School Board meeting highlights (Feb. 23)
The School Board of Orange County held its regularly-scheduled board meeting at 4:45 p.m. at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center. These are the highlights of the meeting:
School Board approves Feb. 25 as Digital Learning Day in OCPS
Digital Learning Day is a powerful platform for education leaders to highlight great teaching practice and showcase innovative teachers, leaders, and instructional technology programs that are improving student outcomes. The day is about enhancing the role of the teacher in America’s classrooms and promoting the effective use of modern-day tools afforded to every other industry to improve the learning experience in K-12 public schools. Read the
Digital Learning Day proclamation.
Visual and Performing Arts Month to be celebrated through March 2021
Orange County Public Schools has a tradition of offering quality arts programs for students at every grade level. Students participate in local, state and national performances and exhibitions. During the month of March 2021, a K-12 virtual visual art exhibit will be available to the public, and students will inspire others by sharing their work. Read the
Youth Visual and Performing Art Month proclamation.
March 2021 recognized as National Professional Social Work Month
Orange County Public Schools social workers provide essential support to families, children, and school staff. They are on the front lines in homes and the community developing, advocating, and delivering social programs responsive to basic human needs such as homelessness, poverty, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and many other issues. Social workers are integral members of the crisis team in each learning community. Please read the
National Social Work Month proclamation.
March 2021 designated as Purchasing Month by the School Board
The purpose of the observance is to urge everyone to become familiar with the services and benefits offered by the OCPS Procurement Department. In 2019-20 Procurement Services processed more than 33,000 purchase orders. Procurement Services has saved the district more than $35 million through its procurement activities. Additionally, the district spent over $77 million with small businesses which includes minority- and women-owned businesses as well as local developing businesses. Read the
Purchasing Month proclamation.
School Board reviews innovative concepts for future
The school board heard from the chiefs representing the High School Office, School Choice Office and the Innovative Office on proposed plans for the future of OCPS.
• High School Office presented on alternatives to the traditional school day schedule by expanding the school day to resemble college scheduling. An example would be offering ten class periods but requiring students to still only select seven classes. This would allow students to select the hours when they have classes, such as early morning, late afternoon or even having a long break in the middle of the day.
• School Choice Office presented on a conservatory program approach for schools which would offer opportunity and access to visual and performing arts or agribusiness.
• Innovative Office presented on a Modeling and Simulation Concept School which could provide a specialized school with accelerated curriculum being supported by industry partnerships.
Here is the
Innovative Concept presentation to the school board. The discussion can be heard by going to
OCPS board meetings page on YouTube.
*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.