There's a new leader at Seminole County Public Schools. Serita Beaman officially took over Thursday as the district's new superintendent.

As this school year comes to a close, and parents are wondering what next year might look like, Orange County Public Schools said they know there will be face-to-face learning and the pre-pandemic online option that’s always been available to families, called Orange County Virtual School.

The outgoing Seminole County Public Schools superintendent is speaking out about his retirement and the controversy surrounding the search for his replacement.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A judge will decide Tuesday if the Seminole County School Board can move forward to make Serita Beamon the district’s new superintendent after an injunction was filed earlier this month against the board following a vote to withdraw its original offer to another candidate. An injunction was filed in Seminole County civil court March 9, seeking to stop the Seminole County School Board from continuing negotiations with Beamon to become superintendent. AdDuring a hearing Monday morning, Seminole County Circuit Judge Michelle Naberhaus heard both sides over a Microsoft Teams virtual meeting. AdNaberhaus will make her ruling at noon Tuesday, just hours ahead of the school board meeting when members are scheduled to vote on Beaman’s contract. Current Seminole County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin announced last fall his plans to retire at the end of the 2020-21 school year.

(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – High school seniors in Seminole County will attend their graduation ceremonies at the University of Central Florida’s football stadium this year after an agreement between the school district and UCF. Seminole County Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin made the announcement this week in a video to families. Griffin said school leadership officials have been working since November to try and find a better solution for graduations amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In February, Seminole County parents were notified that their high school seniors’ graduations would be in the auditorium like the year before and students would be required to reserve graduation time slots. Seminole County high schools executive director Mike Gaudreau said the district also looked at using the Amway Center, but it was already booked for Orange County Public Schools events.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – The Seminole County School Board voted to revoke a decision on its next superintendent. On Feb. 9, the school board announced Chad Farnsworth would be the next superintendent of the district. The announcement came after Farnsworth received three votes and SCPS attorney Serita D. Beamon received two votes during a school board meeting on Feb. 9. A special school board meeting will be held Monday, March 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., according to the district. Farnsworth has been the assistant superintendent of the Lake County School District since 2017.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – ***8:48 p.m. Feb. 23, 2021 UPDATE***During the middle of a school board meeting on Feb. 23, school board member Dr. Tina Calderone said there was not enough discussion on who should be the next superintendent. A special school board meeting will be held at a future date to announce the next superintendent. ***ORIGINAL***The Seminole County School Board announced Chad Farnsworth will be the next superintendent of the district. The announcement came after Farnsworth received three votes and SCPS attorney Serita D. Beamon received two votes during a school board meeting on Tuesday. Farnsworth has been the assistant superintendent of the Lake County School District since 2017.

(Louisa Gouliamaki/Pool via AP)SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County leaders say the process of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine has been going well thus far and now they’re looking to expand their efforts by delivering doses to those in need. There is no fee, it’s absolutely free of charge, this is supported by Seminole County government. So we are now at over 120 individuals in the hospital systems here in Seminole County with COVID,” Harris said. As vaccine efforts expand, he said Seminole County teachers are anxiously awaiting their shots. And Seminole County is ready, willing and able to do whatever we can to provide this vaccine,” he said.

Seminole County Superintendent Walt Griffin previously asked Florida’s Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to forgo school grades for the 2020-2021 school year because of the circumstances created by the pandemic. In fact, Corcoran said the Florida Department of Education plans to continue all three learning options for parents: Florida Virtual School, face-to-face learning and each district’s distance learning method. Under an emergency order for the fall 2020 semester by the Florida Department of Education all school districts could offer virtual learning options as long as they offered face-to-face education. School districts had to submit their reopening plans to the state for approval. Central Florida school district officials said after Wednesday’s decision that they hope to receive the same state funding for remote learning in the spring as they did in the fall semester to continue making it an affordable option.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin sent a letter this week to Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran requesting to forgo school grades in 2021 due to the difficulties presented by the coronavirus pandemic. “This letter is a respectful request to consider not assigning 2021 school grades and teacher valued-added scores due to the unprecedented educational impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Griffin wrote, adding this would help lift one layer of anxiety from "an already overwhelmed educational system. Using school grades for the 2020-21 school year may result in misrepresentation of student and school achievement this year, Griffin wrote. The superintendent’s proposal comes as the school district sent an email to families Wednesday notifying them of surveys about the next semester. In the survey, families will be asked whether they would continue with in-person learning or online given the option.

SANFORD, Fla. Seminole County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin will resign at the end of the 2020-21 school year, officials announced Friday. Griffin, a one-time teacher and Florida Principal of the year in 2003, was appointed as superintendent in 2012. Last year, Griffin was named CTE Superintendent of the Year by the Florida Association for Career and Technical Education. Griffin and his wife, Lori, have been married over 30 years. They have two married children, one granddaughter and two grandsons.

