Orange County Public Schools said its new absent notification system will be up and running again as we head into the second week of classes.

Leaders with Orange County Public Schools push for a continuation of a half-cent sales tax to fund the district’s construction needs and renovations for the next 10 years.

Orange County school leaders on Tuesday voted unanimously to formally send a proposed sales tax extension to the ballot in November.

Superintendent Maria Vazquez announced the upcoming changes during a Tuesday night meeting.

Orange County School Board Chair Teresa Jacobs issues a statement.

Orange County Public Schools is asking voters to keep a 1 mill ad valorem property tax, first approved in 2010, to fund everything from support staff to art teachers to class field trips.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has a plan to recruit thousands of new school teachers, Florida may have a supersonic jetliner by the end of the decade and sea turtle nesting season numbers are looking highly promising this year.

Orange County School Board Chair Teresa Jacobs is ready to bring in district staff and “put them in the classrooms” to fill roughly 100 teacher vacancies at the start of the 2022-23 school year.

School Board Chair Teresa Jacobs told News 6 they want clear guidance from the state so that they can then take the burden off teachers by providing them with specific direction.

The school board for Orange County Public Schools held a workshop Tuesday to discuss their safety program and, in the wake of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, board members had a lot of questions regarding their policies.

Orange County Public Schools is asking the state Department of Education to waive Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) testing results for another year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Orange County Schools Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins said around 700 instructional staff members, about 5%, called in sick on Tuesday for the first day back after the holiday break.

With schools starting up again and an omicron wave of COVID-19 growing, districts are urging students, parents and staff to be prepared.

Students, families, community members and district employees gathered Friday morning as Orange County Public Schools presented its 2021 State of the Schools address, marking the first time since 2019 the address had in-person guests due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Orange County Schools was the only school district in Central Florida to join 9 others, in enacting mask mandates despite the Governor's executive order banning school districts from doing so. However, after a Leon County judge ruled districts actually can enact masks mandates, Orange County School Board Chairwoman Teresa Jacobs felt relief.

range County Public School's school board chair, Teresa Jacobs, said she wants to see the LaunchEd learning option this year.

The debate over wearing masks in schools continues to be an issue as the beginning of the semester approaches.

Masks remain optional for Orange County students and staff members, despite the CDC's new guidance stressing that everyone should wear a mask inside.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The Orange County Public Schools Medical Advisory Committee met on Thursday to discuss COVID-19 and safety measures on campus. The board discussed several topics, including concerns over how long it takes for the health department to conduct contact tracing. Board member Dr. Michael Muszynski said he’s worried there could be a rise in cases because of the new variant. To help stop the spread, the board said quarantine notifications need to go out faster. “We do have dates secured for all of our traditional high schools at the Amway and UCF,” Border said.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police officers are taking a new approach to raising the next generation of law enforcement leaders. The Junior Reserve Law Enforcement program was created for freshman and sophomores at Jones High School and Lake Nona High School. Cliff Long from the Orlando Regional Realtor Association said he wanted to educate young people more about unity. He said he approached Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon about the idea months ago. “To help even those who have gone into a bit of trouble and help put them back on track,” Chief Orlando Rolon said.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of thousands of dollars has been spent by Central Florida government agencies to install ultraviolet light systems inside their heating and air conditioning systems. Diagram shows how researchers say UV light kills the DNA inside the coronavirus. Berland said his researchers have shown when UV light is exposed to the coronavirus on surfaces, it can kill its DNA, preventing it from reproducing. News 6 found at least three public agencies approving funds for UV light installation in their HVAC systems. “Marion County was ahead of the curve in implementing UV-C air purification technology at every air handling system in the county,” said county spokesman Alex AuBuchon.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. The medical advisory committee tasked to guide the Orange County school board on how to safely reopen schools for in-person instruction met online Wednesday evening. Dr. Pino highlighted the county has seen 309 confirmed cases of the coronavirus among pediatric patients. He went on to say the rates appear promising, but went on to say the county is not in the clear when asked if returning to in-person instruction is safe. Yes, Dr. Pino said. Reopening schools for in-person instruction has become a hot button issue for parents like Megan Tucker.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. The Orange County School Board passed a revised face covering policy during Tuesdays school board meeting. The revision presented to the board when students would not be required to wear face masks. I want you to face the same consequences, that you are making us face. Chair of the school board Teresa Jacobs spoke up in response to the criticism. The medical advisory committee plans to meet twice this week and board members said they expect some type of guidance ahead of the districts face to face reopening on Aug. 21.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Approximately 10,000 people huddled around the rainbow-hued Lake Eola bandshell Monday night to remember the 49 lives lost and the dozens of others who were injured during the Pulse nightclub massacre exactly one year ago. "Orlando Love: Remembering Our Angels" was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. but rain pushed the start time back to 7:48 p.m. That same hope has kept Pulse nightclub owner Barbara Poma fueled for the past 365 days. Toward the conclusion of the ceremony, the names of all 49 victims were recited one by one. An angel stood on stage for each victim as his or her picture was displayed and a bell was rung in memory.