001Okay, thank you. Isn't that nice? Hope Good morning everyone. Welcome. Glad to see everybody here this morning. At this time, I will call the uh meeting of the Okaloosa County School Board for workshop for February 9th, 2026 into order. Board members, good to see you. At this time, we don't have any changes to the agenda, so we'll just follow right through and uh go from there. holler out when you have an item that you want clarification or comment. All right. So, this evening we'll have um a call to order and then any any changes and then we'll approve our agenda. Moving to section three of recognitions 3.1. Tonight we will recognize Crestu High School student Donovan Morales, 2025 Florida High School Athletic Association class 3A boys swimming 50 meter and 100 meter freestyle state champion.
002What an accomplishment. So be great to honor that student. Moving on to section four 4.1. We're at the recommendation of the superintendent, we'll be appointing a new principal for Walker Elementary School. Okay. All right. And moving on to five would be our public comment, which would be uh for agenda items, blue card. So 5.1 will be any members of the public desiring to address us on our agenda items. This time we have no items in section six, committee and staff reports. Moving on to um the consent agenda. Seven 7.1 will approve the consent agenda. 7 7.2 approval of the minutes of the student disciplinary hearings of January 26, 2026. The minutes of the workshop meeting of January 26, 2026. Minutes of the regular meeting of January 26, 2026. And uh that recommended by the superintendent.
0037.3 The appropriation of District 1 school board member capital outlay funds to Southside Primary School for a stage curtain in the amount of $2,500 presented by Dr. White. 7.4 Appropriation of District 2 school board member capital outlay funds to Southside Primary School for a stage curtain in the amount of $2,500 presented by Mr. Dest. 7.5 Appropriation of District 4 schoolboard member capital outlay funds to Southside Primary School for a stage curtain in the amount of $4,672.75 presented by Mr. Bryant. >> Madam Chair, can I comment on the last three items? >> Certainly. >> First of all, I'd like to thank my fellow board members for contributing to this uh cause. I will just say that both of my children went to Southside Elementary and I believe those curtains probably outdate them. So, uh, but it
004it's going to be nice. I actually had an opportunity to walk, uh, through this the stage area and, uh, it's definitely going to be an enhancement for the school. So, thank you, fellow board members. >> Well, and also again, it shows that uh, we work together to, uh, do what we can for all the schools. It's great. All right, moving on to 7.6, Six, budget amendment number four, fiscal year 2526, presented by Miss Perry, chief financial officer. 7.7 monthly financial statement for December 2025, presented by Miss Perry. 7.8, Invoices to be approved for payment, presented by Miss Perry. 7.9 Request to write off internal funds NSF checks as uncollectible, presented by Miss Perry. Madam Chair, >> I have a question on that. >> Certainly. >> Are we uh Miss Perry, are we putting a process
005in place? Because I when I was reading through the the story on those, a lot of those had been held for enough time that they couldn't be collected or sent to the state. What what's happens is with the new company, if the bank doesn't get the check to them at a certain time or if there's not an address on the check or there's different a lot of different criteria for them to guarantee it and then if they don't collect it then we have to request to write it off. But um s my accountant in budgeting has been working very closely trying to get all the bookkeepers giving them more support to try to get this to not happen. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you for that. All right. 7.10 service agreement number
00626-107 Bay Breeze Development Inc. presented by Mr. Windham program director for purchasing 7.112526 class size reduction compliance plan presented by Mr. Spolski, assistant superintendent. >> Madam Chair, I have a question on that for Mr. Spolski. >> Okay. >> Um I saw on three of those there was a data reporting error. Uh, was that something unique or was it something elaborate on that if you >> Yeah, there's uh Yes, sir. There's 14 schools on there and Miss Merv and I reviewed that. Uh, one of those was a data reporting error on our side and a couple of those were on our schools. Miss Merv, if you want to address that specifically. Um, but we're required by state statute to uh report all of these that are over class size compliance and then give suggested strategies on
007how to uh make sure we're in compliance for next year. So, I'll let her address that. >> Good morning. For a couple of schools, they had room errors. So, the rooms were used on um multiple sections. And then in the master schedule, it's easy to double schedule periods in one room in one period. And that was another error. >> I gotcha. Uh while you're there, another question. So most of them the explanations of what's going to happen were were perfect. But on PL and Bluewater Bay um those weren't specific like we're building a new school, we're doing this. What what's the story on those two? So they are both um schools where we work to accommodate military transfers um and especially PLO and we have provided ample space sometimes over capacity for those um military
008families that transition over the summer >> and and those two are also showing a slight decline in >> they are. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you very much. All right. Moving to 7.12, requests for course adoptions for Okaloosa Technical College South and North Campuses for the 2627 school year. Presented by Mr. Williams. All right. 7.13 requests for course code adoption for the 2627 school year presented by Miss Gillis. Right. 7.14 request for course code adoption for the 2627 school year presented by Stephanie Gillis again. And I want to call is that the Baker one? Miss Hurley, is that the Baker one? Uh 14? Yes. Okay. Anyway, I wanted to mention as um Baker's school board member and Miss Hurley, their assistant principal, is here. Uh, this has to do with
009their ROC program and I want to say that Baker has a very strong ROC program up there and I'm glad to see that they're moving this into the middle school. Um, it's one of the most popular programs uh at the school and I think it's great that we're going to go ahead and bring in those eighth graders uh and get them started. It's a it's a wonderful program and they have fabulous instructors up there. So glad to see you here today and u that's exciting for Baker. Okay. All right. Okay. We're moving on to section 8, superintendent's human resources recommendation. 8.1 uh employees on administrative le leave presented by Miss Maxi. 8.2 deferred retirement option program presented by Miss Maxi who is our assistant superintendent for human resources. 8.3 cleared certification requirements and issuance of
010contracts for the 2526 school year presented by Miss Don. 8.4 out of field report for 2526 school year presented by Miss Don. >> Madame Chair, I'd just like to point out that uh that's the lowest I've ever seen the out of field. So like two. So, >> well, I know Miss Don and her group work they work on that and by this time of the year they've got a lot of those cleared out and uh that's great. All right. 8.5 Employment Separations presented by Miss Maxi. 8.6 Personnel Recommendations presented by Miss Maxi. 8.7 Employee Transfers presented by Miss Maxi. 8.8 Eight, leave without pay presented by Miss Maxi. At this time we have nothing on nine discussion agenda. Moving to 10, construction program owners representative business. And today's your meeting, correct? >> After this meeting,
011I'll do a report tonight. >> Thank you. All right. So that'll be 10.1 the program status report for um out of our board's representative which is Mr. Heinley. All right. Moving along to 11. Mr. McInness, attorney's business that I saw this morning. >> Thank you, sir. And then that leads us to section 12, which is the superintendent's business. And we have some student trips, but I'm sure you have some other information for us. Good morning. >> Good morning. Yes, ma'am. So, Madam Chair, school board, so we do have a number of uh different reports uh that we're going to present this morning. Uh just to give you a quick uh heads up on where we're going. We'll talk a little bit about the new health clinic. We're going to talk about our FTE um results
