OC board accepts old OA property

The Odessa College Board of Trustees accepted real property at 222 E. Fourth St.

Formerly the site of the Odessa American, the property was donated by the City of Odessa to OC. Trustees accepted it during their meeting Tuesday.

The board also approved the AIA (American Institute of Architects) document for Odessa College’s downtown project.

In June, Chief of Staff Robert Rivas said the college wants to establish a presence in downtown Odessa, create green space and a multipurpose site where OC can host several types of events.

JSA Architects is the firm that will be working on the project. Director of Media Relations Cheri Dalton said the green space will come first, followed by the building.

The board also heard:

  • About the purchase of a Steinway Spirio piano for $143,980.
  • Renovations to the Pecos campus by NW Builders for $208,700, Dalton said.
  • Approved the purchase of two diesel trucks for the trucking program. One truck cost $97,303.93 and the other is $100,717.59, Dalton said.
  • Approved tuition changes for the Children’s Center to make it more comparable to what others in the area are charging.

Dalton said the Children’s Center has a Texas Rising Star designation and has four stars.

The current deficit, she said, is $500,000.

Currently, the college covers the cost of two meals and two snacks each day, but that cost will be passed on to the parents. Starting in January 2022, Dalton said, parents will be responsible for 50 percent of the cost.

In August 2022, that will change to 75 percent and by August 2023 it will be the parents’ responsibility, Dalton said.

She added that the college has received funds from the Texas Workforce Board to help parents who can’t afford it with the cost.

  • The board approved naming the new track and field stadium the James Segrest Stadium.

Segrest, who now lives in Granbury, served as the Odessa College track and field coach from 1973 to 1987 and from 1994 to 1995. He was also OC athletic director from 1987 to 1994.

  • Designs for the inside and outside of new Wood Health Sciences Building were discussed. Everything is expected to be finalized in February.
  • A presentation on Signal Vine, an interactive texting platform, was given. The platform can be used to communicate with students to get feedback about their experiences, how they’re doing in class, surveys and other things.

The college announced that it has reached an enrollment of 8,020, Dalton said.