EPISD records show truckloads of equipment removed from Beall years after closure

EPISD records show truckloads of equipment removed from Beall years after closure by Jordan Salas Thu, November 12, 2026 at 8:20 PM Updated Thu, November 12, 2026 at 8:31 PM 4 VIEW ALL PHOTOS The former Beall Elementary School in South-Central El Paso closed in 2019. (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4) Comment on this story 0 Comment Share story Share topics: El Paso ISD Beall Elementary Surplus equipment Public records Utility costs Unauthorized entry Smart boards Texas Attorney General EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Newly obtained records show El Paso Independent School District crews removed four truckloads of materials from the former Beall Elementary School in September, more than seven years after the South-Central El Paso campus closed in 2019. Internal district emails obtained by KFOX14/CBS4 through a public records request detail the removal of electronics and other equipment from the campus. Separate records show the district spent nearly $25,000 on utilities at Beall between January 2020 and September 2026. KFOX14/CBS4 began asking questions after a video circulated on social media showing someone entering the closed school and equipment still inside. On Sept. 14, KFOX14/CBS4 emailed EPISD asking why computers, monitors and other school supplies remained at the property, whether the equipment was still usable and whether the district planned to reuse, sell or dispose of the materials. KFOX14/CBS4 also asked whether electricity remained active at the campus and how much the district had spent on utilities since the school closed. The records show district employees had already discussed removing equipment before KFOX14/CBS4 first reached out. In a Sept. 16 email, an EPISD employee wrote that the district had discussed prioritizing the removal of equipment the previous week. "I received this information from David Alvarado last week, and he mentioned that we would be prioritizing this surplus and moving these assets as soon as possible," the employee wrote. The following morning, Sept. 17, an EPISD warehouse employee reported that crews had removed four truckloads of materials from Beall the previous day. "We got 4 truck loads yesterday, and today we should finish what was left," the employee wrote. The same employee reported that seven pallets of electronics and seven smart boards had been brought to the district's warehouse. The email also identified an Apple laptop and said three televisions were still hanging at the campus and would be removed later. Another internal record dated Sept. 16 shows EPISD's technology department requested approval to salvage equipment from Beall Elementary. The request listed 36 televisions, three printers, one computer and one radio that had been scanned. The document identified the equipment for proposed salvage but did not establish whether the request was approved or what ultimately happened to those items. In a separate Sept. 24 email, another EPISD employee reported that Beall had been cleared of technology equipment but asked whether network equipment had also been removed. Residents question why equipment remained at the school For nearby residents, the discovery raised questions about whether the materials could have been put to use elsewhere. "Obviously there were some resources they probably could have been given, like maybe to a school or, you know, children, maybe, seniors and all kinds of things instead of just sitting there," South-Central El Paso resident Selma Phillips said. Candida Solorzano, who lives near Beall and whose children attended the school, also questioned why the equipment had not been provided to other campuses. "We have so many schools that need all those things. Young children are going to school. They need all the stuff, right?" Solorzano said. EPISD says equipment is outdated After KFOX14/CBS4 first contacted the district in September and followed up several times, an EPISD spokesperson provided a statement Thursday, Nov. 12. "El Paso ISD continues to manage surplus properties, identifying materials and equipment for potential reuse, sale through public auction, or appropriate disposal. The materials at the former Beall Elementary campus are outdated and no longer in active use." KFOX14/CBS4 followed up Thursday to ask whether the materials could have been reused at other schools when the campus closed and why they were not removed sooner. The district had not responded to those additional questions as of Thursday evening. EPISD also addressed the video showing someone entering the closed campus. "The District is also aware of videos showing an individual unlawfully entering the former Beall Elementary campus. El Paso ISD takes unauthorized access to District property seriously. Closed campuses are not open to the public, and unauthorized entry is not permitted. The District will continue to work with the appropriate authorities regarding incidents of unauthorized access and pursue appropriate action under applicable law." Records show nearly $25,000 in utility expenses The report lists $22,639.70 in expenses from January 2020 through July 2025, followed by individual monthly charges through September 2026. The amount represents total reported utility costs, not electricity expenses alone. The records do not establish whether those costs were necessary to maintain the vacant campus. Another internal email shows EPISD was considering whether utility services at closed schools could be disconnected to reduce expenses. In a Sept. 11 email to a district deputy superintendent, EPISD's energy manager proposed reviewing active utility meters at closed campuses. "I would like to review whether any electric, water, or natural gas services can be discontinued to help reduce unnecessary utility costs," the energy manager wrote. The email also noted that the district would need to verify building and fire-safety requirements before disconnecting services. The email does not establish whether EPISD ultimately disconnected any utilities at Beall or whether those services were required for safety reasons. Some records remain under review The district has not released every record responsive to KFOX14/CBS4's public information request. In a Nov. 10 message, EPISD's Open Records Center notified KFOX14/CBS4 that a portion of the records had been forwarded to the Texas Attorney General's Office for a determination on whether they must be released. The district provided other responsive records while that review remains pending. According to EPISD's notice, additional documents will be released if the attorney general determines they are subject to disclosure. Meanwhile, Solorzano said she hopes the former school property can eventually serve the neighborhood again. "Somebody else can come and buy and even rebuild something beautiful there," she said. KFOX14/CBS4 is continuing to seek answers about whether the equipment was usable when Beall closed in 2019, why it remained at the campus and what ultimately happened to the materials removed in September. RECOMMENDED: EPISD continues to seek input on $445M bond to fund repairs at aging campuses RECOMMENDED: EPISD trustees question whether $4.5M in health insurance relief will help all employees Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox. 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