Teacher Job Fair

We will by looking to fill as many as 350 teacher positions this summer and this Teacher Job Fair is one chance for local teachers to come and talk to representatives from our schools. A couple of things to keep in mind: starting salary for a beginning teacher is $44,500 (corrected from the last newsletter), and all teachers receive a $3,000 retention incentive on top of their salary.

 

Money Matters  

On June 16 ECISD Trustees voted unanimously to approve a total general fund budget of almost $229 million for the 2015-16 school year; about a $3.9 million increase from last year. The major increases in spending come from personnel costs; raises for all current employees plus new positions necessary for the opening of 5 new schools in August - 3 elementary schools and 2 early college high schools.    

ECISD is estimating a loss of $15 million in local revenues, with an increase of about $8.7 million in state funding. Another $10.4 million will come to the general fund from closing two local capital project funds.    

The school board also approved - as required by law - a food service budget of just over $17 million and a debt service budget of $18.2 million (an increase of $3.9 million) for a total of more than $264 million.

Also on June 16 Trustees voted unanimously to approve the Optional Homestead Exemption Resolution. Trustees voted to keep the exemption at 20%, a savings of approximately $7.6 million for Ector County tax payers. As a note, only about 200 school districts in Texas (out of 1,020) offer some form of the homestead exemption and ECISD is one of only about 150 that still offer the 20% exemption.

Trustees also unanimously approved a resolution calling a portion of the District's Outstanding Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2013 for Redemption Prior to Maturity - this action will pay off early approximately $4 million in bonds, saving tax payers about $3.2 million in interest over the life of the bonds.

Pomp & Circumstance!

Congratulations to the Class of 2015! Seniors from New Tech Odessa, Odessa High School, and Permian High School walked the stage on June 5 & 6, and we wish them all the best as they head off to college, the military, or into the workforce!

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The NTO Class of 2015 featured 61 graduates who earned almost $1.2 million in scholarship & financial aid offers. NTO's class included one National Merit Hispanic Scholar. 

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The OHS Class of 2015 included 660 graduates who received more than $4.7 million in scholarships & financial aid offers. The Bronchos boasted 2 National Merit Scholarship Finalists, and 3 National Merit Commended Scholars! 

The PHS Class of 2015 had 676 graduates with more than $4.2 million in scholarships & financial aid offers. MOJO's class included one National Merit Hispanic Scholar.

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