OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County Public Schools held its State Of Education celebration on Tuesday and announced top goals for the incoming school year, highlighting things like academia, safety and finances.  

Superintendent Dr. Debra Pace, recently selected as one of 40 superintendents to be a part of the American Rescue Plan Committee, thanked teachers, administrators and support staff for giving it their “all” through trying times.

Pace said she has the opportunity “to be able to talk to and collaborate with superintendents from across the country about how they think we can best invest these important federal dollars to make up for things like the COVID slide and help us to make sure we’re opening schools safely.”  

During the ceremony, it was also revealed that the Osceola County Commission will give $500 scholarships for every new degree- and certificate-seeking student at Valencia College because people with college credential were better protected from unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What we saw in unemployment data, which is particularly severe in Osceola County… is those individuals that had just a high school diploma were more likely to have lost their job,” Valencia College President Dr. Kathleen Plinske said. “And so it's so important to us to make sure that our community understands that Valencia College is here for everyone in the community.”

The Osceola County School Board decided masks will be optional in the next school year, which begins Aug. 12.