2007-2008 School Highlights

West Orange-Cove Superintendent Taylor Collins shows the elementary students how it's done as they broke ground on the new elementary school Thursday, May 8 scheduled for opening in the fall of 2009.  The 200,000 sq. ft. school will be located on 25 acres of land off MLK Dr. near Sparrow St.

WOS held its Sports Banquet Monday, May 5.  Winners

April- Pinehurst businessman Grady Johnson (left) was honored by the West Orange - Cove Board of Trustees recently for his generous service and contribution. Johnson was the owner of the Pinehurst property on which the District’s new elementary school will be constructed. The District purchased the property in March. Upon completion of the sale, Johnson made a generous donation to the District. “His support for what we are doing in this school district to become the best in Texas is just so evident,” Supt. Dr. O. Taylor Collins said.

This happy group of Mustangs plan on playing football at the next level thanks to scholarships they signed Wednesday.  L to R: Ronnie Dennis and Depauldrick Garrett signed with Navarro JC, Tim Matherne to Louisiana College, and Seth Thomas signed to play at McNeese. Standing behind them is a proud coach Dan Hooks.

Monday the 104th Annual Stark Reading and Declamation was held at WOS High School. Winners were (left to right) Interpretative Reading, 2nd place Zeba Nizami, 1st place Megan Phares, Mike Mason (principal), Declamation - 1st place Chase Adams, 2nd place Rebekah Ragsdale. Both 1st place winners will compete in the County Wide Finals, April 27 at the Lutcher Theater.

Hooks, Bell, Garrett pace the 21-3A All District football team.  Matherne named 3A All-State.  Garrett and Dennis named Honorable Mention.

Mustang Proud Parents recently presented certificates to an outstanding student from each West Orange – Stark High School grade level. The students were recognized for their citizenship and positive contributions to the WO-S High School community. Pictured along with Mustang Proud Parents Charla McNamara and Terese McKee are honorees Rebekah Ragsdale, junior; Victoria Rachal, sophomore; Sam Bess, senior; and Reggie Garrett, freshman. Each received a recognition certificate, as well as Sonic and Cinema gift cards. The students are selected by the WO-S High School staff.

Tuesday morning, Nov. 20, at practice the WOS Mustangs presented Head Coach Dan Hooks with a plaque celebrating his 250th win.  He collected that milestone Saturday in the Mustangs 51-14 win over Coldspring. Photo by Meri Jacobs

Only 1180 Vote, WOC Prop 1 Passes
Voters in the West Orange-Cove school district narrowly approved the bond proposition to build a new elementary school and improve schools and high school sports fields. However, the proposition to add artificial turf to the high school football stadium was defeated.
A total of 1,180 votes were cast, with the $48 million proposition winning by 38 votes. The "for" on Proposition 1 received 614 votes, or 52 percent, compared to 566 votes "against", or 48 percent. Proposition 2 to install artificial turf had 418 votes "for" and 742 votes "against."
Superintendent O. Taylor Collins said the district will get teachers, parents and students to help draw plans for the new elementary school. The school district will close Lorena Oates Elementary and move the early learning center from North School to Anderson School to have only one elementary in the district. North will also be closed. The school board voted in October to spend $300,000 to buy a site along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Pinehurst to build the new school. Other projects include a new entrance at West Orange-Stark High School, renovations of Carl Godwin Auditorium, and improvements to the high school football stadium, softball stadium and baseball stadium.

West Orange – Cove Board of Trustees unanimously approved the acquisition of property for use as an elementary school campus at a special meeting held Saturday, Oct. 27. Board members authorized the purchase of approximately 20+ acres on the east side of Martin Luther King Drive in Pinehurst. The property is south of the Interstate 10 and MLK overpass. Superintendent Dr. O. Taylor Collins said, “We are purchasing this property as a site for a future elementary school and we are purchasing it before the bond election because whether the bond passes or not, we are going to have to build a school sometime in the future.” Collins said that it is important that voters in the Nov. 6 bond election know the location of the proposed elementary campus as the question has been posed to District officials numerous times at various presentations involving bond election information. “We have been working on the purchase of this property for quite some time. This has been one of our preferred sites. We’ve already had engineering and geo-technical studies done on it,” he said. The property is being purchased for $300,000 with funds placed in savings from the sale of the Bancroft and Jones Elementary campuses; as well as funds from the sale of the Border Street Complex. If Proposition #1 on the Nov. 6 election is approved, construction on a new elementary school will begin as quickly as bond funds are made available; with the goal of the school opening to students as early as the 2008-2009 school year.

Kathy Fuqua, a teacher at WOS Middle School, along with Misty Sampson-Roche of Vidor's Pine Forest Elementary have been named Region V Teachers of the Year. The winners were chosen by superintendents based on nominations and they are now in the running to be named Texas teachers of the year in their respective classifications.  Fuqua was recently honored with a reception at WOSMS.

