Seminole County Public Schools approves county’s first community school

Separately, deadline looms for SCPS Foundation scholarships

Seminole County Public Schools finalized an agreement Tuesday to bring the county’s first community school to Sanford.

Community schools are partnerships between traditional school systems and non-profit community organizations and health care providers, offering services like primary health care, mental health services, vision and dental screenings and tutoring tailored to the school’s curriculum. The idea is to use the school as a hub to help the community.

*Seminole County Public Schools finalized an agreement for a community school in Sanford. – Photo by Abe Aboraya*

“Many of them that are successful get renewed,” said Robin Dehlinger SCPS’s chairperson. “We’re really excited about it.”

The school board approved the agreement between SCPS, United Way, Seminole State College and the nonprofit healthcare provider True Health at its board meeting. Dehlinger said the plan is to start for the 2026-27 school year at Midway Elementary in Sanford.

“It’s not just a year or two: It’s a ten-year commitment,” Dehlinger said.

Speaking last month to the board, Kelly Astro with Heart of Florida United Way said it’s looking for partners to bring services to the school. Long-term, she said, the community school could provide economic benefits to the entire county.

In other news, Seminole County Public Schools:

Warned of a looming deadline to apply for 45 different scholarships from the Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools. The deadline is Tuesday, March 17 at midnight. Awards will be given to all 10 Seminole County high schools.
Were notified about a $500,000 Florida Department of Education grant to expand the Academy of Engineering at Lyman High School in Longwood.