ORLANDO, Fla. – Students in Orange County are wrapping up their last day of school Wednesday.
Meanwhile, some students are leaving their school for the last time. That’s because multiple schools are closing (one middle and six elementary schools).
Orange County Public Schools officials said in March the closure is due to the district losing 5,500 students this year. That means there will be plenty of changes in the fall for remaining students.
“I know that the schools that are receiving those students have done a really good job at incorporating them and their families into that school culture,” said Orange County School Board member Stephanie Vanos. “So that they can feel ready to start a new school year in maybe not the school they were in last year, but in a nearby school I think with a really good school community.”
Vanos said another challenge they faced this year involves mental health services.
Eight million dollars in services was cut from the budget, which means the safe coordinator position is gone. However, all schools will have social workers on site.
Vanos said they are constantly looking at the budget to see where they can make cuts that will impact students and teachers the least.
There will be some training for teachers over the summer as they work on improving reading literacy and developing opportunities in math and science, according to school officials.
The Orange County Schools closing are:
Bonneville Elementary
Chickasaw Elementary
Eccleston Elementary
McCoy Elementary
Meadow Woods Elementary
Orlo Vista Elementary
Union Park Middle School