The Orange County School Board voted Oct. 28 to accept an agreement with LIFT Orlando that sets a path for Orange Center Elementary to convert to a charter school operated in partnership with the nonprofit and — if enrollment benchmarks are met — to expand into a K–8 campus.

Member Felder moved and Member Ferrant seconded the motion, which the board approved after public comment from parents and LIFT representatives and a discussion of enrollment, governance and capital funding. Chair Jacobs declared the motion carried.

What the board approved: The board accepted an agreement that outlines the partnership framework between the school district and LIFT Orlando, including community supports, an education plan for Orange Center and a path toward facility expansion. District staff said the agreement was built on prior memoranda of understanding and earlier meetings with LIFT dating to 2019–2020.

Enrollment and capital‑project trigger: District staff explained that conversion to a K–8 depends on meeting an enrollment threshold close to the building’s Florida Inventory of School Houses (FISH) capacity. Orange Center’s FISH capacity was stated as 483 students; the agreement calls for the district to consider expansion once enrollment reaches within 10 students of that capacity (roughly 483). If the threshold is met and a successful conversion vote occurs, the district would amend its capital plan and commit to fund construction for grades 6–8 (estimated additional capacity roughly 717–720 seats based on an 80‑student per grade assumption). District staff told trustees that funding would be added into the capital construction cycle and that the district believes it can finance the expansion if triggered.

Governance and advisory roles: The agreement contemplates two distinct governance structures: a charter‑school governing board that will execute the charter and an educational advisory committee for neighborhood engagement. District staff and LIFT representatives said the charter application will identify members of the governing board and that, at the application stage, the district expects to appoint two members to the charter governing board or otherwise ensure meaningful district representation. Member Felder will serve as co‑chair of the school’s educational advisory committee representing the local district.

Public comment and community context: Four speakers — parents and LIFT staff — addressed the board in favor of the conversion, praising Orange Center’s principal, teachers and community services provided by LIFT Orlando. Parents described improved classroom experiences, support for students with special needs and the program’s role in providing wraparound services such as internships, family supports and housing partnership efforts in the neighborhood.

Board concerns and safeguards: Trustees who had reservations sought written assurances on funding priorities, on how district priorities at other schools would be protected, and on the timeline and conditions that would trigger the K–8 expansion. Member Banos and others pressed for clarity that the district retains decision authority over capital planning and that any expansion would be contingent on both enrollment and a successful conversion process. LIFT leaders said they would work the neighborhood to reach the voter threshold for conversion and that LIFT would continue to invest in community services.

Formal action: The board motion accepted the agreement as presented. Member Felder moved; Member Ferrant seconded. Chair Jacobs called for the vote and declared the motion approved.

Why it matters: Board members framed the agreement as an effort to pair high‑quality school programming with a cradle‑to‑career neighborhood strategy: trustees emphasized the potential to use philanthropic and nonprofit investment to provide services (early learning, workforce training, housing supports) that reduce barriers to student success while keeping the district’s oversight role intact.

Implementation next steps: District staff and LIFT will proceed to the charter application and conversion process, coordinate the community education and vote process, and return to the board with any required charter documents, governing‑board membership details and capital‑planning amendments if and when enrollment thresholds are met. The district emphasized that many operational details (governance membership, exact construction schedule and final funding commitments) will be resolved in subsequent steps.

Ending note: Board members lauded the partnership and urged that the model be documented and, if successful, potentially replicated. Member Ferrant called the initiative “life changing” for families in the neighborhood; Member Byrd and others said they want the partnership to become a national model if the pilot proves successful.