012as it pertains to the February factor and then we're also going to look at CTE. I'm going to do a few highlights as well as go over some of the first semester highlights as well. So, first of all, just want to get to this week. So, this is hope week and you might remember uh we used to have what we called hope squad >> and we really wanted to get into being even stronger on the mental health side for students and hope squad was about uh suicide prevention and awareness. We've now uh established our own care crew but this week is hope week across the state. It's hope week across the nation. And you can see up here a number of things that will happen at the school district and at schools. So from assemblies
013to spirit theme days to acts of kindness are happening all across uh the school district. So very proud of that. Each school has a care crew from high school to elementary. Elementary it's more about acts of kindness or at the middle school level and second and high school level. It is more about suicide prevention and awareness and especially those students when a student might mention anything with self harm. What statistics say is those students don't necessarily say something. So this is about teaching students to say something to the appropriate people and then as you know we have our mental health counselors who also then provide uh resources but also resources outside the school district as well. So just very proud of this program, very proud proud of Miss Schroeder and her group of taking over
014Care Crew and really uh keeping it rolling. And it's um I say all the time going back about six, seven, eight years ago when we started this venture, if we save one student's life, it's uh it's important and it was worth it. So just appreciate the work. You'll see across the our school district here. There'll be a number of things happening this week. on Thursday. It's about wearing yellow to be in solidarity, but you might also see some messages um at the school district as well on different acts of uh kindness. >> Great. >> So, that's a big week that's happening. Also, uh last week, uh some of you had the ability to read in classrooms. We did the celebrate literacy. I love the read white and blue playing off the red. >> Get it?
015>> So, the read, white, and blue. Pretty good. I make sure that there was that connection there. Um, but you also see some of the uh different activities that happened and some of the winners with the bookmarks, but it was nice to be able to tie it to uh 250th year celebrating our country. So, that was uh neat as well. But celebrate literacy week is always a fun week uh for students, especially in kindergarten classrooms, but everywhere, but especially those little kindergarten kids. It's uh it's neat to see them get all excited. those bookmarks. Um, might be nice to have our print shop print them out and distribute them. >> That could be an excellent suggestion. >> Yes, ma'am. Also, uh, the, um, career fairs that are happening. This is just a highlight. The Okal
016Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation, as Mr. Vanchek, as you know, really supporting this venture. There'll be more to come on that. Uh, but also for Walton Beach High School doing their career fair that they've established over the years. and then Cresview High School as well. But this is a state initiative uh for those who don't know and just really looking at tying kids to careers. Um I think the earlier you can do that for students the better. >> And then looking at first semester highlights and I'm going to try to go through this as uh expeditiously as possible, but if you have anything that you would like to stop me on, please do so. So, first of all, I just want to say um thank you to the school board. Thank you to those at the
017district office who are here and who are not here. And especially thank you to our schools and students and families. So, as you know, in a school district, we've talked about we're the second largest employer in this county and there's so much that happens over the course of a semester, let alone a year. But the first semester didn't go without uh some challenges. As you know, we have our pillars, but there were definitely challenges in the first semester. One of which was uh enrollment like we have discussed over the course of the first semester into the second semester in different um things that will come before you at the end of February. But with that, it's about staying focused on what's most important, our students. And I just appreciate the work that's happening at the
018schools with our teachers, with our administrators, our support staff, keeping them at the heart of everything that we do. And when you do that, good things can happen even when things are challenging. So just appreciate um what's happening out there. So academic excellence, it remains at the heart of everything that we do. And in here we've always talked about, you know, being an A+ school district and that plus being academics, the arts and the athletics and having good programs for students. In the first semester, our m music programs did a great job. Some of which came before this board, which you'll see here in a moment as well. But it's not just band, it's about chorus. It's about our theater programs. It's about at the elementary level, those who have music, those who have art,
019and it's about celebrating what they do. those students on the arts side, even look at research that they do even better academically when they're involved in those types of programs and we've tried to evolve in the arts even more so through the years and you'll see some athletics as we go through but just looking at the engagement. So our teachers that they do an absolutely fantastic job and one of the things in today's world when you look at these cell phones when you look at iPads when you look at what teachers have to compete with in terms of when kids go home you know there's so much technology that's out there so teachers doing a great job with engagement and capturing kids that's one of our main focuses and then you look on the right
020side the individualized support. So it's one thing to create a lesson for the entire class. It's another thing to create lessons which they do then for small group and then it's another thing to create lessons which they do for individualized students. And you look at that three tier support so to speak. That's a lot on teachers backs and just appreciate uh what they do and many of them also have support from their educational support pair of professionals who do a great job. So keeping that at the heart of what we do in terms of ac academic excellence. So then you look at the graduation rates which we've talked about not going to go too far into this but we've gone from 88% to 91%. Our six major high schools Fort Walton, Chalkaw, Niceville, Crest View,
021Laura Hill, and Baker they're at 96.7%. So, we've gone from 88 to 91 because that encompasses every student, whether it be a charter school, whether it be Okaloosa online, but when you look at our six major high schools, 96.7, but we've gone up three percentage points, and that's our biggest jump in a while. So, just very proud of the work happening. Then you look at uh some schools of excellence. As you know, we had several schools of excellence that's designated by the state of Florida. So just continuing to uh do a good job. And then the AP school honor role when you look at Chalkaw, Fort Walton, and Niceville, they all got designations for their work in the advanced placement program. So then you look at student focused, another pillar of what we have and
