Rep. Tryon Lewis Responds To Plan To Close Odessa College
By: Texas State Representative Tryon Lewis
Updated: January 18, 2011
ODESSA -- State Representative Tryon Lewis released a statement Tuesday calling for continued state funding for Odessa College in response to the release of House Bill 1 by the Legislative Budget Board. The proposed budget terminates all state funding for the college district, which provides instruction to the largest geographical service area in the state.
"Defunding Odessa College would be a terrible mistake," Representative Lewis said. "Eliminating funding to this institution would be devastating to the quality of higher education available in an area of approximately one eighth of our state."
"As a former student of Odessa College and the Representative of District 81, today I am voicing my pride of the work of Odessa College and my commitment to ensuring that they continue to receive an appropriate level of state funding. It is in the best interest of all Texans to ensure that our workforce is as educated as possible. This is only a preliminary version of the budget, and it will certainly be amended before final passage. I am confident that fair funding will be maintained."
Odessa College serves approximately 33,000 square miles including Ector, Brewster, Andrews, Crane, Jeff Davis, Ward, Winkler, Presidio, Upton, Reeves, Culberson, Loving, and part of Gaines County.
"Defunding Odessa College would be a terrible mistake," Representative Lewis said. "Eliminating funding to this institution would be devastating to the quality of higher education available in an area of approximately one eighth of our state."
"As a former student of Odessa College and the Representative of District 81, today I am voicing my pride of the work of Odessa College and my commitment to ensuring that they continue to receive an appropriate level of state funding. It is in the best interest of all Texans to ensure that our workforce is as educated as possible. This is only a preliminary version of the budget, and it will certainly be amended before final passage. I am confident that fair funding will be maintained."
Odessa College serves approximately 33,000 square miles including Ector, Brewster, Andrews, Crane, Jeff Davis, Ward, Winkler, Presidio, Upton, Reeves, Culberson, Loving, and part of Gaines County.
