Promises made. Promises kept.

That was the message Wednesday afternoon as the Canutillo Independent School District held the first of six ribbon-cutting ceremonies scheduled this fall to celebrate the completion of Canutillo Bond-funded renovations at existing campuses.

Students, teachers, parents and community members gathered at Congressman Silvestre & Carolina Reyes Elementary School to celebrate the completion of more than $1 million in campus upgrades, with a particular focus on instructional technology.

"Today is about much more than cutting a ribbon," Superintendent Dr. Josué Borrego said. "It is about celebrating an investment in our students and seeing the results of a promise our community made to the children of Canutillo."

The improvements at Reyes included upgrades to the campus HVAC system, Wi-Fi connectivity, safety and security camera network and other infrastructure designed to ensure the district's newest campus continues serving the growing Cimarron community for years to come.

The centerpiece of the celebration was the installation of interactive whiteboards in every classroom and the impact the technology will have on teaching and learning.

Principal Virginia Bernal said the new whiteboards will help teachers create more engaging lessons while giving students greater opportunities to collaborate and develop critical digital skills.

"These interactive whiteboards are far more than classroom displays. They give our teachers powerful new tools to bring lessons to life, encourage collaboration and personalize learning for every child," Bernal said.

"Technology is most effective when it supports great teaching, and that's exactly what these classrooms now offer,” she added. “Students can interact with lessons in real time, explore concepts in new ways and develop the digital skills they will need long after they leave Reyes Elementary."

Following the ceremony, guests and members of the media visited a classroom to watch a live demonstration of the new technology, where a Reyes teacher showcased lessons designed specifically for the interactive whiteboards while students participated in the instruction.

The Reyes ceremony marked the first of six ribbon cuttings planned this fall to celebrate completed renovation projects at campuses that were not rebuilt or relocated through the Canutillo Bond 2024 program.

Meanwhile, construction continues on the bond's four major capital projects: the new and rightplaced Northwest Early College High School, Canutillo Middle School, Alderete Middle School and Davenport Elementary School. All four projects remain on schedule for completion by the end of 2027.

The renovation projects across the district include major investments in HVAC systems, roofing, safety and security infrastructure, career and technical education spaces, campus connectivity and facility improvements.

Canutillo ISD Board President Sergio Martinez said the completed projects demonstrate the district's commitment to delivering on the promises made to voters.

"When our community approved the 2024 Bond, they placed their trust in us to deliver," Martinez said. "Today, we're proud to show that trust was well placed. Project after project, we are delivering results on time, on budget and with complete transparency. That is what responsible stewardship looks like."

To date, every bond project has been completed on schedule and at or below budget. At Reyes Elementary, all planned work was finished as scheduled, generating approximately $40,000 in savings.

Today is about much more than cutting a ribbon. It is about celebrating an investment in our students and seeing the results of a promise our community made to the children of Canutillo.Dr. Josue BorregoSuperintendent

About the 2024 Canutillo Bond

Canutillo voters approved the historic $387 million Canutillo Bond 2024 on May 4, 2024. The program is the largest per-capita school bond ever approved in El Paso County and is modernizing existing campuses, expanding schools to accommodate continued growth and enhancing safety and security throughout the district. The bond includes the renovation of six existing campuses and the construction or relocation of four schools designed to serve the growing communities of Northwest El Paso and the Upper Valley.