Ector County voters went to the polls Tuesday to vote on a number of State Constitutional amendments as well as three ECISD bond proposals.
By a 57% to 43% margin Ector County voters approved the largest ever school bond proposal of almost $450,000,000. Notably, this bond will be used to fund the construction of a new career and technical center as well as a new middle school in west Ector County and fund $120,000,000 in maintenance and repairs to existing campuses. Two other proposals regarding Ratliff Stadium upgrades and indoor practice facilities at OHS and PHS failed.
This bond passage comes after two previous attempts failed. Prior to last night’s vote the last successful bond election was in 2012 when voters approved a plan to increase the size of Ector County’s two high school campuses and to realign ECISD schools to a ninth-twelfth grade high school configuration. The 2012 bond also included the construction of three new elementary schools.
“We’re proud that voters made their choice clearly known through the ballot box” stated Ector County Republican Party Chair Tisha Crow. “Now comes the hard part. During this election one of the major themes continued to be the issue of the voter’s lack of trust for our school district. As a Republican, I am proud of the fact that we were able to successfully elect two strong conservative Republican candidates – Wayne Woodall and Bob Thayer – to our school board in last May’s election and I think voters showed they were willing to give the newly constituted board the benefit of the doubt that they can overcome the many trust issues left behind by the old board. As conservatives, the ECRP will continue to press our school district to bring about the changes needed in our schools and to spend this money wisely. We strongly urge our Trustees to carry through on their promise to form a comprehensive bond oversight committee that will include the appointment of some of the critics of the just passed bond.”