- May 1, 2024
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The merger between Osceola Elementary and Ortona Elementary continues to move forward, and School Board members were given a look at what the new school could look like at their workshop on Tuesday, April 27.
The new school will be constructed on the Ortona campus, and Ortona teachers will move into Osceola in June.
BRPH gave board members an overview of the project, including details about traffic flow and how the site plan will be laid out. The new two-story school, modeled after Pierson Elementary, would feature bright colors and a design inspired by the sun rising over the ocean.
Board Chair Linda Cuthbert suggested BRPH place a placard at each school to show parents the design for the new school.
At the board’s regular meeting, the members were also given an update regarding the timeline of the project, including the results of a survey to come up with a new name and mascot for the school. “Beachside Elementary” and sea turtles as the mascot emerged as a favorite among students in third through fifth grade, parents and school staff.
School Board member Carl Persis said he was happy the new school was going to have a new name and that once Ortona teachers move into Osceola, the campus will be blended. Ortona won’t be a portable campus in the fall.
“Yes, we are one school,” said Osceola Principal Lynn Bruner, who will also lead the new merged school. “We’re just one school on our temporary campus.”
The Casements will be closed from Monday, May 3 through Friday, May 14. The closure will allow the floors on the main story to be refinished, the city said.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood announced a $50,000 reward in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who killed a 15-year-old DeLand girl in 1994.
Laralee Spear was abducted, shot and killed on April 25, 1994 a quarter-mile away from her home on Deerfoot Road. Visit volusiasheriff.org to view a video for more information.
The Volusia County Council will hold a workshop to discuss affordable housing after their regular council meeting on Tuesday, May 4.
County Council meetings are held in the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center at 123 W. Indiana Ave. in DeLand.
The first community listening session by the Volusia Forever Advisory Committee will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, in the second-floor conference room of the Beach Safety Headquarters, located at 515 S. Atlantic Ave.
