Class Notes 03.19.15

Light Christian students compete in academic bowls

Light Christian Academy students recently participated in academic competitions hosted by the Church of God Association of Christian Schools. 

Competitions were divided into two academic bowls and held at Mulberry Christian Academy, in Mulberry. The first was held Feb. 20 for seventh through 12th grades, and the second was held March 6 for first through sixth grades. 

+ School district seeks bus drivers

Orange County Public Schools will host a job fair for openings in transportation for school bus operators from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 20, at Wekiva High School, 2501 N. Hiawassee Road, Apopka.

Same-day interviews will be available at this districtwide transportation department job fair. The district offers on-the-job training, advancement opportunities and rewarding career paths.

Requirements include: high school diploma or GED preferred, a clean driving record, minimum five years of licensed driving experience and a valid Florida driver’s license. 

Applicants are encouraged to pre-apply online at ocps.net.

+ OCPS teachers to receive raise

Orange County Public Schools ratified a two-year compensation package after receiving more than 10,000 ballots representing 75% of OCPS teachers.

More than 13,000 teachers will receive a 6.3% salary increase, on average, based on a two-year agreement between the district and the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association. The raise will be retroactive to August 2014. 

After ratification March 9 and final School Board approval, classified and hourly staff will receive raises retroactive to July 1, 2014. The School Board and Orange Education Support Professionals Association collaboratively bargained the compensation package. The 2014-15 classified salary structure maximums were increased by 10 cents per hour to accommodate this increase. The 2014-15 hourly salary structure also was adjusted as a result to the minimum wage increase and new classifications added to the hourly structure. The compensation package will be paid in April. 

+ Local students earn accolades

Several West Orange-area students received accolades from their respective colleges and universities.

Austin Beltz, of Windermere, was named to Wake Forest University dean’s list for the fall 2014 semester. Students who achieve a 3.4 grade point average and no grade below a “C” were named to the list.

Neal Alexander Stanley, of Winter Garden, was one of 68 students who earned dean’s list honors for the fall 2014 semester at Erskine College, in South Carolina.

Hartmann Uzcategui, of Ocoee, was named to the dean’s list at the University of Memphis for the fall 2014 semester. The list comprises students who have earned 12 or more hours with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.