Parents Pack EPISD Board Room, Press Superintendent on Safety, Discipline, and Accountability
By: Eileen Hernandez, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2025
EAGLE PASS, TX – What was scheduled as a one-hour Parent Q&A with Eagle Pass Independent School District Superintendent Samuel Mijares stretched well beyond its 5:30 p.m. end time Tuesday evening, October 7, 2025, wrapping up close to 7 p.m. after a full and, at times, intense discussion between district leadership and parents.
Nearly 50 parents packed the Eagle Pass ISD Board Room, forcing staff to pull out extra chairs as attendance grew throughout the session. Superintendent Samuel Mijares opened the meeting by thanking families for showing up and explaining that the event would be a private, open dialogue – meaning no video recording or live streaming was permitted, to allow parents to speak freely.
From start to finish, questions of accountability dominated the evening, with parents demanding answers about campus safety, administrative leadership, and student discipline.
Safety Concerns and Principal Accountability
The most repeated question of the night focused on Armando Cerna Elementary Principal Juan Leija, as several parents asked directly: “What’s going to be the consequence for the principal – and why is he still in charge of student safety?”
Superintendent Mijares told parents that he recognizes their frustration and that “there will be consequences,” but emphasized that he must “do [his] due diligence” before taking any action. When pressed for details, he stated that he cannot disclose personal or personnel matters, which drew a mix of reactions from the audience. “We understand that student safety is a priority with all the parents,” Mijares said.
He later told Eagle Pass Business Journal reporter Eileen Hernandez that the main takeaway from the evening was recognizing where communication can improve.
“We’re working hard to make sure that we advise the parents in a timely manner,” he said. “We had several situations where we had a little bump in our procedures that I feel we should improve – and that’s what I take from tonight. I understand as the superintendent that it’s important that we inform the parents immediately and that we improve our procedures,” said Mijares.
Student Discipline and School Fights
Another major concern voiced by parents was the district’s handling of student fights and altercations, and whether the consequences are strong enough to deter future incidents.
Parents also raised concerns over grooming policies, particularly at Eagle Pass High School, where students have been required to shave during the school day. Mijares explained that, given the size of the student population, waiting until students return home would be impractical.
He told parents it’s important for high school students to maintain a well-groomed appearance, since many are old enough to be mistaken for adults.
“It’s important for administrators to be able to differentiate between students and staff,” Mijares said, encouraging parents to have their children shave before coming to school to avoid issues during class time,” Mijares said.
Cell phone restrictions also drew several questions, with parents citing instances of phones being confiscated after school hours. Superintendent Mijares clarified that Texas law allows bans only “from bell to bell” and said he would speak with all principals to ensure consistency across campuses.
Looking Ahead
By the end of the nearly two-and-a-half-hour discussion, Superintendent Mijares said he was grateful for the turnout and the open exchange. He announced plans to host similar Q&A sessions each semester to continue building trust and transparency between the school district and its families. “It’s important because we’re a team,” he said. “We cannot do it by ourselves,” Mijares said.
