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Board meeting highlights (Oct. 24, 2023)
Posted on 10/24/2023
A group of people pose for the camera
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:
 
Board members receive school safety update
School Board members were presented with a Strategic Plan update by District Police as it relates to compliance with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, security improvements, threat management, new legislation and new requirements, under the Florida Department of Education Rule 6A-1.0018 and 6A-1.0019. Chief of District Police Bryan Holmes presented and provided recommendations to the Board in the areas of: 
     • Police and Security
     • Emergency Operations and Preparedness
     • Physical Security Improvements
     • Mental Health
     • District Police
     • Safety and Emergency Management
     • Facilities and Student Services

View Strategic Plan update Presentation
 
School Board recognition
Piedmont Lakes Middle science teacher and basketball coach Bernadine West has a two-part philosophy for her students: hard work pays off and to stay disciplined on and off the court. Coach West (shown in photo above) has remained true to her doctrine of excellence, which paved the way for her to receive the 2023 Orlando Magic Junior NBA Scholastic Coach of the Year Award. This special award was presented to Bernadine at the Magic game on Friday night. She was honored for her leadership, integrity and positive attitude toward all players, coaches, parents and referees. She has also demonstrated influential coaching and shown that she has created a lasting impact on students. Her excellence has also been recognized on the national level as well. Bernadine was a 2023 Junior NBA Scholastic Coach of the Year finalist.
 
Proclamations adopted and added for recognition during the month of Oct/Nov 2023
National First Responders Day – Oct. 28, 2023
Florida Family Engagement in Education Month – Nov. 2023
Native American Heritage Month – Nov. 2023
Week of the Family – Nov. 6 – 11, 2023
National School Psychology Awareness Week – Nov. 6 – 10, 2023
Holocaust Education Week – Nov. 6 – 10, 2023
National Apprenticeship Week - Nov. 13 - 19, 2023
American Education Week - Nov. 13 - 17, 2023
National Philanthropy Week - Nov. 13 - 17, 2023
 
Group of people in front of dais

Changes regarding administrative personnel

Superintendent Maria Vazquez introduced the following new administrators:
Erin Albert, Principal, Orange Center Elementary
Maricarmen Aponte, Acting Principal, Cypress Creek High
Alaina Rose Beecroft, Assistant Principal, Pinewood Elementary
Brittany Lane Brockmeier, Assistant Principal, Windermere High
Seth Knight, Assistant Director, Orange Technical College West Campus
Alan Lynch, Assistant Director, Orange Technical College South Campus
John Miller, Acting Principal, Meadowbrook Middle
Diana Mashell Mitchell, Assistant Principal, Killarney Elementary
Natasha Pender, Principal, OCPS Academic Center for Excellence
Sean Demetrius Roper, Acting Assistant Principal, Southwest Middle 
Cynthia Denise Santana, Assistant Principal, Southwest Middle 
Pamela Hatten Tarpley, Acting Assistant Principal, Meadowbrook Middle
 
Member Felder and Member Gould poseMeeting concludes with a board member challenge
District 6 Board Member Castor Dental brings in the Edgewater High cheerleading team and challenges District 3 Board Member Farrant who went a step further and rolled in the Boone High cheerleading and drumline. Stay Tuned!
                                                   
*Update Alert* - District 4 Board Member Gould had to wear the Dr. Phillips Panther’s jersey after District 5 Board Member Felder’s Dr. Phillips High beat West Orange High 10-3 on Oct. 20.
 
 
*Reminder* All board meetings are live streamed on the School Board’s YouTube page and will be accessible from web browsers on computers or mobile devices. To find the live stream, visit www.boardmeetings.ocps.net.