The Orange County Schools Board of Education met Monday night in the Whitted Building in Hillsborough to discuss updated COVID-19 guidelines, its next budget and state and countywide recognitions.
What’s new?
- The board recognized librarians across the county for their work in honor of School Library Month.
- “School librarians do so much — building relationships, really getting to know the kids, building a sense of community and a place to go,” Sarah Smylie, a board member, said. “Over my kids’ career in the system, I’ve seen that so much.”
-
The board also announced the Orange County Schools Job Fair will be this Saturday at 9 a.m. at Cedar Ridge High School.
- Joyce Hatcher, OCS chief of human capital and organizational development officer, said, last year the district offered six job contracts and that this year they hope to offer more.
-
The board also recognized members Jennifer Moore and Will Atherton as recipients of the North Carolina School Boards Association 2022-23 certificates of achievements.
- The certificates are presented to individuals who earn between 101 and 200 hours of NCSBA Academy of School Boardsmanship training.
What decisions were made?
-
The board approved authorization for studies and public hearings in order to decide whether Hillsborough Elementary School should be closed and replaced if OCS obtained the funds to build a new elementary school.
- The building was opened in 1952, and is need of significant repairs and renovations.
- The potential cost of the replacement is $49.5 million, while the projected cost to renovate the existing school is $30 million.
- If the school is closed and rebuilt, students and staff would have to relocate.
- The CDC's COVID-19 protocols have been updated, and school policies were recommended to change accordingly.
- While students and staff previously had to isolate for five days prior to the March 1 CDC guideline updates, they now only have to isolate for 24 hours following lessening symptoms and reduced fever.
-
Sylvia Compton, OCS' lead nurse, said differentiation between symptoms is an important factor to consider in determining time to stay home, as some persist more than others.
- “School nurses will use their judgment and understanding of any and all individuals’ medical, social and emotional situation will be applied when we’re talking about exclusion, whether it’s COVID-19 or any other respiratory illness,” she said.
- The board also discussed its fiscal year 2025 budget.
- Under the current recommended budget, OCS employees will receive a 3 percent salary increase, as well as increased retirement benefits.
- The total 2025 budget increase is just over $5 million, including increased field trips for students and STEM training for teachers.
What’s next?
- The board will meet again on Monday, April 22 in the Whitted Building in Hillsborough at 7 p.m.
