Admin

IMPORTANT NOTICE

  • The Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center (RBELC) will not open to the public until thirty (30) minutes prior to the starting time of the meeting.
  • The public shall enter the RBELC from the Amelia Street entrance only and will be required to pass through the metal detectors. OCPS staff will be present to direct the public.
  • Members of the public who wish to speak during the Open Public Comment Period (for items not on an agenda) or Agenda Public Comment Period (for items on an agenda during a Regular School Board Meeting, Public Hearing, or Rule Development Workshop) shall follow the procedures set forth under the “Who Can Speak” tab below. See Board Policy BEDH - Pilot Program for Public Comment.
  • Members of School Board Services will be in the lobby to distribute blue Speaker Requests (for the Open Public Comment Period) and yellow Speaker Requests (for the Agenda Public Comment Period). Speaker Requests must be filled out legibly and completely.
  • Speakers must sign up to speak between 3:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. for the Open Public Comment Period and between 4:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. for the Agenda Public Comment Period. Speakers who sign up by 3:45 p.m. for the Open Public Comment Period and 4:45 p.m. for the Agenda Public Comment Period, respectively, will be prioritized by the category into which they fall:
    • Category 1: Parent/legal guardian/student/employee
    • Category 2: Orange County, Florida resident
    • Category 3: Non-resident of Orange County, Florida* (if speakers have not specified into which category they fall, the default category will be to non-resident of Orange County, Florida)
  • Speakers who sign up after 3:45 p.m. for the Open Public Comment Period and 4:45 p.m. for the Agenda Public Comment Period will not be prioritized into categories and will be added in the order received.
  • There will be no congregating in the lobby. The public can either enter the Board chambers or a designated overflow room, when needed.
  • Members of the public will not be permitted to stand in the back of the Board chambers or congregate in the Board chambers.
  • A section in the back of the Board chambers will be reserved for the media.
  • Members of the public shall not be permitted to use visual, audio, and/or demonstrative aids in the Board chambers, including, but not limited to, PowerPoints, video clips, audio files, signs, posters, banners, flags, or noise makers, unless otherwise permitted by the Board.

MEETING FACTS

WHAT?

The School Board of Orange County, Florida holds different types of meetings.

  • Regular School Board Meetings are held to conduct the official business of The School Board of Orange County, Florida. At Regular School Board Meetings, members of the public are invited to provide public comment on any proposition (an action item on the agenda) before the School Board. Agendas are published on the district’s website seven (7) days before the Regular School Board Meeting.
  • The School Board also holds Public Hearings and Rule Development Workshops to discuss specific issues. Public Hearings and Rule Development Workshops give community members the opportunity to participate in the discussion of issues and to provide public comment before formal action is taken at a Regular School Board Meeting. Agendas are published on the district’s website seven (7) days before the Public Hearing or Rule Development Workshop.
  • The School Board conducts Work Sessions to study and discuss specific issues. Work Sessions are designed to provide the opportunity for the School Board and staff to discuss particular items and they are open to the public; however, the public may not participate in discussions or provide public comment since no formal action is taken at a Work Session. Many Work Session topics result in an item being brought forward at a Regular School Board Meeting, Public Hearing, and/or Rule Development Workshop at which the public has the opportunity to provide public comment. Agendas are published on the district’s website seven (7) days before the Work Session.

  • Special Meetings, though infrequent, are held as needed and are afforded the most appropriate, effective, and reasonable notice under the circumstances. The public is afforded the opportunity to provide public comment on items that are on the agenda for the Special Meeting. Agendas are published on the district’s website as soon as possible before the Special Meeting.

  • The School Board is required by Section 1001.371, Florida Statutes, to hold an Annual Reorganization Meeting. Because this is a ministerial meeting, there will be no opportunity for the public to provide input. Agendas are published on the district’s website seven (7) days before the Annual Reorganization Meeting.

  • See Board Policy BEDH - Pilot Program for Public Comment

WHEN?

Regular School Board Meetings are typically held twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Click on the “Schedule” link on the left to see the current regular School Board Meeting Schedule.