022very specifically in the arts and the athletics. So many different um athletic programs succeeding. You'll see that uh this evening with the Crestview High School swimmer. And you think about Crestview High School swimming. If we went back five years ago, six years ago, you would not have seen that. >> But it seems like every board meeting we have state winners. Go back 10 years ago, 15 years ago, we had strong athletic programs, but they were not necessarily coming before this board as state champions. And that seems to be happening more and more. But even Chalkaw, which you see here, going to the final four, just a representation of the athletics that's happening across this school district. And I don't think that we probably, and I'll put me, do as great a job as highlighting the
023coaches that we have. And you think about the time, the effort that's put into coaching our athletes. They do an absolutely fantastic job. And you'll see if the evening practice is over at this time. Many of these coaches are still here at this time putting in uh late hours weekend. So just appreciate what they do. You look at the civic speed champion. We've talked about this young man who was the state champion, the state champion for Florida and then went to the national level to compete. And then again, we've had our arts programs, bands having high level recognition, each of the high school bands, the secondary bands. Um, we have a band director who's received several accolades, and there'll be another one to come, but we'll get to that later. And then our course and
024theater programs as well. Just appreciate him what they do. The continuous learning and especially on the CTE side. And I will challenge anybody to look at what these students do in the building trades program and compare it to what we did back when we were in school in carpentry or whatever the course was of what we built versus what they build today. Pretty impre impressive. Engineering, web programming. Think about HVAC. Students are learning how to do HVAC already. What's not up here is welding. Just different programs, the automotive, but then also the nursing program. And as a reminder, which I know this board does not need, it's about creating programs here in our high schools that can funnel to our local colleges and can funnel to our workforce. So that's what we're trying to do
025here in Okaloosa. >> Can I can I comment real quick? So I think with our graduation rates uh being as high as they are, I think it's because one uh we had a shift years ago to highlight children who might not be collegebound and give them something that would uh help them to stay in school. And I think that's been a plus for our uh our trade programs because it keeps those kids occupied and it gets them on a a path to success. And some of these kids are actually making more money right out of high school than I did right out of high school. So, >> okay, very true. And where some used to say, you know, get them in athletics and they'll stay in school for some, it's the same thing for certain
026CTE programs. Get them hooked in these CTE programs and they also stay in school. So, I appreciate that comment >> and I think that goes to uh an earlier slide, Mr. Chambers, we were talking about um how we have gone a lot more into individualized teaching um where we used maybe back maybe not you but maybe it was a little more everybody kind of went the same path more or less. Uh but now we're we're we're seeing or or students are telling us or they're they're showing these aptitudes and we're fostering it rather than saying nope, we're doing this. And I think well that's why what Tim is saying that u um we're seeing that success and also you know they're coming out all these certifications and I know Miss Beasley's here. I forgot the
027exact number but there's a bunch. How many certifications? >> A lot. >> Thousands. Yeah. A lot. >> Yeah. And it's in like 22 different areas. Correct. Yeah. So we they're getting all these uh thousands of cert kids are getting certified and um that gives them you know they'll have a diploma but they also have that little extra uh that says not only have I done the regular coursework but guess what I can do. I think that's pretty cool. >> Yes ma'am. Then you look at modern innovation and these are just a few of them but you look at the uh transfinder route software. So, if you remember our transportation department, they were going a certain direction with a um route software that was then discontinued and literally in less than six months, they had to
028pivot. So, they did a very good job. But this is also one of our challenges is continuing to try to be as efficient with routes in order to get students to school earlier or back home sooner. So, just appreciate the work of Mr. Meyer and his group, Mr. Gore in the group of really looking at that technology to help us be more efficient. Then the thrillshare, if you remember, we had a different program that would notify parents, but that was if you signed up. So, we switched off of that, which was something that we paid for, went back to Thrillshare, u being even more economical, but even reaching more because we have that data to be able to send to families if the bus is late or if the bus is going to arrive early,
029so to speak. So, just appreciate that work. The transportation department, I think, does a great job, but it is still a challenge and it's an area that we're still trying to get even better in. And then you look at just the the te the classroom technology. Uh this board has really supported the clear touches and other bits of technology. So, I just appreciate um that it means a lot to these schools to be able to get them into classrooms. But these are just two examples, but you can see the students working with iPads. You can see the students also working with the clear touch and I just appreciate our uh curriculum department really doing a good job of not only purchasing them but then giving support on how to utilize them and emphasize them in
030classrooms. Then on the safer schools pillar uh Mr. Bryant. So there you go. The Crust View parking lot. I know that's been about a year uh in the making, maybe even a little bit longer. So I think we're making good progress there. nurses appreciate everybody's patience. The Edwin's old cafeteria renovation, and this is just a reminder, all the old cafeterias are being repurposed into the majority of them into classroom space, which gives us even more capacity, uh, which will help us um with potentials in the south. It helps us in the north end of the county definitely when we're doing these type of renovations and adding capacity. And then you look at Pine View at the bottom. This is uh as of January. So you can see the the bottom left. So you can see
031the progress that's being made um there. I think Mr. Meyer will tell you every day is fast and furious on the site over at Pine View. And then you can see in the bottom right you can see Destin Elementary, the 30 classroom edition is still uh on its way. both of those two projects. August 2026, uh, we should be in operation >> and we're going to open up, we're going to do a ribbon cutting at Baker. Yes, ma'am. >> On the 20th. So, there new classrooms. >> And then you just look at some of the other things that happened over the course of the first semester. Um, Dr. Jenny Morgan, we named that uh cafeterium after her. Just a great uh educator here in our county. our ed support uh person of the year, we
032have our administrators of the year, we have our teachers of the year. So, just appreciate all that they do. And then the community engagement uh number and this is just a few of them highlighting and there's so many more community partners, but FPL for Chalkaw, we had that $50,000 uh classroom makeover. So, just appreciated that. the public schools fin um program, the public schools foundation looking at the financial literacy event and those are really events that that happen. So just appreciate that support helping our students with financial literacy and then just teacher grants happening across the school district as well. All of those are a part of the community helping with those funds to be able to deliver those to to teachers. Also, during the first semester, uh we as a school district trying to
