EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (EPISD)

COMMUNICATION ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS

Presented by:Business Team 5

Monica PenaAmro HussienCarolina Meza

Karla Perez

Goals for the EPISD Mission Statement: The mission of the El Paso

Independent School District is to meet the diverse needs of all students and empower them to become successful members of a global community.

Goals: To help develop students maturity to levels required by

today’s society. To create a high level of education by investing in faculty and

teachers to enrich the minds of students.

Growth and Development EPISD counts for more than 63,000 students in 94 different

campuses. 10th largest district in Texas and is the 61st largest district in the

United States. Provides programs for GED, citizenship classes, and has several

magnet schools available. Produces 9,000 Jobs and is currently the largest employer in El

Paso.

History District first started in 1882 In 1883, EPISD built the first public kindergarten

class in the entire state of Texas located at the current Central Elementary School.

O.T Bassett was elected the first president of EPISD

El Paso High School become an important historical benchmark for EPISD as the oldest operating high school in El Paso. The high school has been operating since 1916.

In 2008, EPISD celebrated its 125th anniversary.

Current Communication Process

How the El Paso ISD currently communicates regarding safety concerns:

Start communication at an early age Letters are sent out to parents Visitor passes are required Employee and volunteer

background checks

Current Communication Process Students have access to the Administration

and teachers to address any concerns. Phone messaging system in place

Contacts parents and automatic message informs parent of any messages the school district needs to send out.

Mass sending of mail to employees EPISD website

Current Communication Process Schools meet with students to discuss

safety topics. Examples are:Stranger/DangerHow to treat family members/others

Individual counseling is available to all students

Parent classes Parent/Teacher conferences

Current Communication Problem in the EPISD

The lack of proper formal communication between parents, teachers, and students.

The lack of interest for parents to get involved in knowing what their kids are doing in school.

Teacher unawareness of problems with children in school due to a poor child development program

The ongoing fighting between kids that the schools have little to no awareness or prevention techniques to minimize theses instances.

Inadequate amount of security guards and supervision that allows children to commit acts of violence and be under the influence of drugs.

Alternative Course of Action for Troubled Students The EPISD has zero tolerance for violent

behavior and classifies four different types of misdemeanors.

Level 1 offense- the use of inappropriate language

level 2 offense- the possession and use of tobacco products

Level 3 offense- inciting a fight or in the act of fighting,

Level 4 offense- possessing a knife or firearm

Alternative Course of Action for Troubled Students (Continued) The EPISD has alternative schools for children who have

committed crimes or need additional help. Raymond Telles Academy- enters middle school and high

school students referred by the El Paso County Juvenile Probation Center.

Juvenile Sentence Center/ Delta Academy- enrolls children who have violated parole or have committed crimes

Reasons why the communication barrier exists The teacher not having the proper knowledge to deal with

situations appropriately Fear of students being punished for speaking out on an act of

wrongdoing. The children are the medium in the communication process

between the teachers and parents. The medium is often distorted which helps create that barrier In the communication process.

The schools in the district do not have a strict enforcement of programs that make parent/teacher interaction mandatory for every child.

The Solution to the Communication ChallengeHow can parents, teachers and students focus

on communication to help with safety at school?

Areas That Lack Communication Strategies Removal of Communication Barriers between Parents, Teachers, and Students

Solutions that begin with Top Faculty Implement additional child development programs

Need for principals encouragement of reporting Principal’s mandatory duty “scholastic and safety”

  Programs that would remain mandatory for teachers

Occur on a regular basis Designed to create awareness

Programs that create rapport and communication between the teacher/student

Provide yearly orientations for all school staff members   Related informative correspondence and emails throughout the

scholastic year

Solutions That Begin with the ParentBarriers of communication among the student/parent

Areas of assessment in communication: Neglected by the student’s own parents Disassembled families going through a divorce Parents may not know how to come across with a strong

topic

Obtaining Help: PTA Community outreach programs Non-Profit Organizations for families

Questions?

Thank you for your attention!