Public Hearings, Rule Development Workshops, and Work Sessions are scheduled as needed.

The School Board’s Annual Reorganization Meeting is scheduled during the second or third week in November of every year.

Special Meetings are scheduled as needed.

Notice of all meetings is posted at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center, on the district’s website under “Notices” on the “Board Meetings” page, and on BoardDocs.

WHERE?

Unless otherwise indicated in the meeting notice, all meetings are held in the School Board Chambers of the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center, 445 West Amelia Street, in downtown Orlando.

WHO CAN ATTEND?

In accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law, all meetings are open to the public, except those dealing with bargaining (involving the unions), executive sessions (involving pending litigation), and/or closed sessions (involving safety/cybersecurity plans).

WHO CAN SPEAK?

In-Person Speakers

Open Public Comment Period: Though not required by law, the Open Public Comment Period offers the public an opportunity to provide comment to the School Board on items not on an agenda. This time is reserved to hear about items that are relevant to the work of the School Board and occurs prior to a regular School Board meeting.

Agenda Public Comment Period: Section 286.0114(2), Florida Statutes, provides that "[m]embers of the public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard on a proposition before a board or commission." This opportunity occurs during a regular School Board Meeting, Public Hearing, Rule Development Workshop, or Special Meeting. The Chair will invite those who have filled out a Speaker Request to speak to an item on the agenda during the course of the meeting.

 

 Telephonic Speakers: 

There will be no option for speakers to call in using the telephonic option during the Open Public Comment Period or Agenda Public Comment Period.

Via Email:

Members of the public who wish to provide public comment via email for the School Board's consideration at the Regular School Board Meeting, Public Hearing, or Rule Development Workshop may send an email to [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. on the day before the scheduled meeting.

The public is asked to provide their name, address, agenda item, and written public comment so that OCPS staff can properly sort each public comment as it applies to each agenda item for discussion at the applicable meeting.  The emails that are received by 5:00 p.m. on the day before the scheduled meeting will be compiled by OCPS staff and provided to each School Board member electronically and/or in hard copy for consideration by 10:00 a.m. the day of the meeting.

 Special Meetings and Annual Reorganization Meeting:

  • Special Meetings, though infrequent, are held as needed and are afforded the most appropriate, effective, and reasonable notice under the circumstances. The public is afforded the opportunity to provide public comment on items that are on the agenda for the Special Meeting.
  •  The School Board is required by Section 1001.371, Florida Statutes, to hold an Annual Reorganization Meeting. Because this is a ministerial meeting, there will be no opportunity for the public to provide input. Section 286.0114(3), Florida Statutes, provides that the public’s “opportunity to be heard” does not apply to “[a]n official act involving no more than a ministerial act, including but not limited to, approval of minutes and ceremonial proclamations.” 

 

• Ministerial Acts. Section 286.0114(3), Florida Statutes, provides that the public’s “opportunity to be heard” does not apply to “[a]n official act involving no more than a ministerial act, including but not limited to, approval of minutes and ceremonial proclamations.” Accordingly, members of the public who wish to speak to an action agenda item during a Regular School Board Meeting may speak on items 3-15 and/or item 17; the remainder of the agenda items are either ministerial or are not a “proposition” before the School Board.

See Policy BEDH - Pilot Program for Public Comment

 

SPEAKER GUIDELINES AND HOW TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK

SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES PERTAINING TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS:

The following School Board policies govern School Board meetings:

CODE

POLICY NAME

ADOPTION DATE

 

 

 

BE

School Board Meetings

April 12, 2022

BEC

Executive Sessions and Closed Sessions

April 12, 2022

BEDH

Public Input at School Board Meetings

April 12, 2022

 

 




 

ACCOMMODATIONS:

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing special accommodation to participate in meetings should contact the Office of School Board Services at 407-317-3236 at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the meeting.  If you need any assistance or adaptive devices to ensure your participation, contact the following:

  • If you are hearing impaired, call 407-317-3409.
  • For spoken language translation services, call 407-317-3410.
  • For the visually impaired, call 407-317-3437.

