Board Notes - Regular Meeting for September 22, 2025

The Orange County Board of Education held a regular business meeting on September 22, 2025.

View all the business items below here

Watch the September 22, 2025 meeting here

The Board posts all meeting materials to Simbli and also displays a calendar of Board and committee meetings on the OCS website. Visit the Board’s page on Simbli for agendas and minutes. Minutes are attached to each meeting after approval by the Board at a future meeting.

RECOGNITIONS

Start of Traditional Schools (August 25, 2025)

Orange County Schools welcomed students on the traditional calendar for the first day of classes this school year on Monday, August 25. To energize and unify our learning community, OCS provided activities and resources designed to support students, families, and staff with everything they need for success, at the start of the year and all year long:

• Back to School Fair, August 9, and Back to School Guide 
• OCS Stars of Education, August 18 
• Beginning Teacher Institute and Teacher Workdays
• Open House, August 21 
• Start of School, August 25

Patriot Day/National Day of Service and Remembrance
 

On September 11, we honor the memory of the 2,977 individuals from 90 nations who lost their lives in the 2001 terrorist attacks. This includes 2,753 in New York City, 184 at the Pentagon, and 40 aboard Flight 93. We remain committed to remembering their lives and the impact of that day.

Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed each year from September 15 to October 15, honoring the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. First established in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, it was later expanded to a month-long celebration in 1988. The observance begins on September 15, marking the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile also celebrate their independence on September 16 and September 18. We are proud to recognize this important month alongside our students, families, staff, and community.

A. L. Stanback Middle School Critical Response Team

This recognition highlights the quick actions of staff members who responded to save the life of a student in need, 14-year-old David Gonzalez Rubio, at A.L. Stanback Middle School on June 5, 2025. At A.L. Stanback Middle School staff took important steps to protect the health and safety of a child experiencing distress. With permission from the family, OCS Lead Nurse Sylvia Compton recounted the events of June 5, 2025, and David’s family addressed the Board. 

Click here to hear the recognition
 

 

CONSENT AGENDA

The Board approved Consent Agenda items, including meeting minutes, personnel report, financial updates, gifts and bequests, contracts, and an update to the Board Calendar.

Items Added to Consent Agenda

The Board approved two items which were added to the Consent Agenda: 

• North Carolina Schools Boards Association Voting Delegate Form
• “First Amendment to the Superintendent Contract” which extends the end date of the Board’s contract with Superintendent Dr. Danielle Jones by two additional years, to June 30, 2029.

Items Removed from Consent Agenda

The Board pulled two policies on First Read from the Consent Agenda for further discussion:

• Policy Code 7360/8225: Crowdfunding on Behalf of the School System
• Policy Code 8820: Gifts and Bequests. 

Members discussed changes to each policy and approved both revised policies on First Read. Both revised policies are up for possible adoption at a future business meeting.

Click here to view the discussion

WORK SESSION (INFORMATION) ITEMS

Summer 2025 Programs Report

During the summer of 2025, Orange County Schools offered a variety of instructional and enrichment programs to support student learning and growth. Programs included Summer Reading Camp, Multilingual Learner Bridge and STEM Camps, CTE Project Lead the Way camps, the Summer Careers Academy with a new automotive track, and Camp Med focused on health careers. 

Students engaged in hands-on, targeted instruction and enrichment activities designed to build skills, confidence, and community. All programs were funded through federal, state, and grant resources, providing meaningful summer learning opportunities for students across the district.

Click here to read the full presentation

2025 State Accountability Results

The Board of Education received an overview of state performance metrics for the 2024–2025 school year. The data, approved by NCDPI, has been released publicly. Priority One of the Strategic Plan outlines annual metrics used to measure progress toward the district’s academic goals. Guided by a foundation of equity, the OCS Strategic Plan ensures that all students receive the support needed to foster growth and achievement.

District Highlights, 2024-2025: 

• For the first time ever, 100% of OCS schools met or exceeded growth on state standardized tests. 
• For the first time since 2017 five OCS schools earned a “B” letter grade, up from three in 2023-2024. 
• Grade-level proficiency increased by 3.5 points to 58.4% on state-mandated EOC (end-of-course) and EOG (end-of-grade) exams. This composite (all grades and all tested subjects) is 3.4 points above the state average (55.0%). 
• The four-year cohort graduation rate climbed a full eight points to 87.7%, bringing OCS in line with the state average for 2024-2025.

Click here to read the full presentation

FY25 Ombuds Quarter 1 Update

This update provides the first-quarter report from the Employee Ombuds. In accordance with Policy 7960, the Ombuds submits a quarterly report to the Board and Superintendent. At this time, the number of requests is too low to identify trends without compromising confidentiality. The Employee Ombuds serves as a safe, impartial resource for all staff—regardless of background, identity, or position—to raise concerns, seek guidance, and resolve conflicts. Through this role, Orange County Schools continues to foster a staff community rooted in equity, fairness, and inclusion.

Click here to read the full presentation