Urging people to vote for the two-proposition Ector County ISD bond, set for May 7, Odessans for Education Chair Lorraine Perryman made the case that the two comprehensive high schools are overcrowded and unsafe and there is a need for more career and technical facilities.

Perryman and ECISD Superintendent Scott Muri spoke at a Young Professionals of Odessa lunch and learn at the Complex Community Federal Credit Union Operations and Training Center Wednesday.

Odessa and Permian high schools have about 4,000 students each. The new high school, which would be located on 100 acres at Faudree and Yukon roads if the bond issue passes, would have 2,500 to 2,800 students. The district purchased the land for a little more than $2 million in 2015. Superintendent Scott Muri said most of the growth is in northeast Odessa, but the next hot spots are in South and West Odessa.

Executive Board Member of the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin Lorraine Perryman speaks about the ECISD school bond election during a lunch hosted by Young Professionals of Odessa Wednesday morning at the Complex Community Federal Credit Union Operations & Training Building. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)

Having a new high school would take some of the population pressure off OHS and PHS, Muri said. It would also provide more opportunities for students.

A new career and technical education center would also allow more students to take advantage of programming. For example, Perryman said 181 students interested in welding were turned away for next year.

Muri is not allowed to advocate for the little more than $398,000,000 million bond, but can offer information about it.

Perryman said board members can be involved when they are not on school property, but superintendents are considered to be on duty 24/7 so they can only provide facts.

Two surveys were conducted; one was by Opportunity Odessa, a nonprofit, in October 2021 and one was by Baselice & Associates Inc. in November 2021.

The Baselice survey showed people were not willing to vote for a bond that was above $400 million, Perryman said.

The 12 priorities for making Odessa a more appealing place to live, work and prosper over the next 10 years included in the Opportunity Odessa survey were supporting ECISD, investing in existing and new amenities, invest in infrastructure, leverage the higher education assets, build up Odessa’s local workforce, improve public safety, transform downtown Odessa, work with West Odessa, support the growth and development of Odessa’s major healthcare assets, ensure that Odessa receives its fair share of state and federal funding, enhance the community’s image and expand the support of housing in Odessa.

The top three in the survey were to invest in infrastructure, support Ector County ISD and improve public safety.

Senior Vice President of Complex Community Federal Credit Union Lisa Wyman speaks about the ECISD school bond election during a lunch hosted by Young Professionals of Odessa Wednesday morning at the CCFCU Operations & Training Building. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)

The guiding principles for the bond committee were worst is first, safe and secure facilities, 21st century learning environment, functional equity and operational efficiency and plan for the future.

Perryman said there were about $881 million in facilities needs, but the bond committee narrowed it down to what was most needed for that first bite of the elephant.

Muri said the district has 32,000 students; 4,200 employees; 43 schools; and 62 percent economically disadvantaged students.

The district has about 2,000 teachers and there are 38 teachers between the two high schools that float; in other words, they don’t have a fixed classroom.

ECISD is 78 percent Hispanic, 15 percent white, 4 percent African American and 3 percent other demographic populations, Muri said.

Muri pointed out the progress made during the past two and a half years with teacher vacancies, kindergarten readiness, high school graduation rates and SAT scores.

If the bond passes, there would be an oversight committee to make sure the funds were spent the way they are supposed to be.

Voting information

Bond information

  • Proposition A, $215,255,000 which would include:
  • Maintenance & life-cycle repairs/replacement for school district buildings ($130,255,000).
  • Construction of a new Career & Technical Education (CTE) Center ($70 million).
  • Classroom technology upgrades ($15 million).
  • Classroom and/or campus audio, visual and multimedia refresh or additions.
  • Proposition B, $183,000,000 for a new comprehensive high school. Construction of a new high school; designed for 2,500-2,800 student capacity; estimated at 400,000 square feet; includes furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
  • District leaders anticipate this bond will create a tax rate increase of 15 cents and, for a home with a taxable value of $100,000, would equate to a tax increase of approximately $12 per month.
  • There would be no tax increase on residence homesteads for taxpayers 65 and older, as state law dictates that the tax rate and the amount paid on a residence, are frozen when that person turns 65 years old, applies for the exemption and is approved by the Ector County Appraisal District. ECISD gives local taxpayers a 20% Homestead Exemption, which is the maximum allowed by law, the district website said.
  • Early Voting for the May 7, 2022, election will run from Monday, April 25, through Tuesday, May 3, and be held only at the Ector County Courthouse Annex, 1010 E. Eighth St.
  • On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR