Board Updates from November 9 Work Session
The intent of this publication is to provide OCS staff, families, and the community an update on the highlights from OCS Board of Education’s monthly meetings and work sessions. This update is not the official minutes of the board meeting. The official minutes and policies are located at “Board” which can be accessed on Orange County Schools’ website at <link here>.
<Link to Board of Education Work Session November 9 VIDEO>
The OCS School Board Work Session on Monday, November 9, 2020, opened up with several special recognition items: Board Member Brenda Stephens (NCSBA award recipient); CTE Month; Native American Heritage Month; and OCS’s Equity Warrior for November, Mr. Jeffrey Faulkner. Congratulations!
Following an in-depth discussion around air purifiers, the Board voted unanimously to approve the recommendation from the Operations Department to purchase 56 air purifiers for identified classrooms at Cameron Park Elementary, Hillsborough Elementary and Orange High schools.
The School Board heard from Dr. Danny Benjamin of the ABC Collaborative on the latest data and research surrounding schools that are open (and have been open) under Plan B, with regard to COVID-19 and the mitigation of its spread in public schools.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Dawson gave a brief overview of some of the main protocols and procedures that are to be followed when schools reopen in January, with regard to screening, and suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the schools.
Several OCS principals shared plans for bringing back small student groups in the near future, and new updates were given with regard to Plan B/Virtual Academy Sign-up.
***Parents and Guardians: Go to the OCS website and social media sites for details about this sign-up — which is NOT a survey. FYI: Sign-up forms for Plan B/Virtual Academy are to be distributed Nov. 12 and are due Nov. 23! For more information go to https://www.orangecountyfirst.com/domain/379
In other business, OCS Superintendent Dr. Monique Felder’s contract was extended to 2023, and she will receive a bonus of $10,000 for her outstanding leadership. This was a unanimous vote.