APPEALS:

Under Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, “if a person decides to appeal any decision made by a board…with respect to any matter considered at a meeting or hearing, he or she will need a record of the proceedings, and that for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.”

CANNOT ATTEND?

Watch live (or replay) on the School Board’s YouTube Channel.

QUESTIONS?

Call the Office of School Board Services 407-317-3236.


School Board meeting notices are published in The Orlando Sentinel at least seven (7) days before a Regular School Board Meeting and at least twenty-one (21) days before a Public Hearing and/or Rule Development Workshop in accordance with the Florida Statutes.  Notices are also posted on the first floor of the RBELC.


ARCHIVES:

A video archive of past meetings is available on the School Board YouTube channel. Audio recordings are also stored on the Board You Tube channel or may be acquired by a written records request mailed to OCPS, Records Department, Building 500, 6501 Magic Way, Orlando, FL 32809 or via email to [email protected].

All Regular School Board meetings are broadcast live on Vision TV, an Orange County Government TV channel available on Spectrum channel 492, Comcast channel 98 and digital antenna channel 10.3. Regular School Board Meetings, Work Sessions, and Rule Development Workshops are also streamed live and archived on the OCPS YouTube channel (YouTube.com/OCPSboardmeetings). School Board Meetings are shown and recorded in their entirety with the exception of student discipline, employee matters, and the Pre-Agenda Public Input Period.

MINUTES:

"Current" minutes are the ones most recently approved by the School Board. The current minutes can be found here.

Notices

Details for individual meetings below. For agendas, select BoardDocs on left side of this page.

School Board/Supt Planning Meeting, Thursday, March 14, 2024

School Board Work Session-Thursday, March 14, 2024

Open Public Comment Period, 4:00 P.M. | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 5:00 P.M. - Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Request for Public Comment - Online Advance Registration

School Board Work Session - Thursday, March 7, 2024, 11:30 A.M.

School Board Meeting - Special Impasse Hearing - Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 9:30 A.M.

Open Public Comment Period, 4:00 P.M. | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 5:00 P.M. - Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Request for Public Comment - Online Advance Registration

School Board Discipline Task Force Meeting - Thursday, February 22, 2024, 5:00 P.M. 

OCPS K-12 Mental Health Commission Meeting, 11:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.| Wednesday, February 21, 2024

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, February 20, 2024, 10:00 A.M.

Board/Superintendent Planning Meeting - Wednesday, February 14, 2024, 10:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M.

Open Public Comment Period, 4:00 P.M. | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 5:00 P.M. - Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Request for Public Comment - Online Advance Registration

Open Public Comment Period, 4:00 P.M. | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 5:00 P.M. - Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Request for Public Comment - Online Advance Registration

Open Public Comment Period, 4:00 P.M. | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 5:00 P.M. - Tuesday, January 16, 2024

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 10:00 A.M.

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 10:00 A.M.

School Board Meeting, 5:00 P.M. - Tuesday, December 12, 2023
*Pilot Program for Public Comment*

School Board and Superintendent Planning Session - Tuesday, December 12, 2023, immediately following the executive session.

School Board Rule Development Workshop - Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 10:00 A.M. 

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 10:00 A.M.

School Board Leasing Corporation Meeting - Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 4:45 P.M. 

School Board Reorganization Meeting - Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 4:45 P.M.

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 10:00 A.M. 

School Board Meeting, 5:00 P.M. - Thursday, November 9, 2023, 5:00 P.M.
*Pilot Program for Public Comment*

School Board Recognition Meeting - Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 5:30 P.M.

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 3:00 P.M.

School Board Discipline Task Force Meeting - Thursday, October 12th, 2023, 5:00 P.M. 

School Board Meeting, 5:00 P.M. - Tuesday, October 10, 2023
*NEW Pilot Program for Public Comment*

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 10:00 A.M.
OCPS K-12 Mental Health Commission Meeting, 11 AM - 1 PM | Wednesday, September 20, 2023

School Board Rule Development Workshop - Thursday, September 14, 2023, 10:00 AM
*NEW Pilot Program for Public Comment*

Public Hearing & School Board Meeting - Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 5:00 PM 
*NEW Pilot Program for Public Comment*

School Board and Superintendent Planning Meeting - Thursday, September 7, 2023, 8:30 A.M. 

