Orange School District board meeting, Apr 7, 2026
2 h 54 min · 0 public speakers
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What happened
What happened at this meeting
Orange County school board approves Orange Center Elementary charter school application 1:04:03
- District staff presented an update on the district's accreditation, with an engagement review scheduled for September 30th, 2026. 43:45
- The board unanimously approved a revision to a board policy on educational adequacy and construction specifications for new and renovated facilities. 59:44
- The board unanimously approved a charter school application for Orange Center Elementary, which staff said followed a parent vote to convert the school to a charter school. 1:04:03
- A district staff member said the district had once again been sued over the Eatonville property and that the plan was to aggressively defend the case unless the board said otherwise. 2:43:08
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Item by item (12)
- Opening and agenda changes 6:09
- The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. 6:09
- A staff member said item 17.03, a 5-year charter contract for UCP Immersive Learning Academy K-8, would be brought back at the May board meeting because more time was needed on the contract. 8:06
- The motion to amend the agenda carried with all members present voting in the affirmative. 8:45
- Denim Day recognition 8:45
- Student advisory council presentation 20:29
- Students from Ocoee High School, members of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, presented an initiative that brought middle school students to visit their zoned high school for a full day. 20:52
- A student presenter said the district reported a loss of about 7,000 students and faces an estimated shortfall of $25 to $50 million. 23:05
- One board member said they had not heard of students coming in to be a student for the day and was excited to see if more high schools would pick up the idea. 34:15
- Employee group remarks 35:54
- A speaker described collaboration across Orange Technical College campuses and with district high schools on career dual enrollment. 36:19
- Another speaker raised concerns about reductions to positions that support student mental health and said employees feel they are not getting clear answers. 39:25
- The speaker asked which schools may be considered for closing and which positions or programs would be cut under a 3% reduction to district departments. 41:45
- District accreditation update 42:32
- A staff member said the district is accredited by Cognia through June 2027 and that the accreditation engagement review is scheduled for September 30th, 2026. 44:39
- Stephanie Vanos asked whether charter schools in Orange County are accredited, and a staff member said the district would need to look at which charter schools are accredited. 54:59
- Alicia Farrant asked about the cost, and a staff member said the total accreditation cost is $377,700 and about $1,440 a year per school. 56:02
- Facilities construction policy revision 59:16
- The board's general counsel said the revision to policy FEA would conform the policy to current practice for signing off on Phase 3 documents by licensed board employees or contracted staff. 1:00:09
- The general counsel said the superintendent would bring an informational item to the next board meeting listing documents that were signed off. 1:00:51
- The motion to approve carried unanimously, and the chair later stated for the record that Member one board member voted in favor. 1:01:09
- Instructional materials adoption hearing 1:01:41
- The superintendent said the hearing on instructional materials for K-12 world languages, K-12 visual and performing arts, and 6 through 12 health and physical education was the first formal opportunity for public comment and that there would be no approval. 1:01:41
- The superintendent said the item would return for final adoption at the May board meeting. 1:02:25
- Consent agenda 1:02:55
- Orange Center Elementary charter application 1:04:03
- A staff member said Orange Center Elementary requested sponsorship to operate as a charter school for up to 764 students in grades K through 8, after a parent vote ratified on January 22nd, 2026. 1:05:05
- The staff member said the school met the requirements of the charter application process. 1:05:05
- Vicki-Elaine Felder moved that the board accept Orange Center as a new charter school. 1:09:31
- The motion carried unanimously. 1:11:36
- Charter contract modification for 5th grade 1:11:36
- Litigation, appointments and mascot update 2:43:08
- A district staff member said the district had been sued again over the Eatonville property, said the board held 5 public meetings on the matter and said the plan is to aggressively defend the case unless the board says otherwise. 2:43:08
- A district staff member said the board needs to appoint a board member, a property owner and alternates to the Value Adjustment Board by the next meeting. 2:44:48
- A district staff member said removing the mascot could draw a claim from the United States Department of Education under Title VI, and Vicki-Elaine Felder asked whether it was the same as the Washington Redskins becoming the Washington Commanders. 2:45:45
- Meeting schedule and board announcements 2:47:19
- A district staff member asked the board to consider adding at least one Thursday a month to the calendar for meetings, and one board member said they would definitely appreciate having that extra day. 2:47:19
- Stephanie Vanos said the board would hear from Habitat for Humanity Winter Park and Maitland at the May 19th planning session. 2:49:09
- Stephanie Vanos said they and Member Felder would hold a joint town hall for the Pine Hills community on April 30th from 5:00 to 6:30 to answer questions about the consolidations. 2:49:45
Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.
What was said
What board members said, in order
I think that helps parents as well when they see that. And I know that there's many schools, many choices. There's many charters and private schools. Some have the accreditation, some maybe don't, and that's on a parent to choose.Alicia Farrant · Board member58:37
Other meetings
Other meetings of this board
Video: posted by the district as “OCPS | 2026-04-07 School Board Meeting”