El Paso Independent School District wants to upgrade image

The El Paso Independent School District said it’s come up with a three-step plan to start earning respect in the El Paso community.

This school district has only had a good rating of “recognized” with the state for the past two years. The district only started to meet federal guidelines in 2011.

Also in 2011, the district’s superintendent was arrested and indicted in federal court. EPISD wants to make changes so it can be seen in a better light.

“Sole source” contracts will basically be a thing of the past. In the circumstances where only one vendor can provide a service, that vendor will have to present that service, in person, to the board.

Although the district has wanted to hire an official public relations person for months, it’s had other priorities and has not been able to do that. Board president Isela Castenon-Williams said the board has now decided to fill that position ASAP.

"In the scheme of all that has gone on in the school district, we just haven't gotten around to it," Castenon-Williams said.

The district is also looking into a customer service makeover, which will probably start with upgrading an unreliable phone system that's more than 10 years old.

"We just want to improve,” Castenon-Williams said. “We know that we are doing the best that we can, but we want to really, really, shine in this area."

EPISD wants to be recognized for being a high quality public educational enterprise.

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