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MOJO NATION / Bond election for new high school
« Last post by MOJONation on April 01, 2022, 01:45:59 pm »ECISD Bond Issue Q & A:
How can ECISD open more schools when there are not enough teachers right now?
In 2019, ECISD started the year with approximately 350 teacher vacancies. As of February 15, 2022, ECISD has 48 teacher vacancies across the District. ECISD created a Human Capital strategy that is improving our ability to recruit, attract, and retain highly effective teachers. The district has created multiple teacher pipelines to recruit and train new teachers (Odessa Pathway to Teaching, Future Teachers of Odessa). Odessa College and The University of Texas Permian Basin have also partnered on a fast-track teacher certification program (OC to UTPB Teach in 3). The ECISD Human Resource Department recruits year-round throughout Texas, the United States and internationally.
Where will the new high school be built?
At its workshop on March 22, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to build the new high school at the intersection of Faudree Road and Yukon Road. This site is 100 acres in northeast Ector County, purchased by the school district in 2015.
With a third high school opened, how big will OHS and PHS be?
A third high school will mean a reduction of approximately 1,000 students from both OHS and PHS. Both schools would be projected to maintain an enrollment of about 3,000 students.
Will all 3 high schools still be Class 6A?
The University Interscholastic League just established 2,225 as the minimum student enrollment for Class 6A. This figure will be the guide for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. The new high school will be designed for 2,500-2,800 students, meaning all 3 schools will be part of Class 6A as it is now aligned. The UIL realigns every two years.
Where will the boundary lines for the 3 high schools be?
Boundary lines will not be determined until closer to the school’s opening. The lines will be determined by how many high school-age students live within the school’s proposed boundaries. That cannot be accurately assessed using today’s demographics.
When will the new boundary lines go into effect?
The boundary lines will take effect when the new school opens.
Which middle schools will feed into each high school?
This has not been determined yet.
Will the elementary schools still feed into the same middle schools?
This has not been determined yet.
How much debt does ECISD currently have?
$196,380,025 from the Bond 2012 election.
Robin Hood takes too much money away from our schools.
ECISD does not pay any money to the state in recapture at this time, and ECISD has not made any “Robin Hood” payments to the state since 2015. The District’s status as either a “property wealthy” or “property poor” school district is determined by the state each year as the District’s property values increase and decrease, which generally follows trends in oil and gas prices.
Can ECISD partner with Odessa College for CTE classes instead of building a new center?
ECISD’s Career & Technical Education Department partners with Odessa College for dual credit in many areas, with some dual credit programs of study held at the college and some dual credit programs of study housed at the high schools and the current ECISD satellite campuses. The current partnerships that are located atthe OC campus are: LVN, CAN, Dental Assistant, Fire Academy, EMT, Instrumentation & Electrical, Information Technology, Welding (also housed at ECISD’s Frost facility), Occupational Safety & Environmental Technology, HVAC, Plumbing (OC is currently searching for an instructor), Criminal Justice Administration, Paralegal, Auto Tech.
The new CTE facility will be shared with Odessa College. Important to note is that some post-secondary programs of study such as HVAC, Plumbing, and Process Technology will be housed at the new CTE center, too. Students will take the introductory dual credit or continuing education programs at the CTE facility but through Odessa College.
Where will the CTE center be located?
That has not been determined yet. ECISD will need to purchase land for the building.
Can a student take classes at the CTE center and still participate in athletics and fine arts?
Yes, students who choose the new CTE facility as their home campus may participate at Odessa High School or Permian High School for Athletics and Fine Arts.
Will the CTE center be part of the 3 comprehensive high schools or be completely separate?
The new CTE facility will serve as a hybrid model. Students may choose to attend the center full time, as their home campus. There will be core courses and other graduation requirement classes such as fine arts and PE to accommodate those needs. Other students can choose to stay at their home campus and utilize district transportation for CTE electives.
Why is this bond proposal focused on high schools and not middle schools and elementary schools?
A comprehensive facilities assessment was completed for all school district buildings. Based on the results of that facilities assessment, and a community survey, the Community Bond Committee recommended that the school district focus the bond proposal on high schools, and address middle schools and elementary schools in a future bond proposal. The Bond Committee and School Board felt trying to address both primary and secondary facilities at one time would be too costly for a single bond package.
I thought Ector had to be made a high school again?
ECISD achieved Unitary Status (removal from the federal court order) in 2010; there is no requirement that Ector be reopened as a high school.
Why not convert Ector back to a high school rather than build a new one?
Originally opened in 1957, Ector HS was changed to a junior high in 1982. Ector has a student capacity of approximately 1,600 which is smaller than the proposed high school (2,500-2,800). The facilities assessment completed in 2019 notes Ector will require extensive renovations and repairs, and would need expansion to accommodate the high school. Additionally, if Ector is converted to a high school, a new middle school will need to be built at the same time to replace it.
What specific classes and curriculum will be provided?
At this time, the following programs are scheduled to be provided through the CTE program and can change based upon local workforce needs and state course offerings: Welding, Culinary Arts, Health Science, Early Learning, Future Teachers of Odessa, Auto Collision & Repair, Audio/Video Production, Business Management, Finance & Accounting, Robotics, Computer Science, Project Lead the Way Engineering (adding Computer Aided Drafting—CAD curriculum and certification), Graphic Design, 3D Animation, Construction Technology, HVAC (moving from OC), Plumbing (moving from OC), Cosmetology (moving from OC), Automation/Process Technology (new), Drone Technology (new), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (new).
Will every school in the district be impacted by the bond?
