EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) Board of Trustees unanimously approved moving forward with designing a "transparent and inclusive" bond planning initiative, the school district said in a press release on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Partnering with bond strategist services IN2 Architecture, Inc., the board is allocating up to $2.09 million for the services that will "focus on essential preparatory work such as community engagement, research, and the creation of strategic designs," that align with its "Hopes and Dreams Realized Strategic Blueprint," according to the news release by EPISD. The public can access the strategic blueprint on the District's website here. The blueprint's mission, according to EPISD, is "in partnership with our families and community, we will uphold the highest standards to provide inclusive and fair learning experiences that support the whole child," and is divided into five strategic levers: Lever I: Whole Child Development El Paso ISD schools foster learning environments for the whole child to thrive Lever II: Academic Excellence El Paso ISD empowers all learners to excel in current and future pursuits. Lever III: Destination District El Paso ISD solidifies its position as El Paso's destination district. Lever IV: Culture of Accountability El Paso ISD cultivates a culture of transparency, care, and service. Lever V: Equity by Design El Paso ISD champions a targeted approach to Universal access and system equity. The levers are broad topics the district wants to highlight and improve on with its mission, vision, and core values, according to EPISD. EPISD says these overall steps are used to ensure the potential bond is researched, developed, transparent, and aligned with EPISD's "vision" of becoming a "destination district." According to EPISD, the decision does not guarantee a bond proposal and the authority lies with the voters. “We are committed to working through a transparent process with students, staff, parents, and the community to ensure we maximize any and all investments and build trust,” said Superintendent Diana Sayavedra. IN2 Architecture, Inc.'s role for the bond project will be to gather input from stakeholders, host community engagement sessions, promote equity across all campuses, and "ensure the bond proposal reflects the needs of students, staff, and families," according to EPISD. The district does want to emphasize to the public that this is "only the first step in a longer journey. The district's priority is to maintain an informed, community-driven decision-making process throughout." EPISD says it will provide updates later in the future to provide ways to allow the community to give feedback and input.