West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District

Although unknown when the dates of operation were, the children of the West Orange area went to a small building, serving grades only up to 8, on Western Avenue, until it caught fire. This having been shortly after Lorena Oates Elementary was erected, in 1949, a new campus was constructed, to serve the 'upper' grades, on Western. It had a state-of-the-art auditorium, and the district's administrative offices. Before this campus was built, high school students would attend Orange, or Lutcher-Stark (depending on the years) High School, of the Orange ISD. The class of 1956 was the first to graduate from West Orange High, then represented by the purple and white Chief. In 1966, West Orange ISD constructed, one block down from Lorena Oates Elementary, a separate West Orange High School campus. The Western Avenue campus became West Orange Junior High School.

Cove ISD, which also served grades K-8, in one building, was part of the 1967 consolidation. Until then it served as a school for the Cove Incorporation, which was dissolved subsequently with the consolidation. The Cove school saw at least two buildings in its duration. One, still standing on the corner of Campus, dates back to the 1950s.

Orange ISD is believed to be the first public school district. Its roots go even farther back. The first sign of public education in Orange, then called 'Madison', was in 1857, when two "common schools" were recorded with a total enrollment of 70 pupils.[1] Much of the history of the Orange Independent School District centers around one Green Avenue location, that saw over five different campus names and buildings.

The second OHS

The campus directly off of Green Ave. is believed to be the district's oldest campus. Before 2010, it consisted of two buildings: the 'Stark' Building, which used to be Lutcher-Stark High, and the Carr Building, which used to be Helen Carr Junior High. The street that ran between them, 13th, was demolished, and a building now conjoins the former two buildings, which was an effect of the 2007 Bond Project.

Orange High School started out in a three-story building, which stood where West Orange-Stark Middle School stands today. Built in the 1890s, the original Orange High School closed around the 1920s, when the huge new OHS, built in the downtown area, was opened. It served students until the 1940s, when Lutcher-Stark High School was built, directly across from the original Orange High School location (which had been turned into Carr Junior High, named after Helen Carr, the then Director of Secondary Instruction). The Downtown Orange High School was demolished. Shortly after these events, in the early 1950s, a new one-story Carr Junior High was built around the existing Carr building. After its completion, the old Carr was demolished much later, in the very early 1980s.

In the 'Game' gym at West Orange-Stark High School, a large, orange 'OHS' logo can still be seen above the stage, as a bit of memorabilia of the Tigers that once walked the halls of that location. Since 2005, there is also a large Tiger memorial, near the front of the campus, for all OHS and LSHS students.

Both buildings have gone under multiple renovations and expansions, including the Stark addition (expanding the campus to the edge of Pine), the cafeteria expansion, the Stark gym remodeling, the building of a second gym, a storage building, a band hall (later demolished, as a part of the 200 bond), and many more. As of the 1950s, quite a few "mobile trailers" could be seen on campus. The reason for the presence of those is unknown. They are gone now, and have been for at least 30 years. There were also houses located where the 'annex' (the part of the Stark building closest to Pine, which is separated on the first floor by a breezeway, which was added quite a few years after the school was built) now is. Although it is implied by records that they were utilized by the district.

When the original OHS became Carr Jr. High, part of the original building was joined as a wing of Carr, and is still standing. The wing consisted of at least one shop. Intended for Auto Mechanics, the wing contained several garage openings – since filled in. The room, once used by OHS, and again by Lutcher-Stark students, is now used by WO-SMS personnel.

Much of the Stark building is still original, including certain "materials" (tile, doors, etc.) which are the original L-S High 'Tigers' colors. Things currently present in the school can also be seen in school pictures from the 1950s.

Moten/Wallace as it stands today

Moten/Wallace High, the first segregated school, opened in the early 1920s. It was replaced by North High in the early 1960s. It still stands on the corner of 1st and John.

