el paso voters approve big bond for school district security upgrades and other facility projects

Nearly 60 percent of voters in the Ysleta Independent School District have given their approval to a historic $425 million bond designed to fund a variety of school building projects.

With a nod to the increasing incidence of school place violence, the bond will also fund a series of security and safety upgrades across the district.

The largest projects will see the district building two new elementary schools and one middle school.

Meanwhile, the Bel Air High School at 731 N. Yarbrough Drive will see a complete upgrading, with plans also announced for the rebuilding of the Dolphin Terrace Elementary School at 9790 Pickerel Drive.

The bond will fund refrigerated air installation projects in a host of the district’s schools.

In an interview with the El Paso Times after the successful passage of the bond, Ysleta Independent School District Superintendent Xavier De La Torre remarked: “I never want to have a discussion with a parent and have to admit that some of our older schools are less safe than some of our new schools.”

The superintendent added that the goal of the district now is to make sure “all of our schools are equally safe for all students and staff.”

By Garry Boulard

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