Canutillo Bond renovations kick off with groundbreaking celebration at Damian Elementary

Eight tiny construction workers wearing novelty hard hats and orange safety vests broke through a paper wall using miniature plastic sledgehammers, marking the start of construction for the renovation projects at Jose H. Damian Elementary School — part of the transformative Canutillo Bond program.

The pint-sized crew, all students at the Upper Valley school, welcomed the symbolic start to a project that will soon bring real-life construction workers to campus for $7.4 million in upgrades designed to enhance teaching and learning at Damian.

“We can’t wait to see the finalized version of the projects we have so carefully helped design through countless work sessions, community meetings and one-on-one sit-downs with architects, contractors and the other professionals who will help us make our school an even better learning center,” Damian Principal Maggie Castillo said. “The Damian that will be here at the end of the construction work is the Damian our students, parents and teachers deserve.”

The bond-funded work at Damian includes major investments in safety and security, such as a new state-of-the-art entry vestibule that will monitor and limit visitor access, upgraded security cameras for real-time monitoring and emergency response, and a modern public address system that will connect classrooms to the front office for immediate alerts through on-campus monitors.

Additional improvements include new HVAC units, roof repairs to extend the life of the campus, wireless infrastructure upgrades to support 21st-century learning, a new multipurpose space and a student restroom.

The upgrades at Damian were designed by Mijares-Mora Architects, and the general contractor is Jordan Foster Construction. The project is managed on behalf of the district by the PROCEDEO Group.

“This is more than just construction. It’s the beginning of a transformation for our students,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Jesica Arellano. “This moment symbolizes the trust our community has placed in us to reshape the learning experience for every child in Canutillo. We’re not just upgrading buildings — we’re creating spaces where our children can dream bigger and reach higher.”

Board President Armando Rodriguez thanked the Canutillo community for investing in students and the district’s future. He said the work starting at Damian is the first step in a broader mission.

“Modernizing our schools is essential if we want to prepare our students for what’s next … for the future they deserve,” Rodriguez said. “We can’t ask students to meet 21st-century expectations in outdated facilities. These renovations allow us to create environments that match the talent and potential we already know exists in our students and our community.”

Superintendent Emeritus Dr. Pedro Galaviz said the work at Damian and other campuses is a reflection of Canutillo’s grit and determination.

“Getting this bond passed was not easy. It took three tries. That is no secret,” Galaviz said. “But what defines Canutillo is its willingness to stand up for what is right and our ability to put up a fight when we know it matters. This bond mattered, and many people came together to make sure today became a reality.”

Construction is expected to take about a year. 

About the Canutillo Bond 

Voters in the Canutillo Independent School District passed the historic $387 million Canutillo Bond 2024 on May 4, 2024. Canutillo Bond 2024 is the largest per-capita school bond ever approved in El Paso County and is a catalyst program in helping Canutillo modernize existing campuses, address continued growth within the District’s boundaries and upgrade the District’s safety and security infrastructure.