Bible committee

An Ector County Independent School District committee charged with developing a Bible curriculum for the 2008-'09 school year took Thursday and Friday to review a document detailing a possible new curriculum.

Duke Pesta, an Oklahoma State University English professor, arrived Thursday in Odessa to continue his work with the committee and said Friday that the committee plans to vote on the document after further review.

Pesta, who has 14 years of experience teaching the Bible, recently gained committee members' input and concerns to incorporate into the document's development, which he completed and submitted to the committee.

"I tailored a course to their stipulations," he said.

The committee could vote on the curriculum by as soon as next week, Pesta said, noting once approved the document will be available to anyone who wants to view it.

The committee must present a new curriculum to ECISD's board of trustees by June 1 as part of a settlement in a federal lawsuit over the district's Bible curriculum.

Pesta said he's confident the committee will meet its deadline.

ECISD superintendent Hector Mendez said it's important for community members to view the information upon Bible committee approval because the district emphasizes transparency.

"We don't have anything to hide," he said. "We want the public to see what's being taught."

Mendez said the district will reimburse Pesta for his travel expenses because he's acting as a consultant to the district.

Pesta said at this time the district is only reimbursing his travel expenses for his two-day visit.