Getting Covid rates down at Orangefield schools has been a team effort, Superintendent Shaun McAlpin said. He praised custodians, teachers, parents, and students for helping lower the virus cases.
“Covid rates are going down and students are coming back to school,” he told KOGT’s Gary Stelly Friday night during the MJO Halftime Show during the broadcast of the Bobcats football game.
McAlpin said the custodial staff under supervisor Brian Ousley has helped the school stay clean and sanitized during the outbreak. Even the students are helping wipe down tables and desks.
The school district has the motto “We Believe” and McAlpin said the schools and community have shown the motto reflects them.
The district is growing, but McAlpin said it will stay a close community. The elementary, junior high, and high school campuses, along with the administration building, are all within walking distance.
The superintendent said he can do “a walkabout” to all three schools and visit. The close campuses allow high school students to go to read to elementary classes. Junior high students also go help at the elementary.
“Older students play their part in helping bring up the other students,” he said.
McAlpin said the district owns property nearby if school facilities need to expand.
Orange County has been anticipating an announcement from Chevron about building a new chemical plant along Highway 87. McAlpin said the new plant will help the Orangefield district with tax income because of pipelines on land within the district.
Also, there is a lot of vacant land for houses within the district if Chevron comes and brings more workers.
However, the district “takes it one day at a time” and has now completed repairs of damage to facilities during Hurricane Laura last year.
McAlpin said he works as a team with the seven school trustees
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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