BREAKING: School Board to reconvene Friday morning for reopening decision

Although Orange County School Board members were slated to make a decision on reopening plans during their July 14 meeting, discussion has been tabled until Friday morning.

Following a 10-hour meeting, School Board Chair Teresa Jacobs proposed tabling discussion to allow members and district staff to ruminate on the issues at hand. The proposal also was born partly out of connectivity issues with members Dr. Kat Gordon and Vice Chair Pam Gould.

Members and staff will reconvene at 9 a.m. Friday, July 17, to continue discussion and make their decision.

During the School Board meeting, School Board members listened to more than eight hours of public input from parents, teachers, students and community stakeholders. Each board member shared initial thoughts and questions before Jacob's suggestion of tabling the meeting.

Prior to the end of the meeting, most members were in favor of at least delaying the school start date to Aug. 31. Other discussion included whether to give Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins the green light to send Orange County Public Schools' proposed innovative learning option, OCPSLaunchEd@Home, to the state for approval.

Jenkins reminded School Board members that no matter which plan is chosen — face-to-face instruction, virtual learning or OCPSLaunchEd@Home — the plan must remain fluid and is subject to change based on guidance from local health officials and the trajectory of COVID-19 countywide in the near future.

To view a portion of the livestreamed meeting, including some public input and initial thoughts of School Board members, click here.