Many elementary schools served Orange ISD, including the large Anderson School, which was repetitively rebuilt at its 8th and Park location. In the 1980s, the Anderson School name would see its last new building: a huge, contemporary, two-story building, in its original location. This building is now the Alternative Education Center. Other elementary schools that served Orange ISD include:

• Jonas B Salk Elementary (one of the most 'crowded' schools. Was in Roselawn. 1950s–1985. After consolidation, it was used as an elementary, until 1994, and then an early elementary until 1996, when it was moved to North. The building still sits on the corners of 37th and Azalea. It is used as a church now.)
• Tilley Elementary (was in Riverside (Naval Base neighborhood,) closed in 60s or 70s. Named after fallen WWII soldier.)
• Colburn Elementary (also in or near Riverside. Closed along with Tilley. Also named after fallen WWII soldier.)
• Jones Elementary (served as elementary until 1991, when it was converted to an alternative school. Campus was sold in mid-2000s.)
• Franklin Elementary ( Stood until 1990 on same location as what is now HEB.)
• Bancroft Elementary (Still stands. Sold in 2005. Built in 50s.)
• Curtis School (1923. Elementary school. Still stands today. Used as a nursing home.)

Upon the 1967 consolidation, the North High School, an all black high school, was open, along with West Orange High, and Stark High. West Orange-Cove, now housed in the Orange ISD's Administration offices, decided that North was not needed, and unable to be used for segregated education, due to the new laws, and it was turned into a Middle School. In 1977, West Orange High and Stark High consolidated with 2 grades in each campus, as opposed to 4 grades in each. The new name was decided to be West Orange-Stark High, with the West Campus on Newton, serving the upper two grades, and the East Campus at the former Lutcher-Stark High School Campus, serving the lower two grades. In 1985, each elementary school's highest grade level was 4th grade and all 5th and 6th graders across the district attended MB North Intermediate School, and 7th and 8th graders attended West Orange Middle School on Western Street. In the mid-1990s, West Orange Middle and North Intermediate, consolidated into the West Orange Middle Campus, on Western, which, before 1967, also housed West Orange ISD's K-8 and Administration offices. Shortly after this, the West and East High School campuses consolidated, and became housed at the Newton campus. The middle school moved to the Stark campus, and the Western Ave. campus became an Intermediate school. The North campus sat empty for 5 years until it replaced Salk as the Early Elementary and Head Start Center. In 2003, the Intermediate school closed, sending the 5th grade to 3 different Elementary schools, and the 6th grade went to the former Stark campus, along with 7th & 8th grades. In 2005, after the closure of Bancroft Elementary, Anderson Elementary became the only campus to serve K-3, with the help of approx. 9 mobile buildings, and Lorena Oates became the new Intermediate, serving 4th & 5th grades. In 2010, West Orange-Stark Elementary was opened, easily serving grades K-5 in approx. 250,000 square feet (23,000 m²). The Lorena Oates and Anderson buildings became unused. The 2011 Bond Project decided that Anderson would be used as an Administration Building/Alternative Center/Community Outreach Facility.

• MB North Early Learning Center (Pre-K & Head Start, Orange) Shannon Larson, Director[2]
• West Orange-Stark Elementary School (Grades K-5, Pinehurst) Benny Smith, Principal[3]
• West Orange-Stark Middle School (Grades 6–8, Orange) Broderick McGrew, Principal[4]
• West Orange-Stark High School (Grades 9–12, West Orange) Hutcherson Hill, Principal[5]
• West Orange-Stark Academic Alternative Center (Grades 6-12 DAEP, Orange) Rodney Anderson, Coordinator[6] (The Park st. campus officially opened its doors in August 2011. The Alternative School/Community Outreach Center will also be joined by the new Educational Service Center, as an effect of the 2011 Bond.[7])

Anderson Elem campus

Plan for Educ. Serv. Cntr

WO-S Elementary

Carl Godwin Auditorium.

