Other Info
The district has a standardized dress code for the Head Start, elementary, alternative, and middle schools. These rules may be found in the Campus Handbooks.
The district was directly affected by Hurricane Ike, leaving NELC damaged by floods, and other district schools damaged in other ways.
The West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District, in 2003 and 2005, along with Edgewood Independent School District (Bexar County, Texas), and Alvarado Independent School District, represented the districts of Texas, in attempts to declare the Texas school financial system, the Robin Hood plan, unconstitutional. The district has been invited to join a new movement of financial reformation of Texas' schools as of October 2011.
In 2005, following a huge food fight at the Middle School, Supt. of Schools O.T. Collins informed all Middle School Employees that as of the end of the year, their contracts would not be renewed; but that they must reapply and be given back the position. This was mainly due to the reaction of the teachers during the lunchtime occurrence and several other problems during the year.
In 2009, the district, and First Student (formerly Laidlaw) decided to cut after school transportation from athletic events/practices. The district's Board of Trustee's stated that this would save the district approximately $19,000.
In June 2009, the district got a bond to purchase 29 new school buses, to be owned by WOCCISD, (previous buses were owned by Laidlaw/First Student.) After purchasing the buses, WOCCISD dropped outsource company Laidlaw, and switched to managing/maintaining company STS.
In March 2010, the Board of Trustees decided to cut daycare programs at North Early Learning Center, which was costing them $21,000 a year. The district replaced it with an all-day preschool, in addition to the normal half-day preschool.
In April 2010, a robbery, assault, and homicide occurred within 100 feet (30 m) of the middle school, at Micky McNamara Insurance. The school immediately went into lockdown. Many WO-C Administrative Staff were present at the middle school to assist with the procedure, and later sending the students home. After the insurance agent was "LifeFlighted" away, all district buses were present at the school, should the need for emergency evacuation appear. Although evacuation wasn't necessary, early release did occur, and, with the assistance of the Orange Police Department, students safely left the school. One of the schools surveillance cameras that was facing the building and surrounding land was used to help find the suspect, and as evidence. The footage from the Middle School camera was gladly turned over to law enforcement by Dr.Collins, former Supt. of Schools, WO-C.
During a Sept.17, 2010 game, team Quarterback Reginald Garrett walked to the sidelines and fell to the ground. It was rumored that he was having a seizure and also rumored that he had a history of seizures (his mother explained that he only had one seizure when he was three years old from a high fever and none since). While still conscious, he was removed from the field by paramedics. He was later pronounced dead at Memorial-Hermann Baptist Hospital - Orange. As the word of his death made its way across the stadium, fans poured out of Hooks Stadium to go visit the player's family at the hospital. The following two games were cancelled.
October 5, 2010, marked the release of the new WO-CCISD website release. The website was designed by Educational Networks Inc.
On November 4, 2010, Pinehurst Police began investigating a break in at the new West Orange-Stark Elementary School. The newly built school had no alarm system, and several computers were stolen. Interim Superintendent Bill Conway informed the media that the district learned of this when the school was completed, after O.T.Collins resigned, and ever since the district has been looking into surveillance and security systems. Since then, the school has installed an alarm system.
On March 23, 2011 one of the final products of a professional film crew was made available via the district website. The new WO-CCISD promotional video highlights aspects of each individual campus, students, staff, events, the community, and the district as a whole.
In Early April 2011, the West Orange-Cove CISD Put up for auction the former Anderson campus' nine portable buildings, in a step to further offset deficit, and clean up the campus, in preparation for its use.
Due to an expected large budget cut from the state, and a very minor local shortfall, the West Orange-Cove CISD announced in March 2011 that it was offering an incentive for employees to leave the district, to save money. The incentive offered a leave bonus of 10% of the employees’ salary. Amongst the names or retirees/resignees were Dan Hooks, longtime Athletic Director, and local 'Sports Legend', several Career Center staff, all of whom have been in the area and district for extremely long periods of time, and several other teachers. Despite the problems that might be faced with over 50 teachers leaving, it was necessary. Most classrooms, according to Superintendent James Colbert, had very few students per block, creating the need for multiple same-subject teachers. After the program ended, the district determined what positions needed to be refilled. Approximately 15 teachers were subsequently laid off. Some of those teachers were offered jobs at the Alternative Center.
After stricter and more enforced Dress Code requirements at the High School campus-the only school in the District that does not observe a standardized dress code-several students and parents spoke to Board Members at a regular meeting. The following day, Hutcherson Hill, campus principal, announced a committee of four high school students, several teachers and administrators, and one parent would be formed to make immediate changes to the Dress Code, and also to make overall Handbook changes later in the year. The Dress Code was reformatted and the new, less strict rules were in place two weeks later.
The district, following the reorganization implemented through the passing of the 2011 Bond, has slated several items and facilities for auction. After the successful auctioning of 9 portables at the former Anderson Campus, the district is planning to auction the closed Lorena Oates campus, 3 portables located at the high school campus, and several items and vehicles located in the warehouse.
Beginning in April 2012, District administration began the recommendation process with the Board of Trustees to terminate and non-renew several employee contracts, including an Assistant Principal-who announced his retirement at the Board meeting deciding his fate. Reasons cited included performance evaluation data. '
In July 2012, the Board of Trustees switched outsourced Food Service companies from Chartwells to Aramark.
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