School Board Work Session - Thursday, August 24, 2023, 10:00 AM

School Board Meeting, 5:00 PM - Tuesday, August 22, 2023
*NEW Pilot Program for Public Comment*

School Board Planning Meeting - Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 10:00 AM

Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 5:00 PM - Tuesday, August 1, 2023
*NEW Pilot Program for Public Comment*

School Board Meeting, 5:00 PM - Tuesday, July 25, 2023 *NEW Pilot Program for Public Comment* 

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, July 18, 2023, 10:00 AM

School Board Rule Development Workshop - Tuesday, July 18, 2023, 10:00 AM

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Legislative Committee Meeting - Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 2:00 PM

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, June 20, 2023, 10:00 AM

School Board Discipline Task Force Meeting - Thursday, June 15, 2023, 5:00 PM

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, June 13, 2023 

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 10:00 AM

Board Member Bus Compound Meeting - Friday, May 26, 2023, 11:45 AM

School Board Discipline Task Force Meeting - Thursday, May 25, 2023, 5:00 PM

School Board Work Session - Thursday, May 25, 2023, 12:00 PM

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, May 23, 2023

School Board Recognitions Meeting - Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 5:30 PM

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 10:00 AM


School Board Planning Meeting - Thursday, May 11, 2023, 10:00 AM 

School Board Work Session - Thursday, May 4th, 2023, 10:00 AM

District 7 Community Anti-Violence Follow-Up Meeting - Monday, May 1, 2023, 5:30 PM

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Public Hearing Notice - Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 5:30 PM

School Board Discipline Task Force Meeting - Thursday, April 20, 2023, 5:00 PM

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, April 11, 2023

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, April 4th, 2023, 10:00 AM 

School Board Rule Development Workshop - Tuesday, April 4th, 2023, 10:00 AM 

School Board Planning Meeting - Monday, April 3rd, 2023, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

School Board Rule Development Workshop - Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 10:00 AM

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 10:00 AM

Revised: School Board Discipline Task Force Meeting - Thursday, March 23, 2023, 5:00 PM

OCPS K-12 Mental Health Commission Meeting, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Wednesday, March 22, 2023 

School Board Rule Development Workshop - Tuesday, March 21, 2023, 4:30 PM

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, March 7th, 2023

District 5 Discipline Roundtable Discussion - Monday, March 6th, 2023, 5:30 PM

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Revised: School Board Discipline Task Force Meeting - Thursday, February 23, 2023, 5:30 PM 

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 10:00 AM

District 7 Discipline Roundtable Discussion - Monday, February 20, 2023, 5:30 PM

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, January 24, 2023

OCPS K-12 Mental Health Commission Meeting, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Wednesday, January 18, 2023

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, January 17, 2023, 10:00 AM

School Board Member Media Training, 1:30 PM - Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Public Hearing Notice - Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 5:30 PM

School Board Rule Development Workshop - Monday, November 28, 2022, 10:00 AM

Special School Board Meeting (Tropical Storm Nicole), 1:00 PM -Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Reorganization Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, November 15, 2022


Revised: OCPS K-12 Mental Health Commission Meeting, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Wednesday, November 9, 2022

CANCELLED: Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:30 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 5:00 PM - Thursday, November 10, 2022

REVISED: School Board Rule Development Workshop - Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 4:30 PM 

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 3:30 PM 

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, October 11, 2022

CANCELLED: Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Thursday, September 29, 2022

School Board/Superintendent Annual Planning Meeting | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Budget Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 5:01 PM - Tuesday, September 13, 2022


School Board Work Session - Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 10:00 AM 

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, August 30, 2022


Rule Development Workshop - Tuesday, August 16, 2022, 10:00 AM

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 4:45 PM - Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Pre-Agenda Public Input Period, 4:00 PM | Budget Public Hearing & School Board Meeting, 5:01 PM - Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Rule Development Workshop - Tuesday, July 19, 2022, 10:00 AM

School Board Work Session - Tuesday, July 12, 2022, 10:00 AM