Orange County Public Schools staff used the Oct. 21 work session to explain capacity metrics and district approaches as the system confronts declining enrollment.

Stacy Neill and Thomas Moore explained that the district is using FISH (Florida Inventory of School Houses) capacity—the state’s official room inventory—to drive current rezoning work. Neill said FISH is the state number and the one that appears in the district work plan and funding calculations; the district has worked to bring program spaces into FISH where appropriate. Thomas Moore and board members noted that the district’s historical “permanent program capacity” was typically lower because it adjusted the state number for local program needs (such as ESE classrooms) and utilization rates.

Nut graf: The distinction matters because local program adjustments affect how many usable student stations a school effectively has; board members asked for clarity on which metric best represents classroom availability when considering moves that could disrupt students.

Dr. Vasquez told the board the district is monitoring declining enrollment and weighing options including repurposing underutilized schools and expanding magnet programs with wait lists. She provided enrollment thresholds staff use for planning: elementary 680 or above, K–8 1,040 or above, middle 850 or above, and high school 1,600. The superintendent said staff will supply the board with these reference numbers in writing.

Grandfather transfers and public input: Neill reviewed the district’s grandfather transfer policy: students who have been rezoned two or more times in a school level (K–5, 6–8, 9–12) may remain at their current school under a grandfather transfer; students rezoned into a new relief school may also qualify. Neill reiterated public‑input mechanics for the current targeted rezoning work: one input per household, petitions must include name and address, and the district will accept inputs through 7 a.m. on Oct. 27.

Ending: Board members asked staff to continue refining projections and to return with additional data on where students who do not enroll at zoned schools are choosing to attend. Staff said transfer destination data can be provided in a follow‑up.