033give back. We had the Thanksgiving meals. We had the response force one who provided Chromebooks to about 200 students to go with the Thanksgiving uh meals. uh Miss Cart and her team helped organize that and then we were able to deliver uh meals here at the district and deliver them to the schools. So families had uh Thanksgiving meals. That's always a blessing to see that especially when they drive up and uh not that you like to see tears and eyes, but it it just shows how meaningful it is when those tears do fall. And then the Angel Tree project which we partner with the Okaloosa County um sheriff's office. So appreciate Sheriff Aiden partnering with us and again that's just a blessing. Um Sheriff Aiden was actually trying to ride the bike so I didn't
034want to get outdone so also got on the bike as well. But just really it's just special when you see that the community supporting our students with gifts during the Christmas and holiday time. So just uh that was nice. And you can see the little dog there that was here at the district that day helping out. And that was just uh that was nice. Some people wanted him to stay, but the sheriff's office had to take him back. >> Yep. >> And our purple star, as we know, for years we've had all of our schools be purple stars, but now we're a purple star school district in support of our military um students and their families. And then looking ahead, I just say as we wrap up, um I say all the time when I
035go speak at events, you know, we're not a perfect school district, but we definitely are a school district that strives to do things the right way. We have amazing teachers who work every single day to make a difference. We have administrators and principles who I have utmost confidence in, a district office staff here who works hard behind the scenes to help. and just appreciate that and I mention all that to say because there are challenges ahead with budgets with enrollment. um when you look at these challenges ahead uh the empowerment scholarships all those things at least for me I have to remind myself of what we're all here for and it's about students and it's striving to make the best decisions and I fully understand that those decisions can be debated and I understand that
036and appreciate and actually respect it but decisions do have to be made when challenges are here and try to make them to the best of our ability with these students in mind. So, that's just a a quick highlight of uh the first semester and there's so much more. Um any comments at all before we go to some of our other presentations, >> I'd like to ask you something on going back to the hope week and what that stands for and keeping uh kids um safe and everything and of course. All right. So, this year, you know, this as you know recall uh the legislature put in a cell phone policy. Yep. >> Okay. And it's my belief that some of the things that for lack of a better term we call bullying and so forth
037have to do with um external factors which often come through on the cell phone. So I was I want to ask you um Mr. Superintendent if u you've looked at any statistics uh since we've now been on that cell phone policy for over a year. um if you have anything to to uh say or you where you can see that having those no cell phones in elementary and then uh selected use and as a matter of fact in the classrooms I've been through and these were secondary I saw the pouches cell phones in I didn't hear one go off and the whole time I was observing the class so that seems to be working but do we have any statistics or any uh idea of if that is working to help um the actions of
038our students So, I absolutely love the question. I don't have that here this morning, but um I will say I think when you speak to administrators and we'll get that data for you. >> Thank you. >> Um but would you speak to administrators? I think it's been a a good thing. I think when you're trying to compete with cell phones and uh our kids are fantastic, but they also know how to even text underneath the table sometimes. So, there's there's some skills there, >> right? >> But um I think this has been a good thing. some of our high schools where it's not complete law yet. >> They've also taken a strong stance um with cell phones as well. So, we'll see what happens legislatively as we go into next year, but also um what
039we potentially will do at the high school level here in Okaloosa, but I think it's been successful. But we'll we'll get you that data. >> Thank you. >> Can I can I follow up on that? Sure. >> Go ahead. Uh, so I know we've had conversations with students and we're going to do that again this year, but when we were at Laurel Hill last year, this came up and I want to remind people, parents especially, that students, you know, are your your responsibility outside of school and all that, but when we ask the students how many of them actually own their cell phone, how many raised their hand? I >> think all of them. None of them because they didn't actually own their cell phone. Their moms or dads paid for it. >> You meant
040who actually had a cell phone. Right. Right. >> So I say that because I get every time I have an opportunity to say this, parents, please do your due diligence with your children's cell phones. Monitor, check what they're looking at. You owe it to them to be the parent, not to be the friend, but be the parent when it comes to these cell phones. And uh I think the law has definitely helped because you go into schools now, you're seeing more of an interaction uh like it used to be where kids are actually interacting with each other, talking to each other. The noise is a lot louder in the school because they're actually engaging with each other. But every time this comes up, it's always opportunity for me to to share with parents, please, please,
041please, please monitor what your kids are looking at on their cell phones because you're the ones that are actually paying for those cell phones. So, students need to understand that you have every right to monitor what's going on on their cell phones. And I think that would help curb a lot of what you were talking about like bullying and things like that if parents were actually engaged on what was on their children's cell phone. So >> Madam Chair, I have a question on that particular topic. Um, so the legislation that came down wasn't a full mandate. It it allowed a lot of discretion at the local district. Am I correct on that? >> At the high school level, correct? At the elementary through middle school. So no cell phones, right? elementary through middle. >> Our
042current policy that we already had in place um removes cell phones, but it gives previous one would give teachers the ability to utilize them instructionally. Now, the new one K8, no cell phones. The current policy still in place for high school, and that'll be something that potentially could come through in legislation for high school next year because I know they were piloting some things. But again, some of our high schools have already taken steps of being even um more I'll use the word aggressive in terms of cell phones at the high school level, but we'll see what we also do uh as we go forward and and this board unanimously was in total support of that and just want to make sure the public is aware of that. >> Absolutely. And also uh I know
043that cell phones can be used for academics, but our district has worked uh so diligently to try and make sure that we have other devices that students can use in the classroom where the cell phone would not necessarily be you would not be necessary. you know, we have all kinds of different, you know, we have the iPads and the uh different devices that we can afford our students to use that takes it away then that there's not that opportunity to get to um email and and texting and all that. So, anything else on that? Okay. >> All right. So, uh we're going to start with HR. Wanted to give a an update on the health clinic. If you've driven by, you can see that uh a whole lot of progress has occurred and we're getting
044closer to being operational. >> Good morning. Thank you, Superintendent Chambers and board members for having me today. Um so I just wanted before I show you my uh slides that we put together, I wanted to give you a little bit of my why in the beginning here. Um because when I first got hired, I got the opportunity to work under Dr. Hail for a little bit. Um but when I was interviewed, I said, "What would you want to accomplish or see accomplished in this department under risk management in the next year or so?" And he said, "Actually, the benefits oversight group have been talking about doing an employee health clinic." And I said, "We can do that." So here we are. Um, and it wasn't I said me in the beginning in that route because