Senior Carmyn Adams was crowned the WO-S Homecoming Queen Friday night during halftime of the Mustangs 34-7 win over Hamshire-Fannett. Senior DePauldrick Garrett was crowned at the Community Pep Rally Thursday night.

The West Orange – Cove Board of Trustees voted Monday, Aug. 27, to reduce the proposed bond issue from $51,990,000 to $48.4 million and to separate the proposal into two issues. The Trustees are seeking approval to construct a kindergarten through grade five Elementary School; new additions to West Orange - Stark High School and Middle School; and the renovation of other facilities in the District. “The citizens of this community have been very outspoken about their desire to give our students the best possible education and enhance their chances of succeeding in life. This bond proposal is in response to those expectations,” Harry Barclay, Board of Trustee President, said. The Bond Election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 6 and will present two proposals to voters. The first proposal for $47.5 million includes the construction of a new elementary school plus renovations to other facilities. These include additions at WOS Middle and High Schools, as well as the renovation of the Carl Godwin Auditorium. The second proposal, for $900,000, includes the placement of artificial surface at Dan R. Hooks Football Stadium at WO-S High School.

The West Orange – Cove CISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday to adopt a 2007-2008 tax rate of $1.13175 per $100 valuation, a .33265 cent decrease from last year’s rate of $1.46440. Specifically, the maintenance and operation tax rate decreases from $1.37000 per $100 valuation to $1.04005. Combined with the 2006-2007 tax reduction from $1.50 to $1.37, Trustees have decreased the rate 0.46 cents per $100 valuation in two years. As part of the tax reduction, the 2007-2008 interest and sinking (debt service) fund tax rate falls from $0.944 per $100 valuation to $0.9170. WOC reports that the reduction in the tax rate reflects a nine percent decrease in the maintenance and operations budget and overall eight percent decrease in total expenditures in the District’s $22.9 million maintenance and operation and debt service budget. As a result of the tax decrease, taxes on the average residence in the WO-C District will drop $57.80. With the tax decrease, the WO-C budget projects an end of fiscal year 2007-2008 fund(s) balance of $10 million.

West Orange – Cove CISD will administer Credit by Exam tests during the 2007-2008 school year on the following dates: Aug. 8, Dec. 11 and Dec. 13, 2007; and April 29, May 15, and June 4, 2008. Credit by exam is available in grade levels one through 12. This includes exams for credit by exam with prior instruction and credit by exam without prior instruction. A student planning to take an examination for acceleration on August 8, 2007 is required to register with the principal or designee by August 1, 2007. Questions concerning Credit by Exams should be directed to the WOCCISD Curriculum Office at 882-5555.

2007 grad Richard Netherly participated in the THSCA Basketball game and scored a game high 21 points in the South's 104-85 win.

West Orange – Stark High School teacher Charles Thrash has been named to the position of WO-S High School Lady Mustang head basketball coach. Thrash, 30, has taught content mastery and psychology classes at WO-S High School for the past two years. He also has teaching experience with the Beaumont and Kountze school districts. Additionally, he accrued a winning record as the junior varsity head boys’ basketball coach at Kountze High School. While there, Thrash was an assistant coach on the boys’ varsity 2004 state championship basketball team. A Flint, Michigan native with family in Southeast Texas, Thrash earned a scholarship to play college basketball at North Texas University. He also played basketball at Eastern New Mexico University where he earned his degree in sociology and psychology. After graduating college, Thrash played in the International Basketball League. “I am a defensive minded coach and believe that defense is something that can propel the offense. I like organized chaos on the defensive end,” he said. He said, “This is a great opportunity for me. I am going to accept the challenge and I look forward to it. I’m happy that my opportunity starts here at WOS.”

The WOS Mustang 7-on-7 team traveled to the State Tournament in College Station.  On Thursday they lost to Pilot Point 41-40 and LaVilla 45-42.  They defeated Madisonville 48-35 and Gonzalez 56-24.  On Friday they defeated Harper 31-15 but lost to Crane 40-32.

2006-2007 School Highlights

B.Scott Makes It Two In A Row! Brittany Scott, who recently graduated from West Orange-Stark and is headed to the University of Houston, scored 16 points in the 3A Coaches All-Star game in Austin Thursday and was named the MVP as the South beat the North 63-62.  Last year Brittany James of WOS was named the MVP.

West Orange- Stark High School selected Mr. and Miss WO-S for the 2006-07 school year. They are Dominique Rhodes, son of Dawn Fusilier and Jelmar Rhodes and Rebecca McMillon, daughter of Garland and Nancy Blanchard.

 

Zach Quinn has been named the new boys basketball coach at West Orange-Stark High School.  Quinn, a Vidor grad, was an assistant under Doug McCarter who took the head coaching position at Katy Taylor High School.

