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West Texans Help Oklahoma Victims
ECISD Bond: How the Money Will Be Spent 9/17/12
Jennifer Samp
CBS 7 News
jsamp@cbs7.com
September 17, 2012
This week citizens have several opportunities to learn more about the proposed ECISD bond issue.
The public is invited to attend an informational session tonight at 6:00 in the Odessa High School cafeteria or at Reagan Elementary.
There is also a meeting scheduled for Tuesday night at Murry Fly Elementary at 6:00.
Next week there's a public event Monday night at Permian High School and there are two public meetings Tuesday September 35, at Blackshear Elementary and Ector Jr. High.
These public forums are all being promoted by the local organization Odessans for Kids. The group posted this on their website for citizens of Ector County can better understand the bond and the organization:
On August 16, 2012, members of the Ector County Independent School Board unanimously called for a $129.75 million bond election to be added to the November 6 ballot for voters. This bond, which directly addresses the need for an increase in classrooms to meet Odessa’s growing population, calls for the addition of three new elementary schools (two in West Odessa and one in north/northeast Odessa), and the expansion of both Odessa and Permian High schools to accommodate a district-wide move to the middle school concept, the model currently used in the vast majority of school districts throughout Texas.
The middle school concept, which would replace the current junior high model in the district, would place sixth graders in middle schools with seventh and eight grade students, and move ninth grade students to the Permian or Odessa High campuses with 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students.
This new middle school alignment would result in elementary schools being kindergarten through 5th grade, middle schools being 6th through 8th grade, and high schools being ninth through 12th grades. This shift in grades would finally align our school district with the state curriculum and place students with age-appropriate peer groups.
Odessans For Kids, a non-profit community group of business leaders, parents, and civic leaders is asking you to VOTE "FOR" this bond so that we can prepare for Odessa’s future. This is our opportunity to "pay it forward" for our children and grandchildren, and help ensure that future generations of Odessa students receive the quality education they deserve, much like our ancestors did for us many years ago.
With Odessa’s current economic and population explosion, NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION. When we invest in our children we are investing in our future.
Click here for details of what this bond will pay for.