Aug 6, 2021 – OCPS: OCPS families and staff, as many of you know, the State Board of Education met this morning to adopt new rules related to attendance and Hope Scholarships. You can find the new rules by clicking Back-to-School FAQs on the district’s home page at ocps.net. While neither rule addressed face masks, they did provide background for the 1:30 PM webinar presented by the Florida Department of Education. More critical to that presentation was the newly adopted rule by the Florida Department of Health which is also available in the FAQ. Details include that parents must be given an opt out choice if face masks are required by the school district. I want to acknowledge parents who are passionate on both sides of this debate and realize neither group will be fully satisfied at this juncture.

​​​​​​​Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our students and employees, and after consultation with our health experts and school board members, I am implementing required face masks for all students unless the parent chooses to opt out of the requirement. Opting out means sending a simple note with your child on the first day of school such as “I am opting out of the face mask requirement for (child’s name)” with your signature. The student may give the note to the teacher. This mandate is effective for 30 days, beginning Tuesday, August 10th. We will continue to monitor the situation with our local experts and make a determination about how to proceed before the 30 days have expired.

August 3, 2021 – OCPS: If your child rides the bus or you are unsure if your child is eligible for transportation the “Find A Bus” link has been updated on the front page of ocps.net under quick links. Make sure to follow the instructions on how to enter your address into the system. Click the image above to learn more.

August 3, 2021 – OCPS: If you need information on COVID and school safety there is a frequently asked questions webpage that addresses many of your concerns. Click the image above or look for the Back to School FAQs graphic on the front page or explore more in the COVID-19 Health and Safety Procedures Manual. The latest questions are always at the top of the list. If you don’t see an answer to your question, you can submit it to QUESTIONS@OCPS.net. Click here to access the FAQ.

August 3, 2021- OCPS: we hope everyone has taken advantage of the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday savings. If not, you still have time. The Sales Tax Holiday runs through Monday, August 9.

School starts Tuesday, August 10. Click the image to learn more.

August 3, 2021 – OCPS: [With the start of school,] we are pleased to welcome school volunteers back to campus for the new school year. Remember, all school volunteers and mentors must register each year. The ADDitions and Partners in Education registration system is now open for enrollment; click here to access our volunteer management system or click on the “Volunteer” button also under quick links on the front page.

July 6, 2021 – It was an honor to attend Casa de Venezuela’s recognition event, hosted on Venezuela’s Independence Day. Congratulations to all the honorees! Feliz día de la independencia venezolana!”

July 2, 2021 - Listening to survivors of Hurricane Maria in a town hall panel discussion, here in Orlando, as they share their resilient stories as well as their recommendations on how to prepare our community and government to welcome those displaced by natural disasters. It was a truly great event!

June 29, 2021 - Met First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) last week to encourage our community in Central Florida to get vaccinated against COVID-19! To learn more on OCPS’ vaccination events and sign up, click here

August 6, 2021 - OCPS families and staff, as many of you know, the State Board of Education met this morning to adopt new rules related to attendance and Hope Scholarships. You can find the new rules by clicking Back-to-School FAQs on the district’s home page at ocps.net. While neither rule addressed face masks, they did provide background for the 1:30 PM webinar presented by the Florida Department of Education. More critical to that presentation was the newly adopted rule by the Florida Department of Health which is also available in the FAQ. Details include that parents must be given an opt out choice if face masks are required by the school district. I want to acknowledge parents who are passionate on both sides of this debate and realize neither group will be fully satisfied at this juncture.

​​​​​​​Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our students and employees, and after consultation with our health experts and school board members, I am implementing required face masks for all students unless the parent chooses to opt out of the requirement. Opting out means sending a simple note with your child on the first day of school such as “I am opting out of the face mask requirement for (child’s name)” with your signature. The student may give the note to the teacher. This mandate is effective for 30 days, beginning Tuesday, August 10th. We will continue to monitor the situation with our local experts and make a determination about how to proceed before the 30 days have expired. 

August 4, 2021 - Last week, after the Governor issued the Executive Order, I asked the Superintendent and her team to mandate masks for all adults who come into our schools. Today, Dr. Jenkins has announced that face masks will be mandatory for all OCPS employees while inside OCPS buildings or vehicles according to the latest community update shared. Click the image above to read the full transcript.

This is a good start to keep our students and staff safe. I am also closely monitoring the swift and direct actions being taken by other school districts across the state.

www.ocfl.net/coronavirus: Orange County's COVID-19 Information page with resident resources, testing site information, executive orders, and Orange County newsroom updates.

www.facebook.com/OrangeCountyPublicSchools: the best resource for up to date, reliable information regarding Orange County Public Schools.

https://www.pcanorangecounty.com: the Primary Care Access Network in Orange County may be able to assist underinsured and uninsured residents with access, quality, and coordination of health care services