The El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 7-0 on Nov. 10 to schedule interviews for five candidates to fill the district's superintendent vacancy.

The motion to schedule interviews for five candidates was moved and seconded during the board's special meeting and carried unanimously, the presiding officer announced. The vote followed a closed-session meeting earlier in the evening under Texas Government Code sections 551.071 and 551.074.

After the vote, George Kuzanis, the Texas Association of School Boards executive-search consultant working with the district, reviewed the search process and community engagement. "Again, I'm George Kuzanis, with the Texas Association of School Boards," Kuzanis said as he thanked trustees and district staff for their participation. He described multiple community sessions held at locations across the district and pointed trustees to deliverables and highlights posted on the district's superintendent search web page.

Kuzanis said the process has been narrowed to a set of finalists and reiterated that the board had selected five candidates to bring in for interviews. "Just imagine a funnel of starting with all of you… Positive calls of candidates. And now, tonight, you have selected five candidates to bring in," he told trustees.

Kuzanis thanked the community outreach participants and his colleague Mr. Cervantes for their work in learning about the district’s priorities. He encouraged trustees as they proceed with interviews and expressed optimism about the district’s next superintendent.

The board adjourned at approximately 7:15 p.m. The district did not announce interview dates at the meeting; trustees approved only the number of candidates to be interviewed and heard the consultant’s briefing on the search process.