ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – From e-bike safety to teacher pay and health insurance, several issues are top of mind as students return to Orange County Public Schools.
The district is giving more details into new rules for students who ride e-bikes and e-scooters to school.
Only high school students with a driver’s license or learner’s permit along with a school decal will be allowed to bring the devices onto campus. Middle and elementary school students will not be permitted to have them at school.
Students who are approved to bring an e-bike or e-scooter must also walk the device once they enter campus.
Superintendent Maria Vazquez said violations will be handled through the district’s code of conduct, starting with a warning and parent contact.
“Starting with a warning, contacting the parents, it could result and ultimately removal of the privilege of riding an e-bike or e-scooter,” Vazquez said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said its role is separate from the district’s enforcement. Deputies do not enforce school rules, but they do enforce state laws and county ordinances.
The Sheriff’s Office also has helped draft language for a possible countywide ordinance addressing e-bike and e-scooter safety.
“This ordinance will be at a level where we will begiving warnings, talking to parents and possibly confiscating the e-bikes in the worse case scenario,” said Sheriff Mina.
Meanwhile, teacher contract negotiations remain another major issue for the district.
Vazquez said the district and the Classroom Teachers Association have reached an agreement on salary increases, but the two sides remain at an impasse over health insurance.
A magistrate is expected to issue a recommendation within several days. Both sides will then have the option to accept or reject it. If either side rejects the recommendation, the matter could go before the school board for a hearing.
District leaders also acknowledged ongoing financial challenges and declining enrollment, following the closure of seven schools.
The district expects just over 197,000 students this year, and Vazquez said the focus is now on rebuilding trust and bringing more families back to Orange County Public Schools.