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Fine arts and athletics leaders highlight program growth, student achievements and community events
Summary
Fine arts and athletics directors detailed district achievements in band, orchestra, choir, mariachi, theater, dance and sports participation plus outreach and events the district hosts.
Philip Barraza, executive director of fine arts, and Davis Ramontas, executive director of athletics, briefed trustees on the scale and achievements of district arts and athletic programs.
Mr. Barraza said El Paso ISD runs a broad fine arts program spanning elementary through high school: elementary art and music at every campus, fifth‑grade orchestra at all elementary sites, and expanded fifth‑grade band and orchestra at 20 campuses. The district hosts multiple regional events — a marching band invitational, jazz festival, beginning musical festival — and partners with the El Paso Museum of Art for a student exhibition. “We also have double the all region orchestra qualifiers of our neighboring districts combined,” he said.
Athletics leadership reported about 7,000 high‑school athlete participants across 20 varsity programs and about 5,400 middle‑school participants in 13 middle‑school sports. Recent regional and state appearances include swimming, cross country, wrestling, tennis and golf. New initiatives include a Girls Like Football program and expanded elementary intramurals (47 elementary schools participating). “We are very excited about our latest initiative, that is providing our female student athletes, with additional opportunities,” Mr. Ramontas said.
Both divisions emphasized event hosting, instrument repair and media outreach to showcase student achievements and announced upcoming performances and competitions that trustees can attend.