045I wanted to be the cheerleader and I was throughout this whole thing, but it wasn't just me. It was a collaboration of multiple departments and people that were able to make this come to fruition. So, we'll just dive in. So, why would we want one in the first place? Um, a lot of this is going to say how great it is for the employees and it is. It's phenomenal for the employees, but we get the opportunity to um service and make sure our students achieve that student excellence by taking care of the nuance portion in the background of our employees, right? So, we get to there a little bit behind the scenes. So, teachers, principles, bus drivers, they get hands-on experience. So, I'm in the background. I don't get to see that. But what I
046do get to see are the employees on an everyday level where they say, "Wow, thanks for bringing this new innovative thing to us." You know, like some of the other um plans and stuff that we've implemented for them and this is going to be another way to do that to achieve that student excellence as well. So, well, why would we want to do that? So, this is exclusive to our employees that are on the medical UHC plan. Um they get increased care at convenient times for them. So, we have extended hours at the clinic and we're going to get to that in a little bit. Um, and the quality of care. So, right now out in I'm going to say the wild, you know, you you know, out in the regular part of the counties
047and stuff, there is limited primary care physicians to begin with. Um, when you do have to go see a primary care physician, sometimes it's two to three months out, especially if you don't have one assigned to you or they have left. And a lot have left the area recently, so people are without. Um, and when you do get to go to the doctor, sometimes they're running behind and then when you get in there, you get five or 10 minutes to talk about what's going on with you and you're rushed out. Um, and then you have to leave. But sometimes you leave with, man, I should have asked about this. But if you do call back, it's going to be a while for the nurse to call you back. It's just a long situation. So in
048this case, they get to come in. They have dedicated time to talk about things. they can deal with things that are chronic care conditions and they can help them manage those conditions. Um, and they're free. So, as long as they're on the medical plan, they're going to have those free visits and they can also walk out with their pharmacy generic meds that day. So, if they go in with a sinus infection and they need an antibiotic, they're going to leave that day with it. Um, and that can be very comforting as well because, you know, when you're sick and you leave the doctor now and they say, "Okay, we're going to call that into your pharmacy. Let's just choose one out there. And then you get there to go pick up your pharmacy and they'll
049say, "Oh, it's going to be an hour or so before we get that filled for you." Now, you go home, putter around a bit, come back. It's just another amount of your time that's being spent to do that, not feeling well. So, it's timesaving as well, cost-saving. Um, so it's just a really great service. So, some of the services that can be offered are the same you would get if you were to go into an urgent care that you're familiar with in the area. Um, but this is just tailored to us and our employees. So, any lab services, blood work, those types of things, they do health coaching and condition management and they work in tandem with our already um uh the ones that we already have relationships with for our vendors like level two,
050Lantern, those types of things we've already implemented. So, if they get to a point where they've exhausted what they can at the clinic and they need to send them someplace, they're going to send them to our resources that we already have established. Um, and then family care. So, dependents and spouses that are on the medical plan will be able to be seen there as well. Um, so the location is at the Okaloosa Technical College in the South area and it's the same address, but it just has unit two. So, we kind of gave you a little map here. Um that's from Dr. Bill Smith who used to be with us into the operations branch and he retired. Um so we took that that's our new parking lot. So that parking lot is actually for OTC
051as well. So there's 55 parking spaces there and there's 11 allocated parking spots to the actual clinic on there. These were the pictures that were taken right after Thanksgiving. Now in the beginning we had an open date of like January 28th. Okay. So, I was on the sidelines cheerleading everyone along um like we're going to do it. And they're like, I don't I don't know if we're going to do that. And I was like, but we are. So, after Thanksgiving, when I took these pictures, I was like, oh lord. I titled this folder, I don't know if we're going to make it to January 28th, but here we are. Um this next one, I was super excited about this because this happened. These are the trailers that you're seeing. And they're like three different modulars
052that they had to build to put together to create our clinic. But they actually were delivered on MLK day. So the entire district was down already. Everybody's home. They're celebrating their holiday. And then our people were actually out receiving these trucks and bringing them in. So I just want to acknowledge um Mr. Meyer's team, the operations and maintenance team for doing that. Dustin Keith has taken over for Dr. Smith and him and I were on the phone all morning with the companies because they started their six-hour drive in to bring those in. Um, and then Luke Mitchell, Bradley Robertson, and Chuck Benton of our maintenance team were there to take care of them. And I just wanted to acknowledge them and say what a what a phenomenal job to come in on your holiday and
053get that taken care of for us. Um, it it was great. And then this is kind of where we're at right now. Okay, so that's been put together where we've got concrete down, which you may not see all of that here. There's a little bit of a mockup, which thankful to Mr. Mers for putting that together. So, it's going to have the sign put on today. They're working on getting the ramps and stairs by tomorrow. Um, but everything else is functional and um looking well. I was just out there this morning and things are looking really, really good. These are our providers for the clinic, Miss Pamela Fand and Mickey Rogers. And last week, they had the opportunity to come out. They came to our admin facility to meet people, gave out some swag. We
054had them at OTC South doing the same thing. And then we had them at Carver Hill as well. Um, so people got to meet their providers and kind of talk about what the expectation was. Um, we're hoping for a soft opening this week. Um, so it it is exciting. And then I kind of want to talk about the marketing and engagement plan because the biggest thing here is how are we going to get people to use the health clinic. It's exciting but if people don't utilize it then it's all for not. So we really want to make sure that we're getting engaged with our employees and it all started with Mr. Chambers's letter when he introduced the clinic to us and then it's kind of trickled down from there. So what happens is I piggybacked
055onto uh Mr. Chambers's letter to ask people to go and register at the marathon portal. So if they go and register at the marathon portal, it also kicks into gear marathon side of engaging with the employees. So they go to the portal. I offered some incentives. We'll talk about that in a little bit so that we can encourage people to go in and do those things. And then when Marathon, it starts out a 30-day window where they start sending, "Hey, it's coming. Get to know your provider. Let's let's get you an appointment. Do you have a chronic care condition?" So, all of those types of things. Um, so there's two ways. You can go on the regular computer way. You can download the app to your phone. It's really simple, easy. Uh, the portal is