All rights reserved)SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. Officials in Seminole County are expected to hold a news conference to provide updates throughout the county. Speakers at Tuesdays conference include Seminole County Chairman Jay Zembower, Emergency Manager Alan Harris, Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin and Health Officer Donna Walsh. [READ NEXT: 3,838 new coronavirus cases, 219 deaths reported as Floridians head to the polls]On Tuesday, the Florida Department of Health reported that there have been 7,530 reported cases of COVID-19 in Seminole County. 518 people have been hospitalized in Seminole County and 151 have died as a result of the coronavirus. All funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and Seminole County advises businesses to gather all five supporting documents in advance to prepare for the application portal opening, officials said.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. Students in Seminole County became the first in the Central Florida 10-county region to return to the classroom on Monday, the first day of school for the district. According to school district leaders, 44% of families chose face-to-face learning to begin the year, while 46% picked virtual learning and 10% opted for the countys hybrid model. District leaders said there are other safety measures in place, such as desk shields, social distancing markers and hand sanitizing stations. [Back to school: Seminole County students start mix of in-person, online learning | Judge denies Floridas motion to dismiss educators lawsuit]"I think most important for children, keep those hands clean," Griffin said. We have to work together as a community, as a Seminole County to keep everybody healthy, he said.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. Leaders in Seminole County are expected to hold a news conference Friday to discuss new updates regarding safety and school preparations ahead of the 2020 school year. The discussion will include updates from Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin, Seminole County, Sheriff Dennis Lemma, School Board Chair Karen Almond and School Safety & Security Director Captain Rick Francis. You can watch the live news conference in the video player atop this story. Check back here for updates following the news conference.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. Schools across Seminole County had full parking lots and school buses on campus Friday as teachers and staff prepare for schools to reopen Monday. Outside Pine Crest Elementary School in Sanford, families lined up to pick up laptops and materials for their kids who opted for the online or hybrid options. But we're happy we have Seminole connect because both my kids will be doing it," said Lissette Abellino. Seminole County Superintendent Walt Griffin said about 44% of students will be back in the classroom Monday. Well have some technology issues on Monday, schedules will have issues, but thats not unusual for the start of school, said Griffin.

Seminole County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Walt GriffinSeminole County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin (Courtesy)Dr. Walt Griffin began his career in academics as an algebra teacher and from there, worked his way up through serving as assistant principal, principal, and executive director before being appointed to his superintendent position in 2012. Orange County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Barbara JenkinsOrange County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins (Courtesy)Dr. Barbara Jenkins has been in the education realm for 30 years, including the eight years she’s spent as Orange County Public Schools superintendent. She worked at Community Health Centers of Central Florida prior to opening her own practice. Osceola County School Board chairman Kelvin SotoOsceola County School Board chairman Kelvin Soto (Courtesy)Kelvin Soto was elected to the Osceola County School Board to represent District 2 in 2012 and currently serves as the chairman. He studied law at the University of California, Berkeley then came to Central Florida with the goal of helping those who need it the most.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. Seminole County Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin said there are benefits of face-to-face learning that students cannot get from being at home. Morrell said his son will be a senior at Lake Nona High School and said hell be doing face-to-face learning this fall. Griffin said another issue when you dont have face-to-face learning is the issue of equity. News 6 asked Griffin if remote learning could exacerbate learning loss or a learning gap among minority students. Seminole County parents have four learning options to choose from for the upcoming semester.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. Seminole County Public School board members held a virtual meeting Thursday to discuss ways to reopen schools safely in the fall. Im looking for direction today, board members, in the use of face masks and specifically taking temperatures how to minimize large groups, Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin explained. School board attorney Serita Beamon presented a 130-page document of recommendations from the Florida Department of Education regarding reopening schools across the state. "What that document makes it clear is that educational programs should maintain maximum distance between students and desks. School board members are also going over hundreds of surveys sent to parents last week regarding the reopening of schools.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Law enforcement teamed up with transportation and school leaders on Wednesday to spread the word about the effects of Florida’s new texting and driving law. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol pulled over several vehicles near Woodlands Elementary in an effort to remind drivers to focus their attention on the road. “Keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel and focus on the task at hand,” Chief Dan Purcell said. "The goal here is to get people to not touch their mobile device while they're in a car," Purcell said. After Wednesday’s enforcement exercise, officials said they will continue to monitor the area and may perform a similar exercise if needed.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Two students who made a threat to the Tuskawilla Middle School campus have been arrested, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said a 13-year-old girl showed a school employee text messages between her and 14-year-old boy in which they both talked about committing a school shooting. Seminole County Public Schools Superintendent Walt Griffin sent a recorded message to parents Thursday evening about the arrests. “Our law enforcement partners at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office immediately investigated and addressed the situation. Our Tuskawilla Middle School Campus is completely safe for learning,” he said.