If there is only one takeaway from this letter, please consider taking 10 minutes of your time between now and November 7th to vote in the upcoming election. Not only will the community decide on a much-needed investment into our local schools, but statewide voters will also decide the fate of 14 constitutional amendments that cover topics such as property tax relief, water infrastructure, state parks, and other issues that will affect the lives of every Texan.
I also ask that you support Propositions A, B, and C to support our local schools and community. Collectively, this bond will positively affect every geographic area of the city and nearly every school in a significant way. The Career and Technical Education Center (built on donated land!) will be an economic driver for West Texas for years to come, and set students up for success not just for a future job, but a lifelong career in technical fields such as automation, plumbing, electrical, healthcare, and many others. To be taught properly, these fields require investment in facilities, equipment, and personnel.
A new middle school built on the west side of Odessa will be a start to solving a decades-long problem of overcrowding at our secondary schools. The population and number of households continues to be undercounted in West Odessa. Imagine the impact a new facility in a growing area of Odessa will have on parents and students: reduction in time sitting on a bus, less traffic congestion, and smaller classroom sizes which will lead to better student outcomes.
A school bond totaling just over $436 million is a big question for any community and warrants scrutiny. However, the bond committee did a great job focusing on areas where the greatest needs exist. Though it doesn’t address every need in the school system, it is a great starting point for much needed investment. Our current ECISD administration and school board have proven themselves with proper financial stewardship and increasing academic results. Now is the right time and place to pass this bond for the future of Odessa.
If the bond fails, we can be assured of the following: the need for more academic facilities will not go away, construction costs will be even higher in the future, and most importantly, another generation of students will be underserved. We will experience even greater shortages for workers in the energy, healthcare, and building sectors that will drive costs. Collectively every taxpayer will certainly pay more than the $436 million needed for this bond.
Perhaps President Dwight D Eisenhower said it best about the importance of voting: “The future of this Republic is in the hands of the American voter.” Please consider our future during this election season. Take time to vote, and I ask you to vote yes on each proposition for the 2023 ECISD Bond.
Brian Green
