FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ‘State Board of Education XN ES iidoc ong Manny Diag, J. ‘Commissioner of Education ‘Tom Grav, Char ‘Bon Gibson, Vice Chair Members Moiesia Brown Esther Byrd Grane Pozo chistia yen Petty Joe York August 29, 2022 Dr, Barbara Jenkins, Superintendent Orange County Public Schools 445 W. Amelia Street (Orlando, FL 32801-0271 Dr. Maria Vazquez, Superintendent Designate Orange County Public Schools 445 W. Amelia Street Orlando, FL 32801-0271 Dear Superintendents Jenkins and Vazquez, ‘The Final Report of the Twentieth Statewide Grand Jury was recently released, identifying several findings and concems pertaining to school safety requirements within Orange County Public Schools. I ‘have significant concems about some of the items mentioned, ‘We have reason to believe that some of the policies and actions the Grand Jury found are ongoing and require immediate action. Some of the district's identified failures and concerns include, but are not limited to: ‘© Schoo! officials violated — and continue to violate — state law by systemically underreporting incidents of criminal activity to the Florida Department of Education. The City of Apopka school system suppressed reporting of serious incidents and actively hampered police investigations. © The Orange County School Board General Counsel’s office requires law enforcement to obtain a subpoena when requesting video of recorded crimes, including firearms. Duc to the gravity ofthe issues outlined above, the Florida Department of Education and the Office of Safe Schools will contact you to arrange an in-person meeting next week to investigate these major concems, We expect your full cooperation to ensure that safety of our students is top priority, Sincerely, Ta Tim Hay Director, Office of Safe Schools Tawor tar secutive OMscron, Oct OF Sate ScHoOAS wuts org 325 W, Gaines Stree, Sulte 1302 | Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 | #50-245-5173