ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A new leader is taking the helm of Orange County Public Schools after voters elected board member Angie Gallo as chair Tuesday night following a contentious race.
Gallo, who will lead the nation’s eighth-largest school district, said she is prepared to tackle difficult decisions involving the district’s budget, teacher negotiations, school enrollment and classroom instruction.
Less than 24 hours after her victory, Gallo spoke about the challenges facing the district.
“Funding,” Gallo said when asked how the district can survive the financial pressures it faces.
Low enrollment has contributed to the closure of seven schools and hundreds of job cuts, while negotiations with the teachers union over health care costs have added to tensions.
Gallo said the current board will handle the impasse with the teachers union before she is sworn in as chair. But she said teachers need more support.
“Our teachers deserve more funding. They are struggling out there,” Gallo said, adding that rising health care costs will continue to put pressure on educators.
Gallo said she plans to maintain an open dialogue with teachers, listen to their concerns and work to meet their needs.
The district is also searching for a new superintendent following Maria Vazquez’s announcement that she will retire.
Gallo said she wants the next superintendent to bring an “out-of-the-box mindset” and focus on innovation to improve schools for students.
Gallo also wants to change how students use technology in the classroom. She has advocated moving away from one-to-one digital devices and returning to textbooks in elementary and middle schools, with a hybrid approach for high school students.
“Research is showing us that kids don’t learn or retain information from digital devices,” Gallo said.
As she takes over as chair, Gallo said she plans to build on the work of outgoing Chair Jacobs while taking a more visible role in the community.
“I plan on being present, being in the community and listening to the voters,” Gallo said.
Gallo says she hopes to have an answer soon on the ongoing negotiations with the teachers union over health care.
She is expected to be sworn in sometime in November and says there is a lot of work to do, but she is grateful to have the voters’ trust.