Orange County Public Schools advances STEAM school concept near CCA; Belle Isle raises traffic and SRO concerns

Belle Isle staff told the City Council on Jan. 20 that Orange County Public Schools has concept plans for a small STEAM/specialty school on property north of CCA and that the district intends to move forward with design. The plan described a modest student population with a larger staff and a model that emphasizes individualized instruction.

Councilors said they were surprised by the timing and scope of the concept, questioned whether residents were adequately notified and pressed whether the city might be expected to provide a school resource officer. The police chief said the district’s initial representation was that OCPS would provide SRO coverage, but that responsibility could fall to the municipality depending on final agreements and the student population. “We asked if we were going to be in charge of having to provide an SRO — first initial ones were, no. Then they said we would be responsible,” the chief said.

One council member noted reporting that estimated construction could be in the tens of millions, citing an article naming a roughly $50 million estimate for the project; councilors questioned whether using existing vacant school facilities or sites outside the city might better limit traffic impacts. Staff said Orange County told them they will hold a town-hall meeting and that concept plans have been submitted; the council asked staff to continue seeking presentation by county representatives and to monitor permitting and traffic-study results.

No formal action was taken; council members asked staff to request a presentation from Orange County Public Schools and to track any SRO or traffic implications that might create future obligations for the city.