WO-SES days after completion, July 2010, and the Carl Godwin Auditorium, before Summer 2010 repairs.

• The Administration Building, which is located 902 W. Park, Orange, TX.
• Education Service Center, adjacent to Alternative Center. Former main Anderson campus, being renovated per 2011 Bond.
• Offices of the Superintendent, Curriculum, Student Services, Human Resources, Business Offices, Maintenance, Technology and Communication departments.

Built adjacent to the original West Orange ISD School, the mid-20th century Carl A Godwin Auditorium was meant to make the West Orange ISD seem innovative. Named after the first fallen WWII soldier from the City of West Orange, it has been used for graduations, city meetings, board meetings, and performances (including one mid-1970s concert by celebrities Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely), until 2003, when West Orange-Cove declared it unusable due to damages from age. The funding for renovations for the auditorium came from the 2007 bond. Repairs were carried out by district maintenance crew. It reopened for school performances in December 2010.

• Lorena Oates Campus, located in West Orange. Built in 1949, the campus closed in 2010, when its elementary level students were moved to the new facility. Currently awaiting auction.
• Anderson Campus, located in Orange. Build in the 1980s, it also closed when the new Elementary school opened. Adjacent to the Alternative Center, this building will soon house the all Administrative departments, excluding Maintenance/Warehouse, and Transportation, as a part of the 2011 Bond Project.

• Jones Alternative/Parent Resource Center was closed in very early 2000s.[8] It has been replaced by a facility housed at Anderson, as an effect of the 2011 Bond.[9]
• WO-S Intermediate was closed in 2003, which left all 3 elementary schools with grades K-5, and the Middle School with grades 6–8.
• Upon the closure of Bancroft elementary in 2005–2006 school year, all 4th and 5th graders were to go to Lorena Oates Elementary, while all K-3rd students would go to Anderson.
• Both Lorena Oates, and Anderson Elementary closed in May 2010, as a part of the 2007 Bond. All elementary students now attend the new elementary school, which is the largest building in the county, at approx. 250,000 square feet (23,000 m²).[10]

The 2003 Bond projects consisted of two passed proposals - $5.3 million to refinance a Maintenance & Operations (M&O) tax loan to replace HVAC systems, and $7.2 million for facility repair & renovation. The bond was a Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) designed for high-poverty school districts, and charging no interest. The bond provided new roofs throughout the district, along with fencing, plumbing and restroom upgrades, door replacement, security and fire alarm system upgrades, and more. The projects were completed in their entirety by 2006. The loan was expected to be paid off by 2016.[11]

As a part of the 2007 Bond, both the middle and high schools were renovated and expanded.

In May 2011 West Orange-Cove voters approved a low-interest federal stimulus bond for District advancement. The bond has provided funding for; replacing the track at West Orange-Stark High School, which had been unusable since 2005, and remodeling the Kindergarten wing of the former Anderson Elementary campus, converting it to the West Orange-Stark Academic Alternative Center. New playground equipment has been placed at West Orange-Stark Elementary, and all athletic facilities at West Orange-Stark High School have been updated, including a new tennis court, new fencing at the softball and baseball stadiums, and new restroom/concessions at Dan R. Hook Stadium. Projects that have yet to be completed are the renovation of the main campus at Anderson to a Community Outreach Facility, and the Administration Offices, which are currently housed in a building in a prime commercial area. Other projects planned include fencing around the Elementary school, new Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning systems in various areas throughout the district's school, an additional staff parking lot at West Orange-Stark Middle, and ADA modifications, where necessary. The funding, amounting to $6,075,000, will be paid back over 15-years. The district plans to sell the current Administration building, and collect money in doing so.

