School Board meeting highlights (Aug. 25)
The School Board of Orange County held its regularly-scheduled board meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center. These are the highlights of the meeting:
OCPS announces 2020 fall sports start date
Orange County Public Schools announced it will start fall sports on Aug. 31, 2020. School board members were presented with a Strategic Plan update by High School Office staff as it relates to the start of sports for the 2020 fall season. Students must be enrolled at OCPS, meet eligibility requirements and have a completed “Annual Sports Activity Participation” packet. Administrators and participating students will be required to review the NFHS Course “COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators”.
Fall sports include:
•. Bowling
•. Cross-country
•. Football
•. Golf
•. Swimming & diving
•. Girls volleyball
Details available in the
Fall Sports 2020 PowerPoint presentation.
School Board votes (7 to 1) to approve revisions to Policy EBBA
School Board members discussed revisions to
Policy EBBA – Disease Preventions; Face Coverings that include recommendations made by the Medical Advisory Committee. After thoughtful discussion, the board voted to adopt the following revisions:
•. A face covering shall not be required for individuals who have been approved for a face covering waiver due to a medical condition that prevents the individual from being able to safely wear a face covering. A medical certification from a health care provider and supporting documentation submitted by the individual shall be submitted to school officials for review/determination by the district medical advisor. The district may also provide, at its discretion, supporting documents for review pertaining to the individual. Until such time as the waiver is approved, the individual requesting the exemption will be required to wear the proper face covering while inside a school/facility, or other property and/or vehicle owned, leased, or operated by the School Board. Alternatives, such as face shields and/or other measures, shall be considered on a case-by-case basis for the individual granted the exemption. In accordance with guidance provided by the Florida Department of Health of Orange County, medically fragile students should not attend face-to-face instruction during this pandemic. Note: Revisions to the policy were made at the table and may not be reflected in the online policy.
•. Any mask with an exhalation valve (respirator) is not permitted.
•. Neck gaiters and neck buffs will no longer be permitted to be worn as a face covering.
Board members discuss the judge’s ruling in FEA lawsuit
Associate General Counsel, John Palmerini provided board members an update on the Florida Education Association (FEA) lawsuit.
Changes regarding administrative personnel
Superintendent Barbara Jenkins introduced the following new administrators:
Christopher Higginbotham, assistant principal, Meadow Woods Middle
*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.