The West Texas ethos of low taxes and small government has been hard for school leaders to overcome. Voters have rejected bond issues in Midland and Odessa during the last decade.
— a weekly dispatch about the people, places and policies defining Texas, produced by Texas Tribune journalists living in communities across the state.
School districts in both Ector and Midland counties are asking their voters to take on a combined $1.9 million in debt. State law requires all bond election ballot language to call it a tax increase. However, both school districtsthey have no plans to increase their tax rate if voters approve the bond.
And most importantly, Walker said at the debate, the district should focus on improving academics at its schools. Midland and Odessa civic leaders — including those in the dominant energy sector — say they need voter approval to upgrade schools, which are struggling to keep up with a booming population. Modern and safer schools, they say, are needed to continue to attract families to the oil fields.
The propositions include sweeping maintenance repairs for all schools in Ector County, a new career and technical center that would help accommodate a 600-student waitlist, a facelift for Ratliff Stadium, and a career transition center for special needs students. Another proposition includes plans for a new middle school in West Odessa.
Nimitz Middle School 7th grade teacher’s aide Pricilla Martinez leads her class in an activity Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa. Martinez said that due to the increased amount of families moving to the Permian Basin, they sometimes teach 38 to 40 kids per class. “It’s been six weeks and I still don’t know all of their names… it's embarrassing to me,” Martinez said.First: Nimitz Middle School 7th grade teacher’s aide Pricilla Martinez leads her class in an activity Wednesday, Sept.
At nearby Bonham Middle School, overcrowding isn’t an issue. But the building is out of compliance with disability rules, said Ardrayda Jeffrey, the vice-principal.
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