The Orange County Schools Board of Education has appointed Dr. Randy Bridges to serve as the district’s superintendent on an interim basis.

The board made that decision at a meeting on Monday night. Bridges’ appointment is effective July 1, and he is expected to serve until the board finds a permanent replacement for Doctor Todd Wirt. Wirt announced earlier this year that he was intending to step down at the end of June.

“He’s a fantastic man and a seasoned superintendent that I think will provide some good, stable leadership right now,” Wirt said in an interview after the announcement.

Wirt worked for Bridges when both were in the Alamance – Burlington School System.

Bridges will take over the school district while several “irons are in the fire,” as Wirt described it.

“We’re in the middle of student reassignment and planning for that, still on schedule and still with the goal of having something in front of the board by mid-to-late fall for them to consider,” Wirt said. “A lot of work going on behind the scenes, a lot of work publicly as well around redistricting. It’s been a long time since that’s been done in Orange County.”

Redistricting conversations seem to always draw concerns from parents as students could be shifted to new schools.

“The reality is we have some explosive growth in downtown Hillsborough and in the Mebane part of Orange County,” Wirt said. “We have some overcapacity elementary schools and some under-enrolled elementary schools. Before we can be fiscally responsible and go ask for a new school, I think we felt like we need to fill the schools that we have.”

Wirt said this would also be an opportunity to look at the socio-economic demographics of each school to provide more “balance.”

Beyond navigating the redistricting debate, “continuing to work with the board and their relationship with each other and how they move forward will be important.”

There are also several major capital projects in the pipeline for the school district, Wirt said.

Bridges previously served as the superintendent of Orange County Schools from 1997 to 2002. The school board is working with the North Carolina School Boards Association in the search for a permanent superintendent.

Related Stories
‹
Orange County Schools Selects New Superintendent
The Orange County School Board finalized the hire of Dr. Monique Felder as the district’s new superintendent on Wednesday night. Felder comes to Orange County after three years as a chief academic officer for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools in Tennessee. Previously, she worked in numerous administration roles in Maryland’s two largest school districts. Many members of […]
Orange County Schools Asks for Public Input in Superintendent Search
The Orange County Schools district is asking for public input as it begins its search for the next superintendent. Dr. Todd Wirt recently announced he would be leaving the district this summer. Wirt was hired in 2015 after serving as an assistant superintendent for Wake County Public Schools. The Board of Education voted at a […]
Orange County Schools Superintendent Resigning
Orange County Schools superintendent Dr. Todd Wirt is resigning at the end of June. Wirt was hired in 2015 after serving as an assistant superintendent for Wake County Public Schools. “The Board appreciates Dr. Wirt’s passion and dedication to the teaching and learning of all of our Orange County Schools students,” the Orange County Schools […]
Orange County School Board Names New Superintendent
The Orange County Schools Board of Education has selected a Wake County educator to serves as the new superintendent.
OC Schools Names Superintendent
McDowell County Schools Superintendent Dr. Gerri Martin was announced Thursday night as Orange Schools' next superintendent.
Orange County Discusses Bond Projects and State Budget Delay With Local School Boards
The Orange County Board of Commissioners recently held a joint meeting with the local school boards to hear updates from each district.
Orange County, Chatham County School Districts Set Student Growth Records in 2024-25
In the student growth data recently released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, two out of the three districts that fully reached their growth goals are local: Orange County Schools and Chatham County Schools.
Orange County Schools Superintendent Jones Talks Back-to-School Tips, District Priorities for 2025-26
Orange County Schools Superintendent Danielle Jones joined 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell recently to discuss back to school preparation and district priorities.
Speaking of Schools: Orange County Schools Superintendent Danielle Jones
Orange County Schools Superintendent Danielle Jones speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Wednesday, August 6.
Speaking of Schools: Orange County Schools Superintendent Danielle Jones
Orange County Schools Superintendent Dr. Danielle Jones spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, June 27, discussing district news and events. She talked about highlights from the school year that just concluded, what she's learned about Orange County Schools in her first year and a half as superintendent. She also talked about the budget,  and summer capital projects for the district. She discussed summer activities, including an upcoming back to school event and more.
›