Education proves a hot topic at Bliss town hall

Samantha Reho

Fort Bliss Public Affairs

Education was the topic of choice as various members of the El Paso Independent School District and members of Fort Bliss leadership gathered Feb. 24 at Soldier Hall in a town hall meeting centered on that topic.

A five-member panel, consisting of Maj. Gen. Howard B. Bromberg, commanding general; Command Sgt. Maj. David Davenport, post command sergeant major; Col. Edward P. Manning, garrison commander; Dr. Lorenzo Garcia, EPISD superintendent; and Dr. Terry Jordan, EPISD chief of staff, led the discussion of the future of the El Paso education system.

“For military families, education is one of our top three priorities, along with housing and medical issues,” said Bromberg.  “As we move around the world, the foundation of our children’s education is so important.”

Garcia, having joined EPISD in 2006, agreed with Bromberg and said he is happy with the progress of the school district and the increase in quality of education throughout the past few years.

Regarding to the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test, EPISD schools have improved dramatically since 2005, most noticeably increasing from zero to 19 schools in the “exemplary” category.

But Garcia said he is trying to shift from concentrating solely on the TAKS test to improving the overall education of the student.

With this goal in mind, he and his team expanded upon the college and career readiness program with five specific goals: Build college and career readiness culture, establish post-secondary education access for all, examine and apply college readiness data, develop a strong college and career readiness culture, and restructure schools.

These goals led to the creation of “career cruising,” an online questionnaire mandatory for all eighth grade students that shows compatible career fields based on their answers.

Once these students enter high school, they have the opportunity to tailor their course schedule to fit their pending career, as well as take a Princeton Review prep course, contracted and funded by the school district.

“What makes this partnership [with Fort Bliss] so wonderful is that the military provides something for all careers, which will make internships and job shadowing opportunities possible,” said Garcia.

Bromberg added, “We [Fort Bliss] have a growing partnership with [the University of Texas at El Paso] in having students get firsthand and real-life experience at the many offices on post.”

After the presentations, questions in person, through e-mail and over the phone were submitted to the panel, ranging from speed limits in school areas to plans for new youth facilities on post.

One audience member addressed Bromberg and asked how Soldiers could resolve specific issues with schools.  He said first Soldiers should address their issues to the school directly, then either the school liaison office or the Partners in Education office before contacting Bromberg directly.

Overall, everyone who attended the televised town hall walked away with questions answered and more confidence in their children’s school district.

“We take our job very seriously and always welcome participation in the education process,” said Garcia.