Schools

West Orange-Cove CISD announced its policy today that this school year, healthy meals will be offered every school day to all students at no cost. Typically, a student’s household must meet income eligibility requirements to qualify for free or reduced-price meals. However, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued guidance that allows schools to offer meals to all students at no cost for the 2021-2022 school year. Each school/site or the central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed upon request.

While no application or eligibility determination process is required for your student to receive free meals this school year, the income eligibility requirement will likely resume in the 2022-2023 school year. The school district still encourages parents to fill out the socioeconomic form, as this information is used by the district to apply for various educational grants. Regardless of the campus that your student(s) attends, there only needs to be ONE application per household, so be sure to put all students in the household on the application.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, Orange’s state representative, Texas State University System Chancellor Brian McCall and Lamar State College Orange President Thomas Johnson announced at a joint press conference today that new tuition parity funding passed in this year’s legislative session will further reduce the cost of tuition at the Lamar State Colleges, including Lamar State College Orange, by 11.2%.

The reduction will make tuition at Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) on par with other two-year schools in the state and will allow LSCO students to take additional classes at a lower cost, graduate more quickly, and finish school with less or no debt.

The new appropriation will bring tuition for a full-time course load of 12-semester credit hours at LSCO down to $1416.

The legislature also approved a funding request that would allow Lamar State College Orange to offer dual credit classes for a further reduced amount, as well as a $10 scholarship per semester credit hour that will be awarded to students who purchase access to their textbooks and other instructional materials through the College. With these reductions, a full 12-semester credit hour course load with textbook access would total $1596.

“This extraordinary action by Governor Abbott, Speaker Phelan, Senator Nichols, and the Texas State University System Board of Regents will allow students in the Orange area to achieve an education at a much lower cost. We couldn’t be more appreciative to this group of outstanding leaders for their foresight to continue making a bright Orange – and less expensive – future for our students,” said President Thomas Johnson.

President, Dr. Thomas Johnson, announced that LSCO will return to its normal campus life and schedule this upcoming Fall semester. The Fall schedule will closely resemble Fall 2019 in regard to face-to-face offerings and enrollment capacities.

“The past fourteen months have been challenging for all of us. But members of our Gator community have proven time and time again how resilient they are. Their diligence in upholding our health and safety measures during this time has allowed us to reach a point where we can look forward to a pre-pandemic `normal’ this Fall semester,” said Johnson.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott rescinded the mask mandate for state institutions on May 18, 2021. If individuals wish to continue wearing masks on campus, though, they are welcome to do so.

Also this past week, LSCO announced another COVID-19 vaccine clinic on June 14th that will welcome students for the first time. Staff, faculty, and family members of LSCO students and employees who have not received the vaccine are also eligible to sign up for the clinic. Visit this link to register for the clinic.

“We look forward to a vibrant campus this Fall, full of Gators making their future a bright shade of Orange,” said Johnson.

The Fall semester begins on August 23. Registration is ongoing for Summer and Fall classes. Students are encouraged to apply now to take advantage of LSCO’s Buy One, Get One Class FREE (up to two free classes in the fall) opportunity. Go to LSCO.edu to learn more.

Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) is pleased to announce that the new plaza currently under construction on campus will be named “Gatemouth Plaza” in honor and in memory of the late Grammy award-winning and multi-talented musician and Orange native, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown.

LSCO President, Dr. Thomas Johnson, brought the concept to the Texas State University System Board of Regents in order to create a permanent place to honor Orange’s own music legend.

The Board unanimously approved the motion to name the plaza after Brown at their recent meeting in San Marcos held at Texas State University.

The new “Gatemouth Plaza” will be unveiled at LSCO’s Octoberfest in the fall.

“Our fall festival is always a terrific event where the community comes to campus see all that LSCO has to offer, and this year it will be doubly so because of the naming of this new landmark. We are excited to celebrate Gatemouth, his legacy, and his importance to Orange. We appreciate the Board of Regents for their enthusiastic approval of this effort,” said President Johnson.

Look for more information about the ribbon-cutting and LSCO’s October fall festival later this year.