Xavier Miranda sent this in:
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As an educator in the El Paso Independent School District, I acknowledge the need to address the long-neglected condition of our schools, and the need to add facilities to accommodate for students enrolled in Fine Arts and athletic programs.
However, the notion that buildings and technology are answers to improve educational outcomes dismisses the role of educators. Technology does not provide the necessary encouragement to a student who comes from a home whose parent has to work two jobs to make ends meet. A new building does not provide inspiration to a student who goes to bed hungry. The closure of neighborhood schools dismisses the concepts of child behavior development, and the sense of community. Pedagogical considerations are a forgone conclusion.
The vilification of our education system is a strategy utilized by special interest groups to de-fund public education, promote test-centered curriculum, and further widen the economic gap between the wealthy and poor.
Realizing that early voting is scheduled to start on October 25, it is necessary to provide the following information that may assist in determining whether to support or oppose the $668.7 million EPISD Bond.
The following links provide insight to some private interests that have funded the El Paso Rising political action committee, that may profit from the passage of the bond, whether through construction or financial consulting services:
- Campaign Finance Report:
- Lockwood, Andrews, and Newman, Inc. contributed $5,000 to El Paso Rising PAC, and are involved in the lead contamination of the Flint, MI water supply.:http://www.bloomberg. com/research/stocks/private/ snapshot.asp?privcapid=4333041
- TCG Services from Austin has contributed $10,000 :
- David Neumark, an opponent to raising the minimum wage, has contributed $5,000: http://www.wsj.com/ articles/minimum-wage-hike- has-losers-many-of-them-poor- letters-to-the-editor- 1405274272
- Woody Hunt has contributed $10,000 to the El Paso Rising PAC, and $150,000 to Texans for Education Reform:
A significant contributor to the El Paso Rising political action committee is Dee Margo. He is a former Texas State Representative whose legislative record includes the cutting of the Texas education budget to the tune of $5.4 billion in 2011. He then later served as a member of the EPISD Board of Managers, of whom initially authorized the Jacobs Engineering study, currently used to close and consolidate schools included in this EPISD bond.
The campaign finance reports, include folks who have contributed significant amounts of money to Texans for Education Reform, an organization seeking to dismantle public education, through the promotion of vouchers and charter schools.
A prevalent concern expressed in our community is the issue of trust. A way to restore it, would be the commitment by district officials to re-locate administrative operations to one of the schools proposed for closure, or to the portable classrooms in which our students are currently housed. Given the City of El Paso’s non-renewal of the lease for the administrative offices on Boeing, this would certainly be a tangible action.
Please consider the education of our children and authentically engage in advocacy efforts.
Best Regards,
Xavier Miranda
El Paso Grassroots
Posted by Brutus 
elpasospeak 
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