   |
 |
ECISD Trustees Approve $129 Million Bond Proposal
EYE ON EDUCATION
ECISD's Dr. H.T. Sanchez Talks About New Position in Tucson, AZ 6/19/13
“They felt I was the best person for the job and I'm going to honor that request,” says Dr. H.T. Sanchez, the Interim Superintendent in the Ector County Independent School District.
“They felt I was the best person for the job and I'm going to honor that request,” says Dr. H.T. Sanchez, the Interim Superintendent in the Ector County Independent School District.
ECISD Trustees Approve $129 Million Bond Proposal 8/16/12
CBS 7 Reporter
smurray@cbs7.com
August 16, 2012
Odessa, TX - Both Midland and Ector County ISDs are moving forward with multi-million dollar bond proposals.
Tonight ECISD followed suit and with a 7-0 vote from ECISD trustees, a $129 million bond will now be on the November 6th ballot.
"I think the unanimous approval speaks volumes that not only the board but the community they represent recognize the importance of what we're trying to accomplish," explains community leader Collin Sewell.
At the crowded meeting, ECISD trustees heard from administrators and community leaders like Sewell about what this bond would accomplish, but they also heard impromptu response from principals at every grade level about why they think this bond is necessary to improve the district
The bond will build 3 new elementary schools and renovate the 2 high schools to ease overcrowding. If passed, it will also move the district to the middle school model: putting 6th-8th graders on one campus and 9th-12th grades at the high schools.
"Its a great opportunity to make sure that we line up with what the state, sociologists and people have told us all over the country that its a k-5, 6-8, 9-12 world,” Sewell explains.
"Its about time, we've been talking about middle schools in Ector County for a long, long time," says Permian High School Principal Roy Garcia.
Garcia is one of 3 principals who spoke up in favor of the middle school concept, saying it fits the state curriculum and keeps students grouped with others on the same emotional level.
"They're the ones who see our students everyday,” says Sewell. “They see the need that's really there."
Community Leader Collin Sewell says it's a need that West Texans should make a priority.
"In an economic time when we are so blessed, its really a time when we reinvest back in our community,” he says. “When we look at the success of any community, one of the key markers for that is the quality of education it provides its students."
Sewell says from now until November it will be his job to go out into the community and make sure the people in Odessa know what they are voting for and why it's worth their investment.
Here's how the bond could impact your tax rate:
If your home value is $82,265 your rate will increase by $47.76 per year.
For a home valued at $100,000 the increase is $57.96 a year.
If you own a $200,000 home, the tax rate would go up $116.04 dollars.
And for a $300,000 home value, the impact is about $174 dollars each year.