Orange County Public Schools cutting 200 jobs

Orange County Public Schools is cutting its workforce by 3%, or 200 positions, due to continued declines in enrollment and funding. "Over the past several years, our district has experienced sustained enrollment decline, a trend that is expected to continue. This has resulted in significantly reduced funding. In response, we have had to make decisions that reflect our current reality, not the one we wish we were still in," wrote Deputy Superintendent Jose Martinez in a letter send last Sunday, April 12. The reduction will impact the district's SAFE Coordinators, though mental health professionals will still remain at schools. A spokesperson for OCPS said most of the positions were funded positions that had not yet been filled. Others were filled that moved an employee to an unassigned list. In March, OCPS approved the closure of 7 schools: Bonneville Elementary, Chickasaw Elementary, Eccleston Elementary, McCoy Elementary, Meadow Woods Elementary, Orlo Vista Elementary, and Union Park Middle.