Department needs and high school configurations were discussed by the Ector County ISD bond planning committee.
The total of department needs would be $161,552,636. This would include career and technical education, $78,552,636, transportation, $12,890,000; fine arts, $15,180,000; athletics, $9,130,000; and technology, $45,800,000.
Transportation, fine arts, athletics and technology presented Thursday night at Odessa High School. CTE presented at the last bond planning committee meeting.
Superintendent Scott Muri said a community survey will be conducted by Baselice & Associates Inc. of Austin in the next couple of weeks. Muri said the district will meet with the firm Monday to go through questions with them and the calls will start the last week in October-first week in November.
In the discussion of high schools, or a check for understanding, the consensus was no ninth grade centers and no grade realignment (having a high school with grades nine and 10 and a senior high school of 11th and 12th grade).
There was interest in a kindergarten through 12th grade education village which would have an elementary, middle and high school all on one site. Some people thought there should be two of these villages.
The consensus also was that smaller schools are better.
They would have shared infrastructure and facilities.
A choice career and technical education campus was also appealing.
Extracurricular activities and CTE help keep students in school, committee members agreed.
Committee consensus was not to expand high schools on the existing sites and building more high comprehensive schools. Choice schools are where students can stay all day, but other students can attend for the programs.
Committee member Collin Sewell suggested building an entirely new Permian High and entirely new Odessa High School on different land.
Sewell said there is a sense of pride in both schools.
“I am an advocate for quality education. I don’t doubt the need whatsoever, but I think there would be an appetite for that option,” Sewell said.
The buildings would fit the number of students, so it feels like it’s more manageable. He added that he thinks a CTE campus also is needed.
The next bond planning committee meeting will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 10 at Bonham Middle School and the final meeting will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 10 at Permian High School. Bond recommendations are expected to be presented to the school board in December.
Muri said the law regarding school bonds changed in 2019 for more transparency. Now things like athletics and technology have to be on separate bonds.
