a School Closures Financial Impact Analysis. Six previously planned engagements would be removed, producing a revised plan of 13 engagements.
Other Significant Consent Items
The packet contains numerous additional contracts, grants, insurance renewals, and purchases, including:
- $480,004.38 for Microsoft 365 Education A3, Windows Server Datacenter, SQL Server Enterprise, and Copilot licensing.
- $327,108 for renewal of Thrillshare Media and Thrillshare Rooms subscriptions.
- $263,743.65 for the SAT Suite of Assessments.
- $437,319 for general liability and automobile insurance.
- $137,621 for educators' legal liability insurance.
- $388,270 for workers' compensation claims administration and cost-containment services.
- Up to $250,000 for produce used in the reimbursable school meal program.
- Up to $210,000 for custodial products and services.
- $200,000 for an amendment involving the Linewize Student Safety Platform.
- $70,000 in Communities Foundation of Texas-Educate Texas funding for 2026 P-TECH support.
- $150,000 from the Texas Education Agency for the 2026–27 T-TESS Pilot Districts Support Grant.
- $677,965.67 through a Texas Workforce Commission Adult Education and Literacy grant amendment supporting the San Jacinto Adult Learning Center.
Closed Session and Possible Follow-Up Action
The agenda provides for a closed session addressing legal claims, safety and security matters, emergency operations planning, an intruder-detection audit, two proposed surplus-property transactions, annual-budget legal issues, parent complaints, and employee grievance appeals.
Any final Board action resulting from those discussions must occur after the meeting returns to open session or at a subsequent meeting. Among the possible post-closed-session actions is a proposed sale of approximately 0.35 acres at 1300 Wainwright and 5401 Olson Street Road to Anabelle Lee Richardson, LLC for $150,000. The packet says the company submitted the highest bid and that the amount meets or exceeds the property's appraised fair market value.
The Board may also consider a sale involving approximately 14.42 acres in Montecillo Unit 3. The packet says administration seeks authority to sell the district's surface interest to the highest bidder at an amount meeting or exceeding the appraised fair market value.
What to Watch at the Meeting
- Whether the Board calls the November 3, 2026 bond election, which would move the proposed bond questions from district planning into a voter decision.
- Whether trustees adopt the 2026–2031 Strategic Blueprint and its student-outcome goals, progress measures, and constraints.
- How the projected 2025–26 state accountability results compare with the official ratings scheduled for public release on August 14.
- Whether the Board approves the proposed $5.725 million fiscal-year roll-forward and the revised internal audit plan emphasizing budget monitoring and financial controls.
- The scale of proposed campus security spending, including the $11.29 million APIC contract and additional SAFE Grant-funded secure-entry projects.
- Whether the Board advances the proposed surplus-property transactions after closed-session consideration.
