Board meeting highlights (June 11, 2024)
Posted on 06/11/2024
The School Board of Orange County held its regularly scheduled board meeting at 5 p.m. at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center. These are the highlights of the meeting:
Orange County Public Schools is currently developing their Portrait of a Graduate, outlining the necessary qualities for students upon graduation. Hanover Research has conducted a mixed methodology research project to assist OCPS in incorporating community feedback for the Portrait of a Graduate.View the presentation.
Proclamation adopted for the month of June 2024
School board members declared June 19, 2024, Juneteenth Day in Orange County Public Schools. Juneteenth honors June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news of emancipation for slaves. Throughout the country, Juneteenth is celebrated to commemorate emancipation and the end of slavery. It is a time for serious reflection and rejoicing regarding an end to a dark time in American history.
School Board recognitions: View the School Board meeting pictures.
Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund
Last December, Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez was awarded the Don Quijote Excellence Award. This award is given annually to recognize individuals and businesses who exhibit vision and courage, similar to Don Quijote. Along with the award, Dr. Vazquez was given $5,000 which she used to create the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund under the Foundation for OCPS. The initial two students to receive $2,500 each from the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund are:
Mia Perez Interiano of Apopka High. Mia will be attending Florida Atlantic University and plans to study pre-law.
Lola Fontanez of Boone High: Lola will be studying political science and journalism at the University of Central Florida.
2024 Crystal Award
JoJo's ShakeBAR received the 2024 Crystal Award for being one of the top Partners in Education. The restaurant located in Pointe Orlando is dedicated to supporting Timber Springs Middle School by offering candygrams to students and treats to staff members. They also support the Wolverine of the Month and other campus programs. During the school board meeting, Manager JayNemar Smith received the restaurant’s 2024 Crystal Award.
Changes regarding administrative personnel
Superintendent Maria Vazquez introduced the following new administrators:
• Maricarmen Aponte, principal, Lake Buena Vista High
• Emillio Giovanni Vitulli, principal, Meadow Woods Middle