Yes. Between classroom technology upgrades, campus repairs, and the effect of new facilities opening, every ECISD school will be impacted by the bond.
How can ECISD open more schools when there are not enough teachers right now?
In 2019, ECISD started the year with approximately 350 teacher vacancies. As of February 15, 2022, ECISD has 48 teacher vacancies across the District. ECISD created a Human Capital strategy that is improving our ability to recruit, attract, and retain highly effective teachers. The district has created multiple teacher pipelines to recruit and train new teachers (Odessa Pathway to Teaching, Future Teachers of Odessa). Odessa College and The University of Texas Permian Basin have also partnered on a fast-track teacher certification program (OC to UTPB Teach in 3). The ECISD Human Resource Department recruits year-round throughout Texas, the United States and internationally.
Where will the new high school be built?
At its workshop on March 22, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to build the new high school at the intersection of Faudree Road and Yukon Road. This site is 100 acres in northeast Ector County, purchased by the school district in 2015.
With a third high school opened, how big will OHS and PHS be?
A third high school will mean a reduction of approximately 1,000 students from both OHS and PHS. Both schools would be projected to maintain an enrollment of about 3,000 students.
Will all 3 high schools still be Class 6A?
The University Interscholastic League just established 2,225 as the minimum student enrollment for Class 6A. This figure will be the guide for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. The new high school will be designed for 2,500-2,800 students, meaning all 3 schools will be part of Class 6A as it is now aligned. The UIL realigns every two years.
Where will the boundary lines for the 3 high schools be?
Boundary lines will not be determined until closer to the school’s opening. The lines will be determined by how many high school-age students live within the school’s proposed boundaries. That cannot be accurately assessed using today’s demographics.
When will the new boundary lines go into effect?
The boundary lines will take effect when the new school opens.
Which middle schools will feed into each high school?
This has not been determined yet.
Will the elementary schools still feed into the same middle schools?
This has not been determined yet.
How much debt does ECISD currently have?
$196,380,025 from the Bond 2012 election.
Robin Hood takes too much money away from our schools.
ECISD does not pay any money to the state in recapture at this time, and ECISD has not made any “Robin Hood” payments to the state since 2015. The District’s status as either a “property wealthy” or “property poor” school district is determined by the state each year as the District’s property values increase and decrease, which generally follows trends in oil and gas prices.
Can ECISD partner with Odessa College for CTE classes instead of building a new center?
ECISD’s Career & Technical Education Department partners with Odessa College for dual credit in many areas, with some dual credit programs of study held at the college and some dual credit programs of study housed at the high schools and the current ECISD satellite campuses. The current partnerships that are located atthe OC campus are: LVN, CAN, Dental Assistant, Fire Academy, EMT, Instrumentation & Electrical, Information Technology, Welding (also housed at ECISD’s Frost facility), Occupational Safety & Environmental Technology, HVAC, Plumbing (OC is currently searching for an instructor), Criminal Justice Administration, Paralegal, Auto Tech.
The new CTE facility will be shared with Odessa College. Important to note is that some post-secondary programs of study such as HVAC, Plumbing, and Process Technology will be housed at the new CTE center, too. Students will take the introductory dual credit or continuing education programs at the CTE facility but through Odessa College.
Where will the CTE center be located?
That has not been determined yet. ECISD will need to purchase land for the building.
Can a student take classes at the CTE center and still participate in athletics and fine arts?
Yes, students who choose the new CTE facility as their home campus may participate at Odessa High School or Permian High School for Athletics and Fine Arts.
Will the CTE center be part of the 3 comprehensive high schools or be completely separate?
The new CTE facility will serve as a hybrid model. Students may choose to attend the center full time, as their home campus. There will be core courses and other graduation requirement classes such as fine arts and PE to accommodate those needs. Other students can choose to stay at their home campus and utilize district transportation for CTE electives.
Why is this bond proposal focused on high schools and not middle schools and elementary schools?
A comprehensive facilities assessment was completed for all school district buildings. Based on the results of that facilities assessment, and a community survey, the Community Bond Committee recommended that the school district focus the bond proposal on high schools, and address middle schools and elementary schools in a future bond proposal. The Bond Committee and School Board felt trying to address both primary and secondary facilities at one time would be too costly for a single bond package.
I thought Ector had to be made a high school again?
ECISD achieved Unitary Status (removal from the federal court order) in 2010; there is no requirement that Ector be reopened as a high school.
Why not convert Ector back to a high school rather than build a new one?
Originally opened in 1957, Ector HS was changed to a junior high in 1982. Ector has a student capacity of approximately 1,600 which is smaller than the proposed high school (2,500-2,800). The facilities assessment completed in 2019 notes Ector will require extensive renovations and repairs, and would need expansion to accommodate the high school. Additionally, if Ector is converted to a high school, a new middle school will need to be built at the same time to replace it.
What specific classes and curriculum will be provided?
At this time, the following programs are scheduled to be provided through the CTE program and can change based upon local workforce needs and state course offerings: Welding, Culinary Arts, Health Science, Early Learning, Future Teachers of Odessa, Auto Collision & Repair, Audio/Video Production, Business Management, Finance & Accounting, Robotics, Computer Science, Project Lead the Way Engineering (adding Computer Aided Drafting—CAD curriculum and certification), Graphic Design, 3D Animation, Construction Technology, HVAC (moving from OC), Plumbing (moving from OC), Cosmetology (moving from OC), Automation/Process Technology (new), Drone Technology (new), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (new).
Will every school in the district be impacted by the bond?
Yes. Between classroom technology upgrades, campus repairs, and the effect of new facilities opening, every ECISD school will be impacted by the bond.