The meeting, sponsored by the El Paso Inter-religious Sponsoring Organization (EPISO), allowed the four candidates the opportunity to hear concerns from parents and former students regarding the Clint schools. Incumbent board members Paul James, Fred Martinez and Mary Macias and challenger Pat Randleel responded to the community members concerns.

Each candidate was asked a set of questions regarding his or her willingness to work with parents to address concerns expressed by some in the community regarding the schools. Several members of the community shared stories of their experiences:

• Javier Garcia, said his family moved him to a school out of the district so he could take courses that would better prepare him for college;
• Chris Romero, reported that because a teaching position was needed for an athletics coach, the coach was assigned to a biology class in which students were instructed only to read text book photo captions and memorize vocabulary words;
• Rosa Rivera said her child had an accident at school but the school declined to call either emergency medical services or the parent.

The candidates were asked to address four specific topics: single-member voting districts, dual-credit classes, the district’s dropout rate and increasing parent involvement in the schools.

Martinez, Macias and Randleel all expressed support for single-member voting districts. Proponents of such a plan believe it will begin to address the needs of the more than two-thirds of the student population who reside in the Horizon and Montana Vista areas.

EPISO leaders and other community members expressed concern about what they consider an inequitable availability of dual-credit courses available to students at schools in lower-income areas. James disputed the community members’ concerns, but he did agree to look into the issue. Dual-credit courses are courses that apply towards a high school diploma as well as credit for a college course. The other candidates indicated that they shared the speakers’ concerns.

All four candidates expressed a desire to address the district’s high dropout rate. They had varying responses to a concern about requirements for a Social Security number on applications for parent volunteering. That requirement prevents many parents from volunteering in their children’s schools. Macias indicated she didn’t believe there was a legal requirement for a Social Security number, but the other three candidates said there is a student safety factor that must be considered in the district obtaining that information.

Challenger Andy Venzor declined an invitation to attend.