Proposed Texas budget cuts may eliminate Pre-K programs

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EL PASO — Finger paintings hang alongside the wall, number lines run along the perimeter of the pre-kindergarten classroom, and the alphabet is displayed for the children’s eager eyes. The Ysleta Pre-Kindergarten Center located at 7940 Craddock Ave El Paso, Texas 79915 is just one of the many Pre-K establishments for children to begin their education. “In our campus we have a total 725 students and about 100 employees,” said Principal Sandra Perez-Ibarra. Pre-kindergarten programs, however, may soon be the victims of cuts in the Texas state budget.  This session, lawmakers will approve a budget for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (Sept.

School district budget cuts kill jobs and crimp the arts

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EL PASO – In 2010 the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) was looking for ways to cut $2.5 million from the district’s budget. Part of the solution came last week with a sting – the EPISD saved $5.6 million by cutting 116 positions. Before that decision, the situation had escalated to the possible closing of two elementary schools, Schuster and Zavala. Kenneth Parker, chief officer for the EPISD said the closing of the two elementary schools would save the district about $2.5 million. In the past five years the district has cut $43 million from the budget, without hurting academic courses.