ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County Public School leaders are preparing for the potential closure of seven schools by the end of the school year.

It’s part of a consolidation plan that the district says could shift students to different schools due to declining enrollment.

What You Need To Know

Orange County Public Schools initiating series of community meetings to provide details about school closure plans and allow community to provide input

The school closures come amid a steep drop in student enrollment, which led to a $41 million deficit

Union Park Middle School and Bonneville, Chickasaw, Orlo Vista, Eccleston, Meadow Woods and McCoy Elementary Schools are the schools that could close

These community meetings are scheduled to take place at each of the 7 schools facing potential closures between January 14th-22nd

The schools that face potential closure or rezoning include:

Union Park Middle School
Bonneville Elementary School
Orlo Vista Elementary School
Chickasaw Elementary School
Eccleston Elementary School
McCoy Elementary School
Meadow Woods Elementary School

Before the school board moves forward with any closures, they want to hear from parents.

Starting Wednesday, January 14th, community members will be able to chime in on what the potential rezoning of these 7 schools could look like.

But many questions still remain for parents and students alike.

So much so that it even prompted a Bonneville Elementary School parent to launch a petition to save it from potentially closing its doors.

Last week, the school district sent out an email to let parents know what these schools could potentially be used for if they’re rezoned.

In FY 2028, Union Park Middle School could be used for ‘Facilities Services’, and other schools like Eccleston Elementary School could see a Pediatric Health Facility on school grounds.

Last year, the district was facing a nearly $41 million deficit because of this drop in student enrollment.

This past December, leaders said these closures could save the district $10 million.

OCPS School Board Member for District 1, Angie Gallo, said on December 16th, “We’re going to be re-imagining the schools, the schools could be used for, we talked about coops, we talked about bringing in private businesses like Junior Achievement, we’re looking at pre-schools, we’re looking at all different types of options for those schools.”

If the schools do close, students will have to move to different schools.

They’ve already shared a preliminary plan sharing which schools would be impacted if each of the seven schools closed.

For example, if Union Park Middle School closes – students may be transferred to one of five other middle schools like Discovery, Glendridge and Legacy, Odyssey and Roberto Clemente Middle Schools.

Elementary schools that could be affected in the Bonneville Elementary consolidation are Bonneville, Columbia, and East Lake.

The Chickasaw Elementary consolidation could impact Chickasaw, Deerwood, and Engelwood elementary schools.

Campuses potentially affected in the McCoy Elementary consolidation are Lake George, McCoy, Shenandoah, and Ventura Elementary.

The Meadow Woods Elementary consolidation could also impact Oakshire, Southwood, and Wyndham Lakes.

Other elementary schools that could be affected in the Orlo Vista Elementary consolidation are Eagles Nest, Eccleston, Ivey Lane, Oak Hill, and Washington Shores.

But before any of that happens, the school board must approve these closures and changes in the attendance zones at a future meeting.

The school board will be holding community meetings at each of the seven schools between January 14th and January 22nd:

Union Park Middle School – Jan. 14 at 6 p.m.
Bonneville Elementary School – Jan. 15 at 6 p.m.
Orlo Vista Elementary School – Jan. 15 at 6 p.m.
Chickasaw Elementary School – Jan. 21 at 6 p.m.
Eccleston Elementary School – Jan. 21 at 6 p.m.
McCoy Elementary School – Jan. 22 at 6 p.m.
Meadow Woods Elementary School – Jan. 22 at 6 p.m.

The next school board work session is scheduled to take place on January 27th.

A school board rule development workshop is scheduled for 4 p.m. Feb. 3, and a school board meeting and public hearing is set for 5:30 p.m. March 10. Both meetings are at the leadership center.