Ector County ISD Superintendent Scott Muri presented the priorities for a potential $427,155,000 bond at a town hall meeting at Buddy West Elementary School Monday.
Muri ran through the priorities and asked people for their views.
Board members Wayne Woodall and Delma Abalos along with President Chris Stanley were in attendance. State Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa, was also on hand.
Residents voiced their preference that western Ector County be the site of a new proposed transportation hub and that special education be addressed. There was also a question about whether the new middle school would be comprehensive or specialized and safety concerns about the ramp at Ratliff Stadium.
The bond committee first worked with $396 million, but that number rose to $427 million.
The committee’s first priority, according to the ECISD website, was no tax increase.
“Through good financial stewardship, ECISD officials anticipate the district can take on an additional $427 million of bonds without having to increase the tax rate. Since 2020, ECISD has made a series of early payments on existing bonds, payments that have saved taxpayers $27 million in future interest payments. The district’s bond rating has been upgraded which will mean better interest rates on future bonds. And ECISD has earned a perfect score (A+) on the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) from the Texas Education Agency for three years in a row. By paying off debt early, ECISD has created the capacity to absorb new bonds without increasing the tax rate,” the website said.
The board has until Aug. 21 to call a bond. The items, which would be separated into propositions, would include:
>> A new career and technical center for $80 million. CTE would be used by ECISD students, but also adults for reskilling and upskilling. Part of it would be funded by the Permian Strategic Partnership.
Muri said the amount PSP will contribute is not yet public, but they contributed $10 million to a similar facility in Hobbs, N.M.
Muri said they have talked about putting this on the south side of the county for access as it will be used by students during the week and adults on nights and weekends for reskilling and upskilling in partnership with Odessa College.
>> A new middle school for $120 million. There has been discussion of putting this in the western part of Ector County.
>> Priority 1 items for $48.4 million (these are things that need to be taken care of right away).
>> Priority 2 items for $72.7 million (these are things that can be done in three to five years at the most).
>> Replacing the Transportation Department building and buying buses for $37.54 million. The building used to be the Ector County airport hangar and when they fix the buses, the mechanics have to take the air out of the tires to get them in the service bays, Muri said.
>> Technology Department needs, $23.5 million. The district’s phone system, for example, expires next year and needs to be replaced.
>> Fine Arts Department needs, $18.5 million.
>> Athletics Department needs, $11.1 million. This includes lights, a concrete bleacher overlay at Ratliff Stadium, lights for the parking lot at Ratliff Stadium and updating the restrooms.
>> Agricultural Farm, $7.5 million. This would replace all the original buildings that are out there.
>> Replacing the Transition Learning Center for $8 million.
Muri said this does not meet all the district needs but serves those 200 students on the farm.
Muri noted that all the costs include furniture and fixtures. He said the district does not have land for the middle school or CTE facility. Once the properties are purchased, the locations would become public.
Answering a question about maintenance, Muri said it was included in the 2012 bond and those items were completed, but maintenance is constant.
Muri said maintenance and repair needs in ECISD for the next 10 years are $1.8 billion based on its facility review study.
More than half the buildings in ECISD are 60 years old or older. Muri said Ector and Bonham Middle schools are so old they need to be replaced.
Sunnel Mehta said the bond should cover all demographics, not just some. Mehta was concerned about special education students and wondered if improvements to the program and facilities were in the bond.
The Transition Living Facility is for students 18 and older to teach them life skills. Muri said the funding for special education comes from the general fund and federal funds.
CTE instructor Nat Armendariz who was on the bond committee said the proposal includes almost every aspect of ECISD.
Armendariz said it’s not perfect, but it’s the best proposal they could put forth right now knowing they will have to do this in the future.
He said the bond would not raise taxes because of good financial stewardship by the district.
“That is a wonderful gift. It’s for the students. It’s for the community. The district has done their part,” Armendariz said and he asked for the support of those in attendance.
Muri noted that the bond would not affect people’s salaries as that is paid out of the general fund.
If the bond doesn’t pass, he said they will have to figure out how to fix the maintenance issues out of the general fund.
“… This will affect your salary, but not in the way you’re hoping. We have to have the bond to fund this work because the general fund funds salaries,” Muri said.
Craig Stoker from Meals on Wheels said students have to be educated, so “we can continue to function as a community.”
Precinct 1 County Commissioner Mike Gardner said he hopes the district will continue these town hall meetings to educate people.
If a bond is called by Aug. 21, Muri said the district and board members can start the information campaign.
