Overcrowding and Legislation Are Obstacles to Orlando Schools

The city of Orlando has a fast growing population and rapid development, creating a situation of overcrowding in the Orlando schools. The facilities are so overcrowded that, by the end of 2006, an estimated 40 percent of Orlando schools students will be taught in portable buildings and the need is much greater than previously anticipated. With rising construction costs, increasing growth, and new mandates from state and local government, the funding is not keeping pace with the growth and innovative ideas to reduce overcrowding are being sidetracked by new government regulations.

In 2000, the Martinez Doctrine was adopted by Orange County, where the Orlando schools district is located. The doctrine is designed to reduce overcrowding in public schools by denying or awarding zoning and rezoning requests from developers, dependent upon whether the projects are located near an overcrowded school or not. The doctrine was meant to curb residential growth in already dense areas. Though it was never an official law, the county adopted it as a general planning procedure.

For the Orlando schools, the doctrine is a dual-edged sword. Due to the strict regulations, many...