ORLANDO, Fla. — As Orange County Public Schools continues its consolidation meetings this week, families say their concerns aren’t going away — including worries about overcrowding.

What You Need To Know

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) is considering closing 7 schools because of drop in enrollment

Each school has a scheduled consolidation meeting for families to ask questions and speak with district staff

Parents say they still have questions and concerns after attending the meetings 

4 more consolidation meetings are scheduled for Jan. 21 and Jan. 22

Jessica Popov’s son attends Glenridge Middle School. The school is an option for parents of kids who attend Union Park Middle, if that school shuts down and students get rezoned.

Popov says she attended Union Park’s consolidation meeting that was hosted by the district last week.

“What Orange County Public Schools explained to myself and the other Glenridge parents that were in attendance is that the portion that is coming into Glenridge is a cleanup process,” said Popov. “These students should have already been attending our school, and it’s a small number that shouldn’t fully impact, although we don’t know yet from them what our reside numbers are.”

Popov analyzed data from OCPS involving student enrollment at each school. She worries it could lead to overcrowding on some campuses. Another one of her concerns is the potential for more schools shutting down in the future, as parents choose to take their kids out of public schools and enroll them in charter schools instead.

“When I first started running these numbers, I started to think about why initially they were going to move kids into a school that was at 87 percent capacity when we have bordering schools that are at 47 percent capacity, 62 percent capacity, 53 percent capacity,” Popov said. “And then I started to think, ‘Is this just a greater domino effect that’s going to hit all of Orange County Public Schools eventually?’”

She is one of many parents who want transparency for all families involved in the potential rezoning process.

“When information isn’t presented clearly from the school board or in a time in which you can take it, digest it, and process it, you’re having to think on your feet and make very imperative choices about your child’s education in a rapid time frame,” said Popov.

The consolidation meetings continue this week. Chickasaw Elementary and Eccleston Elementary are scheduled for Jan. 21, while Meadow Woods Elementary and McCoy Elementary are scheduled for Jan. 22. All meetings start at 6 p.m.

Karen Torres, whose kids attend McCoy Elementary, plans to attend and have some of her questions answered — like the plan for the building and the decision to keep lower-graded schools open.

“As a mother, I’m very, very worried about the students, but what about the staff? What about the teachers that have been here for over 30 years?” said Torres.

With emails from the district saying it is looking for feedback, Torres hopes it’s not too late to save McCoy.

“I’m hoping that because of these emails that are stating no decisions have been made, we have the opportunity of being able to bring this back around,” said Torres.