Lake Como K‐8 Community Meeting February 2, 2015

1. Orange County Public Schools
Lake Como K‐8 Community Meeting
February 2, 2015
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2. Orange County Public Schools
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Agenda
Welcome – Southwest Area Superintendent Harold Border
Opening Remarks – School Board Members Nancy Robbinson
and Linda Kobert
Presentation – Southwest Area Superintendent Harold Border
Question and Answer

3. Orange County Public Schools
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4. Orange County Public Schools
What Will It Look Like?
Arbor Ridge K‐8
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5. Orange County Public Schools
What Will It Look Like?
Secure Tot Lot
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Gymnasium

6. Orange County Public Schools
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Features Common to All New Schools
• Secure school
‐ Fenced campus
‐ Single point of entry during school hours
‐ Keyless entry on all exterior doors
‐ Locked classroom doors
‐ Security cameras
• Separated parent & bus drop‐off loops
• Computer labs
• Classroom technology
‐ Four computers in each class
‐ Digital projector in each class
‐ Interactive whiteboard for digital curriculum
‐ Enhanced sound system

7. Orange County Public Schools
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Community Meetings
• Five‐Meeting Schedule for Design/Construction
‐ First meeting at 30% design
‐ Second meeting at 60% design
‐ Third meeting at 100% design / construction start
‐ Fourth meeting at 40% construction completion
‐ Final meeting is the dedication within first school
year
‐ School option for a “Sneak Peek” open house
prior to school start

8. Orange County Public Schools
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The K‐8 Model Is Successful
• Studies have found that a higher percentage of
students from K‐8 schools end up with admission
to high school based college preparatory
programs that have entry requirements.
• In Florida, available data show that students in K‐
8 schools score higher on standardized tests than
their middle school counterparts.
‐Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government
Accountability‐Report 05‐02 (January, 2005)

9. Orange County Public Schools
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The Difference Between A K‐8 School And
A Traditional School Setting
• Smaller middle school environment
• Minimal, minor discipline problems
• Students feel safe
• Easier transition into middle school for those
students who may not be ready for the
traditional middle school setting

10. Orange County Public Schools
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The K‐8 Model Is Designed To . . .
• Provide a smooth transition between elementary and
middle school.
• Provide opportunities for middle school students to
take on the role of protector and role model for
younger students.
• Reduce discipline problems due to the presence of
younger students/siblings.
• Increase personal connections for students with
teachers, staff, and administration.

11. Orange County Public Schools
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The Operation Of A K‐8 School
• 8:45 a.m. ‐ 3 p.m.
• Transportation
• Layout of school/location of classrooms
• Assemblies
• PTSA, SAC, and PLC Parent Organizations

12. Orange County Public Schools
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Programs Offered In A K‐8 School
• Sports – Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Track
• Electives (Middle School) – Band, PE, Gifted,
Spanish, Reading Academy, Math Academy
• Special Areas (Elementary) – Art, Music, and PE
• Clubs – Chorus, Democracy Club, Memory Book
Club, Science Olympiad, Math Counts, NJHS, Orff
Ensemble, Battle of the Books, Audio/Visual Club

13. Orange County Public Schools
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OCPS Zoning Process
• Zoning Timeframe
‐ Begins approximately 2 years prior to school
opening
‐ Public meetings held at RBELC
‐ Potentially impacted families notified
• Factors/Considerations
‐ Keeping neighborhoods together
‐ Demographics
‐ Infrastructure and geography
‐ Anticipated growth and development
‐ Distance and duration of student travel
‐ School feeder patterns
• Outcomes
‐ Boundaries set
‐ Bus routes developed

14. Potential Rezoning Timeline
• September 2015 Community Meetings
• October 2015 Rule Development Workshop
• December 2015 Public Hearing

15. Orange County Public Schools
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Community Involvement
Selection Process for the Lake Como K‐8 Principal
• Begins the January before the school’s
opening year
• Faculty and community input is gathered
• Recommendations are made to the
Superintendent
• Final approval is made by the School Board

16. Orange County Public Schools
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Community Involvement
Naming Your School
• Process begins after the Principal is appointed
• A naming committee is formed
‐ Mascot
‐ Colors
‐ Recommendations are gathered
• Final approval is made by the School Board

17. Orange County Public Schools
Questions / Discussion
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