The Odessa College Board of Trustees came to a consensus about the new redistricting map at a workshop Wednesday in the Wood Math and Science Building.
The nine board members will stay in their respective districts. There is one vacancy left by Larry Johnson in District 5.
If the board approves the new districts at its regular meeting May 24, it can start the process of replacing Johnson.
“I don’t know exactly what our deadline is and how those things work. We’ll get all that figured out once we get the plan officially approved,” Board Chair Gary Johnson said.
Vice President of Administrative Services Ken Zartner said the board would adopt a resolution making the map effective immediately.
Gary Johnson said it’s much easier for voters if the districts stay the same.
Funding for Odessa College’s downtown presence at 222 E. Fourth St. also were discussed.
Zartner said a request for $1.5 million will be made to the board to start downtown Phase I.
Bids will be sent out May 25 and a special board meeting will be held June 16 to review and select bids. Phase I would start June 17 and be completed in June 2023, Zartner said.
He added that the meeting may be moved to June 15.
Zartner said the college wants the new area to be open by next summer and to serve as an area for Firecracker Fandango and the live music series Hot Summer Nights.
Vice President of Advancement, Business & Governmental Relations Jacqui Gore said a groundbreaking could possibly be held in June and there is a donor pending for the project.
Trustees also discussed transferring funds from the Odessa College Endowed Scholarship to the Foundation.
Chief Financial Officer Brandy Ham said they would move a total of $333,124 to the Foundation from the Parker Endowment and Davidson Family Endowment over a period of time.
Gary Johnson said next week’s meeting also will include a board reorganization. He suggested moving forward with the officers they have, but at the next meeting they will officially reorganize and elect officers.
Ham recommended staying with Whitley Penn as the independent auditors. This is expected to be brought up at the board meeting.
Notice of Wednesday’s meeting was not sent out until 5:49 p.m. Tuesday. Non-emergency meetings, including workshops, are supposed to be posted 72 hours in advance.