056real easy to walk through and utilize. And then these are the um participation agreements that are sent out. It just shows you a little bit more here like how they're going to send out their messaging. They do have separate emails just for utilizing engagement with the clinic themselves. Once you actually go in for an appointment, then the engagement with you is tailored on an algorithm to your needs. So your needs, Missy Van, are different than my needs. So it's going to tailor it to you rather than to me. So this is kind of your patient experience. You know, we have Beverly up here. She she engages with them. Um they start sending out some u material to her whether it's by email or snail mail. Um and then she comes into the clinic and she
057is seen and then once she is seen they're rescheduling her for rechecks or if they find out that okay so I came in for a sinus infection but while I was there I mentioned I'm diabetic or I'm type two diabetic. now they have something to add to that so they can reach out and they can help her manage that as well. These are the incentives we put in place. So any employee that um currently was with the UHC rewards program can still continue to get their UHC rewards by utilizing the clinic. We've talked to UHC and they are powering up with Marathon to be able to do that. So they can still get those rewards. Um we created in my team a marathon scavenger hunt portal. So it's it's just a short five question where
058I asked them to go to different places in the portal and show me like what did you see under XYZ where their webinars name three of them because I wanted them to get used to you know man going in there and using it so they can get better utilization with just the portal itself. Um down the road we could say hey do these webinars and you may earn some HR dollars down the road. I don't know, but there's that option. So, I just want them to know how to utilize it better. And then the first 100 employees who register with the marathon portal, they're going to have a list to me and we're going to put them in in a drawing so they can win something. Uh, one of the things they can win is
059a walking pad. Uh, you know, it's like um there's other things they can win, too. We don't know what that's going to be. We have book bags. We have drinking cups, Stanley's. We have all kinds of things. So, >> did you say that was a walking pad? It >> was a walking pad, but I I couldn't remember the name of the one with the handles. I'm like, it escapes me. So, it's it's the walking bed. Lord Jesus. But I did want to also say thank you to all of the many departments that work together to um bring this to fruition. Um this isn't a SAO thing or risk management thing, although it's under us. Um, but I've been grateful that I was entrusted with it to be able to bring it to fruition and all
060of these departments and these people participated in that. Um, and we've learned a lot of things too. So, our goal is to if this is well utilized and we get a good return on investment is to create one in the north and to create one in central area as well. Um, but we have to get that utilization up to see those numbers first. Um, so I would encourage everyone if you get a chance to make an appointment and go to go check it out. Um, they're going to treat you right and and do good. This is also an opportunity for us to kind of step up our game for recruitment and retention. You know, there's a lot of different educational avenues out there. And so if we can step up that game with retention and
061recruitment by added benefits, um, that's part of the salary package is a benefits package. So, um, I just think it's a great thing. But I just want to say thank you to to all the different departments that helped in this as well. >> And then real quick, so good morning. I just Sarah Miss Ko has thanked everyone, but I just also want to thank Miss Ko. As you guys can see, she is extremely excited and passionate about this. She's put her heart into this. She's gone out to every school to tell them about this. And so I just don't want to not also appreciate you today in front of everyone too. We are very excited about this coming venture for our employees and just appreciate everyone's support. Thank you. Thank you. >> Absolutely. Miss Ko
062has been uh spearing this and also her enthusiasm for it. I've had several conversations with her. She's excited. She's not just saying, "Okay, I'm doing this." She, as you can see, uh and and I I think this is going to be such a benefit. So, thank you. don't um I know you don't want to take a pat on the back but you should because you brought this whole thing to our district and u and have stayed with it and I think it's going to be such a benefit. So board members any comments? I >> I have I have one because I have worked with Miss Ko since she's uh been with us but I remember a few years ago when this was when I heard when I personally heard about it and I was sitting
063here thinking man this this is huge. This would be great for our school district. But I would like you were talking about for it to be success we have to utilize it. Now within FSBIT we do have several districts that are currently using this and have been using this. So from what your research has been and I think this is encouraging to this board because you were talking about future expansion how successful has it been with those districts that we have seen that have already started doing this for quite a few years now. Yeah. So, out of the 13 districts that make up the FISB FSBIT Trust, they've all um the ones that have selected to have their own employee clinic are saving money, getting a good return on investment. They've even implemented some workers
064comp things into the clinic. We have not started that um because we're just beginning. We need to get utilization up and kind of see what that picture looks like. Um but I can see another cost savings on the wrist side of the house. You know, I have both the risk side of the house and the benefit side of the house. could see a cost savings in that, but that will have to come later. Um, but I have a personal goal in my department to see 10% of utilization of our employee population that's involved with UHC Medical um to get them involved in the clinic. So, we're going to work hard and hit the ground running to get that utilization up. And then I also know Marathon has a part in that, too. And we're going
065to hold them accountable to do that as well. >> Other other comments? I just a general question. Um, from a utilization standpoint, I know that Marathon will offer a uh an invitation to basically sign up into their portal from the individual employee. >> Do spouses and dependents get similar ones. Are they hosted under the same portal or is that separated? >> So, generally the dependents won't receive anything under the age of 18, right? If they're over the age of 18, they will and spouses will as well. >> Okay. Just a question to the general uh from the union standpoint. Are you guys seeing excitement about the about the resource? >> Yeah, I have a feeling we're going to get utilization because I I went through the the the Kofka-esque bureaucracy of ascension two weeks ago
066just trying to find a primary care physician because mine left and now he's a hospitalist. Great guy. Sad to lose him. But I spent 45 minutes in telephone purgatory just to get to a human to be able to speak about maybe finding a primary care physician. They sent me over to Walton County. They said they're full. So then they kicked me back over and I finally have in the far distant I think in April I get to see maybe um a PA that I can talk to. I can't tell you how many people are going to be so excited to to utilize this thing. I think we're going to have high utilization. So, Miss I have one more question for Miss Ko. So, uh obviously the rendering there's a nice little sign up there that
067says Okaloosa School District. >> Is it only available to employees of the school district? >> Yes. Only the employees, their spouses and children that are on the United Healthcare medical plan. >> I'm sure people are going to come by and want to know it. >> I'm sure. And I talked with the Marathon staff. I've I've developed a good relationship with the staff and have explained to them, hey, you know, you may have some people that come off the street that are like, hey, I want to use this clinic and and you know, and how to approach that. How do we deal with that in a in a nice professional way? And they're they're on board. Everything's good to go. >> And I'll say that, you know, this is educationally sound, too, because we all know
