Odessa R-VII committee favors new elementary on Upper site, proposes $45 million package

The Odessa R-VII School District committee recommended constructing a completely new elementary school near the current Upper Elementary site and outlined a two-part funding strategy that would raise roughly $45 million.

Superintendent Dr. Fagan said the committee’s consensus was for a new building at the Upper Elementary site rather than renovating the existing Macquarie building. “The committee believes that a completely new building should be constructed, out where OUE is currently,” Dr. Fagan said during the April meeting.

The committee described two primary funding components: a no-tax-increase bond issue that would generate approximately $17,000,000 and a capital levy increase of $1.30 per assessed unit directed to Fund 4 that the district estimates would raise about $28,000,000. Dr. Fagan said “these 2 items together, would generate the estimated 45,000,000 needed for the new elementary school.” The district…