See Also West Orange-Cove Administration

• Dr. Rickie R. Harris, Superintendent of Schools
• Dr. Sylvia Martinez, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction
• Melinda James, executive director of Financial Operations
• Anitrea Goodwin, executive director of Human Resources
• Dr. Brant Graham, Director of Special Education
• Dr. Wayne Guidry, Director of Federal Programs, Testing, & Accountability
• Lorraine Shannon, Director of Communications
• Elvis Rushing, Director of Instructional Technology
• Keisha Vicks, Director of Dining Services – Outsourced through Aramark K-12 Child Nutrition
• Sheila Navarre, Director of Transportation – Outsourced through Student Transportation Specialists
• Greg Willis, Director of Maintenance & Warehouse
• Cornel Thompson, Director of Athletics
• Jascelyn Tatum-Gause, Coordinator of 21st Century Afterschool Programs on Education (ACE)
• Paul Thomas III, Community Liaison
• Shelley Trump, RN, Health Services Manager

See Also West Orange-Cove Board Members

• Linda Platt-Bryant, President
• Gina Simar, Vice-president
• Tricia Stroud, Secretary
• Roderick Robertson
• Demetrius Hunter
• Ruth Hancock
• Tommy Wilson, Sr.

See Also West Orange-Cove Education Foundation

The WO-C Education Foundation was created in 2009. Since its creation, it has seen many donations from community members and companies alike.

Current & Past members include; Pete Amy, Jane Stephenson, Terese McKee, Doug Bready, Lois Bready, Sam Kittrell, Al Granger, Linn Cardner, Margaret Adams, Stephen Lee, Andrew Hayes, and Lorraine Shannon.

The Public Schools of the Greater Orange Area have seen many administrators over the years. In the format of name, district(s) led, and first recorded year, some of the past superintendents include:

• J.W. Edgar, Orange ISD, 1941
• C.O. Chandler, Orange ISD, 1949
• Mildred Crawford, West Orange ISD, 1949
• Frank Hubert, Orange Public Schools, 1958[14]
• Marlin L. Brockett, Orange Public Schools, 1960
• Thomas E. Huff, West Orange & West Orange-Cove Cons ISD, 1965
• Paul R. Willis, West Orange-Cove CISD, 1972[15]
• Frank Kudlaty, West Orange-Cove CISD, 1979
• Dan McLendon, West Orange-Cove CISD, 1986
• L. Glen Neswick, West Orange-Cove CISD, 1996
• Don Jeffries, West Orange-Cove CISD, 1997
• Andrew Hayes, West Orange-Cove CISD, 2001
• Thomas Price, West Orange-Cove CISD, 2004[16]
• O.T. Collins, West Orange-Cove CISD, 2005

• 1994-2001-Accredited
• 2002-Recognized
• 2003-No Data; TEA was revising system
• 2004-2008-Academically Acceptable
• 2009-Academically Unacceptable
• 2010-2011-Academically Acceptable
• 2012-No Data; TEA is revising accountability system[17]

At the turn of the 21st century, WO-CCISD had approximately 3,900 students. As of August 2010, the district serves only 2,550. The majority of the decrease in pupils occurred during Andrew Hayes' duration as superintendent, but isn't necessarily an effect of Hayes assuming that title. In 2004, the district dropped to UIL-level AAA. Enrollment fluctuated after Hurricane Katrina, increasing well over 500 students, yet after Hurricane Rita, just one month later, enrollment was at a new low. Since 2005, the district has dropped approximately 100 students per year. Attempts to increase enrollment have failed, whether it be from more strict discipline measures, Open Enrollment, or setting academic goals. Lack of valuable property in the districts boundaries could be the issue.

September 3, 2010 marked the first increase in enrollment in years. The district had 22 more students than they did the last day of May 2010. Bill Conway, then interim superintendent, said the following;

It is encouraging after 10 days of school that we are 22 students ahead of where we ended last year and four students ahead of where we were at this time last year. This is a good indication of growth in enrollment for our district.

The district, as of 2007, was awarded Best in State for African Americans, as awarded by Texas A&M University. The study included 3 years of data.[22] The ethnic makeup of the district includes people of many ethnicities.