068that keeping our employees working is the best thing we can do for our students. You know, we have great substitutes, for example, but nothing really substitutes truly that teacher being in that classroom. And of course, we don't want our employees working ill. That's not good for anyone. But we do know that oftentimes our employees um take leave because they're ill and they haven't been able to get care, particularly on the weekends or different times or odd times because of our school's starting times. And I think we're going to see um as this is utilized an an uptick in the fact that we're our teachers are not going to have to use so much of their sick time because they have received medical care uh on their schedule so to speak. And again, that's the best
069thing we can do for our students is have those employees um working and whether it be the bus driver or whatever because they're they're they've gotten medical care. So that's going to I think we're going to be able to follow that. And of course in your um area you'll be able to see that too. >> Absolutely. I also wanted just to add something that stuck out to me right now. Um I had an email to me that said, "Well, I realize this is for um people on our medical plan, but what about those of us that haven't accepted it?" I want everyone to be reminded that we still have Ally Health and that is still going strong. So all employees and um their household members actually can use Ally Health as well at no cost
070to them. So, we're taking care of both sides of the house in that in that respect. >> Great. >> And Madam Chair, I just like to say that uh I too appreciate everything you've done, Miss Kato. I I have to say when I first heard about this u having had some experience in school health, I had some questions and u Mr. McKinnus helped me through with some of those and the superintendent and Dr. Hail and and then I spoke with you and and I felt a lot better about it. And the other thing that uh some folks may or may not know, I believe you told me that you had had experience with a health clinic in another agency that you worked for at another time. And then I felt a whole lot better about
071that then because I knew you had all of those experiences. And so this is a great thing and and very excited about it. And thank you for all of your work. I know Miss Maxley already came up and and and bragged on you about that, but but thank you for doing all this. >> Well, I I it is a privilege to be the director of the risk management program and to be able to bring all the things. It fills my cup to take care of everyone and know that their needs are met so they can take care of our students. So, that that's big to me. But, please know I was the cheerleader. There were so many people that helped me through red tape that I didn't even know existed. >> And did a lot
072of heavy lifting. and I just came in and said, "No, I want that over here and over here." So, but thank you. I appreciate >> And you're going to let us know when it's actually open. >> Yes, ma'am. Okay, >> great. >> And I would just like to to sum up to say um this board several several years back. Some of you were here, some of you are are new to it, but still a big part of it. If you look at when we went to self partially self-funded insurance, the allied health, the mental health prescriptions, it goes on and on to where we are today. So many enhancements to our employees health insurance. I do want to say because I think we'd be remiss, Miss Ko, Dr. Hail, Miss Maxi, their team, they've really
073been aggressive and working with this. But then our bog over here, two of which who are here this morning, who are also a key a key piece to our health insurance. If you remember, we were looking at a 10% increase in health insurance, a 14% increase in health insurance, and even at the starting of the negotiation, it was in the 20s, and we were able to get it down to 14 or 10 or eight. And now those increases to date in essence are non-existent. >> So those those those flat pieces we even went um we even helped employees one year. So the entire health program for our employees continues to improve and again it's a collaboration of the great work of uh Miss Ko and her team our bog doing an absolutely fantastic job um
074staying on the cutting edge and even where we are today there's already things that they're looking at for next year and the years to come. So it's not just about this moment it's about the years to come and the vision of this as well. So again, go back, those of us who were here the whole time, go back five, six, seven years ago and where we are today. It's not even anywhere in the same stratosphere. >> Yep. >> Madam Chair, can I make one more comment? >> So uh Mr. Chambers. Uh, I appreciate you being very humble regarding this particular issue, but but I do want to go back a few years back and I remember us having conversations about risk management. And I I personally ask that we look at risk management a whole
075different vision. And I appreciate the fact that you you were willing to to do that. And I think by opening up to that, us being full members of FSBIT now, uh, having a dedicated, uh, risk manager who understands risk management, Miss Ko and Mr. Franks before her, uh, I think we're game changers and I think embracing what risk management has to offer in a way because risk management is the one department in a public sector where we can control the expenses. we can control those things by keeping our employees at work, by doing proactive things to help our employees. Uh so I appreciate you uh taking the charge and allowing the people to do the job of risk management to the way it should be done and that's why we're seeing the fruits of our
076labor here. Is is it there's still work to be done? Of course, there's always work to be done. Trust me, we are doing a lot on the FISB side right now as we speak, but uh these are the good things that are coming out of all by making risk management uh a focus and not just the on the side there. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Ko. >> Thank you. >> So, as Mr. Spolski comes up, so we've talked about um enrollment all first semester. Um this is enrollment but of a different uh magnitude because it all deals with budget and it deals with in essence the entirety of the budget of what we do um every day. So when you look at our FTE which Misser um heads up, we have to do
077projections and then those projections play out over different times of the year. The ones most notably October, February. So, we have our February factors as well. So, we're going to get into that. Um, I just appreciate the work that Mrs. Mer does. She is a leader um here in Okaloosa, but also in the state when it comes to understanding this and just reminding the board, which again, I know you don't need a reminder. Back when we were principles, we had the ability to do an FTE projection within five kids. Now when you look at all the factors that are there today, FTE projections, it's uh it's very difficult when you look at all the different factors today, but uh just appreciate the work. >> Yes, sir. Superintendent Chambers, appreciate the time, Madam Chair, board. Um
078this topic is nowhere as near as exhilarating as a new health clinic. Uh however, Miss Merv and I will take you um take you through the few slides here and if you have any questions, hopefully we can address them specifically. FTE stands for fulltime equivalent and that's how the um JC Connor taught Miss Missouri and I um up there at Carver Hill at MIS to do exactly what our superintendent said and that is to um capture those uh young children in the seats. It happens twice a year uh by state statute 1011.62. It happens in October and then it also happens right now in February. Um those are survey two and three. Those are the most important surveys we have. And then date certain. Um, Miss Merv, you want to speak to that a little?