Brandon Johnson, a senior at UCLA from WOS, ran a season best 50.0 in the 400 hurdles to capture the Pac-10 title.  His time was also the fifth best in the country this year.  He also ran on the UCLA 1600 relay team that finished fifth with a time of 3:09.

WOS announced its annual winners at their Athletic Banquet.  Award winners.

The WOS Softball team finished the regular season 18-8 and 9-5 (third) to reach the playoffs for the second straight year.  The 21-3A All-District Softball Team

The Texas High School Coaches Association announced the rosters of the THSCA Football All Stars who will be competing in the annual All-Star game in conjunction with the THSCA Coaching School in Fort Worth, July 29-August 1, 2007. Earl Thomas of WOS has been selected as a member of the South Football team. The game will be played on July 31 at the Amon Carter Stadium on the TCU Campus at 7:30pm. The South team will be coached by Weldon Nelms of Wimberley High School, and the North will be coached by Kent Jackson of Sweetwater High School.

Callie Orebo has stepped down as head girls basketball coach at WOS after two straight trips to the Regional Tournament.  Asst. Coach Bonnie Perry also resigned her position.

A special signing ceremony was held Tuesday for three more WOS Mustangs who will play football at the next level. Linebackers Dustin Locks, left, and Justin Alexander, center, will play football at McMurray College in Abilene. Center Darren Gipson, right, will play football for Texas Lutheran in Seguin under new football coach Dennis Parker.

West Orange- Stark senior, Dominique Rhodes, has been offered the Texas A&M Regents' Scholarship worth $20,000. Former A&M President Dr. Robert Gates stated, " The Regents' Scholarship is based on the premise that young people, having come from various backgrounds and experiences, brimming with desire, determination, and a willingness to work hard, are the cornerstone of this university. I, as with most of our community, am very proud of Dominique and his accomplishments.

After outstanding football careers at West Orange-Stark, four signed on the dotted Wednesday.  L to R: Adrian Mims (Blinn),  Jacoby Franks (Tex Tech), and Earl Thomas (Texas). Andre Bevil also signed with Navarro. Photos by Meri Elen Jacobs

West Orange-Stark honored 32 seniors who attended their Cotlillion on Sat., Jan. 20 at the Brown Center. This year's theme was Winter Wonderland.

Rhodes Orange Chamber Student of Month Dominique Rhodes was selected as the Student of the month of November 2006.  Besides his role in WOS athletics Rhodes is dedicated to becoming an Aerospace Engineer at NASA.  He's  also a three year member of the Honor Society.

During the night on Dec. 19, construction crews put up the new press at Dan R. Hooks Stadium. It was built off-site and involved a 750 ton crane that took three 18-wheelers to deliver.

On Dec. 15 WOS Coach Dan Hooks congratulated Earl Thomas for being chosen to play in the All-American Offense Defense Bowl to be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Jan. 4, 2007. The Texas pledge was named to the 3A All-State second team on defense.

Brittany Scott signs basketball scholarship with Houston.

The WOS Varsity Cheerleaders Varsity-Bottom: Trey Batcham Co-head Cheerleader, Mascot Marie Scrillo, Jessica Anderson Head Cheerleader. Middle: Traci Lewis, Simone Watson, Stevee Kidwell, Ashley LaRose, Staci Boullard. Top: Kaycie Smith, Vanquanisha Jordan, Jennipher Orebo, Lauryn Windham, Adamnetra Gans.

Adamnetria Gans, with her father, and Buddy Broussard were selected Homecoming King and Queen at West Orange-Stark High School Friday night.

West Orange – Cove Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday night to adopt a 2006-2007 tax rate of $1.4604 per $100 valuation which is a 9.2 percent decrease from last year’s tax rate of $1.58265. “I'm pleased that we are in a financial position to be able to adopt a lower tax rate even though it will cause us to have a deficit budget for one year,” Harry Barclay, President of the WOC Board of Trustees said. “The steps the board has taken for the past several years, combined with the great strides Dr. Collins has made in streamlining our district, will allow us to deal with the many challenges brought on by legislative changes in school finance while continuing to see improved results in academic achievement,” Barclay said.

Seven journalism students attended the Taylor Communications Workshop at Sam Houston State University during the summer and brought home a first place trophy for theme development and “Most Enthusiastic” staff. At the workshop, the WO-S staff developed the “A little bit OFF” theme for this year’s Mustang Memories. WO-S journalism students who attended the workshop are Editor-in-Chief Kaycie Smith, Managing Yearbook Editor Stevee Kidwell, Photo Editor Jeremy Phares, Emily Domas, Laura Collins, Shonnalee Jacobs and Newspaper Editor Brianna Meadows. The WOS Yearbook Advisor is Meri Elen Jacobs.