079>> So, our date certain for the February count was last Friday. Um, they pick a week and a specific day that Friday of enrollment to calculate FTE. So, Friday was our date for survey 3 and we will work in the next few weeks to get it cleaned up and transmitted to the state for the next calculation. >> Yes, sir. So how how do we uh determine the calculations? Where where do we get that data from? Is it from actual attendance numbers? Is it us? Is it >> different things weigh in? Um it is using the minutes of instruction from the school calendar or the school schedules. Attendance does play in and that the student has to be enrolled and attended within the 11-day window. So we do have instances where students have missed the entire
08011 days and if that happens then we cannot claim them for FTE. The funding formula Mr. Bryan is divided up into halves. So we obviously want to capture every student both in the October window and in the February window. Um and our our building leaders, our principles, our administrators, our registars, our guidance counselors do a great job during those 11-day windows to make sure that they can even if it includes making phone calls um to try to get those young people in so that we can capture them. >> And this board will remember as well. So there's they're probably not going to go into this as much probably, but from transportation that that's a thing with this our students with disabilities making sure those IEPs um our L plans all these different pieces. So even
081we say this right now kind of simplistically like this is like a calculus formula so that that she's responsible for and does a great job with. >> There's a lot that goes into it. Each year at our different um state meetings, they have a a slide that they show that has every square. Um I could talk to you after 20 years a lot about that. I don't know that you want to take the time here in the setting to do that. So yes. >> So Mr. Chambers just had a great segue there uh as it pertains to ESC services. So we added a few things to this slide and as our public out there watching and our board members we combined the program along with the category also uh had Miss Perry in her group
082uh review this slide uh as well to to really validate galvanize the cost factors and whether they have been increasing or decreases just in the last year or two. So most of our students reside in the first three preK uh uh to third grade, the 4th through 8 and the 9 through 12. Most of our students and that we call those programs 101, 102 and 103. And then you can see we also have our ESSE services and their program 111, 112, 113. And then we have our uh highle supports which we call level four and five. So typically if a student needs more program support then the cost factor would be a little bit more to help uh them be successful through their journey through the grades and this in the uh the pipelines that
083they're going towards. I think the thing for the board to note is is from last year to this year's program cost factors. You would think with the cola you would think with the increase in services and cost of things that things would go up. Um but they're not. So, we are working with finance to em embrace uh those numbers and make sure that um we're we're prepared. There were a couple little bumps. You can see our support level five uh students, level 255 took a little uh increase in the program cost factor and also our career ed. Miss Beasley's uh work over there with CTE took about a 2100s of a factor increase. Miss Merrvin, anything? Um, and if I may, I just want to point out because it's not always obvious, the 111, 112,
084and 113, those are ESSE support programs. But if you'll notice, they are weighted the same as the 101, 102, 103. So until that student crosses over into that 254, 255 program, there's no additional FEP funding for them. >> So So I want to go a little further there. So again, if we go back to when Mr. Vancheek was teaching a while back when we were principles a while back. When you look at the 111, 112, 113, there were additional funding for those students. Now it's flat. Then you go look at those program cost factors. And if you remember when we came before this board at a presentation, we talked about the base student allocation, which was $191 of an increase a year ago. this current year, $41 and I think 62 cents >> increase. We
085showed that we need to be about $350 on the base student allocation to in essence break even. But these program cost factors are another piece of the funding formula. So we're just talking about the base student allocation. When you start throwing the program cost factors, what Mr. Spolki was talking about and you see those parenthesis everywhere where there's a parenthesis times the total number of kids that we have in the school district that's now a deficit so to speak we're getting less money so you look at base student allocation less money the program costers program cost factors less money inflation and then you start looking at FTE projections which you're going to see in a second enrollment uh family empowerment scholarship All of it is a it's almost a title wave of what's happening in
086terms of school district budgets. And I say school district not just to highlight Okaloosa but school districts. >> So basically it's costing us more to educate the student but we're receiving less money to do so. >> Yes ma'am. Okay. >> That pretty much covers that. In the question for the public, I want to those cost factors are provided from Florida DOE >> state. Yes, sir. >> Or the state. So, and they're given to us and we have to work with that. Yes, sir. >> And one thing to point out, and I always like to point I don't like to point it out, but if you'll notice the 912, it's less than one. >> So, and each year it's been trending down. It was 0.99, then 0.98, and now it's 0.97. So that is less than
087the base student allocation that we receive for the education of our high school students >> because you would think a one would be one to one student. Right. >> Correct. >> So this is less than. So it's not even you know one to one on the student is what you're saying on the actual u allocation to fund teaching that or educating that student >> and across 10,000 high school students that starts to take a >> yeah pumative toll. Well, my my question, Mr. Heinley actually asked it, but I'm glad you said, how does the cost factor get determined? Do we just magically make that number up? Of course not. It comes from >> It does. They look at the um the allocation in the final um adopted budget and then they apply cost factors to
088kind of try to disseminate it. And Madam Chair, if I might ask a question for the public's interest, if if you might describe just for a moment the difference between when the school district makes its projections for the next year versus what this actually is and how this might affect our budget in a plus or negative manner. >> It's a great question, Dr. White, in a in a smooth transition to the next slide. So, so where are we? >> Imagine that. >> I haven't seen it. >> I know, but but you've been through it, sir, many times. >> So, so where are we? And I'll let um Miss Merurf talk to the to the chart here because we broke it down for the board and we broke it down for the public to try to
089um make it clear. Uh what I'd like to say specifically with secondary um there's a lot of flexibility in the way students go to school now in terms of one period, two periods of leave versus seven periods of classes. With our seven period day, there's 28 opportunities through the four years. But I I note the second bullet there is you must have six periods for to be concerned considered a earn a full FTE. So, most of our ninth graders take take six, seven classes. Most of our sophomores take six, seven classes. But when you get a little further into the into that four-year career, um, school leave becomes a thing, working becomes a thing, taking care of siblings is a thing. Um, for many of our families out there, >> on the other side of
090that is that seventh period, you do not earn additional FTE. Is >> I was gonna say we still do a seven period day. People forget about that. We're one of few districts that still offers a seven period day in our high schools, but yet you're saying we aren't getting the funding. >> Correct. And if they opt to take um instruction take through virtual, it is still capped at one. So if they have six in the school and then they take three online classes, we are not earning FTE for those three online classes. It is still capped to one FTE. >> I think that's significant, Mr. Chambers. and and uh how we're doing that. >> No, I think it is significant and uh this board, past boards have always been committed to the seventh period day
091because of all the opportunities it provides students. I think there's surrounding districts and districts across the state that also had that same mentality, but yet they now have a sixth period day. And so I think school districts to include us will have to evaluate um all things in today's current uh uh public education. And we want to be a school district that always provides great opportunities for students, advanced placement classes, looking at our career technical education, looking at the arts, and the list goes on and on. And we absolutely want um to do that. And we'll always provide a model where we provide um opportunities, but that model uh could look different uh at some point. >> And if we were not to have a seventh period day, we cannot oftenimes students would have to
092make a choice. They might want to take a CTE class and an art or be in the band, but they would have to make a choice because they would not have the periods in the day to do that. And that that's uh would be tough to have to take that from them. But in the past, it seems to me looking at that that we were able with those cost factors being a little bit higher, we're able to balance that out with the cost of not getting the credit for the seventh period day because the other was big enough that we could kind of Yes. But now that that's even under one to one, I mean I have I have no kind of credentials in math, but that's pretty obvious where we are. >> And Miss
093Merv, help me with this. Uh and you may have to do um you may have to get inside my brain, which is which is dangerous, right? And Mr. Spolski, you might be able to help with this as well. So when we used to do a master schedule we used to in essence do it to like I think 0.94 or 0.95 of um students coming. >> Yes. >> And now >> we're between about 88% and 91 to 92 depending on the high school of students who are partaking even in that sixth period seventh period day. So there's a a good number of students who are already opting not to participate in the seven period day. There's still a significant number who are not opting to have six periods. >> And tell me that percentage again. >>
094It's about 80. It's between 88 and 92. So if I had to say across all the comprehensive high schools about 90. So when we start looking at them, we automatically know if you have an enrollment of 2,000, you're only going to earn at most about 90% of that FTE. >> Okay. So about 10% are not going the full day. >> Correct. >> In general. >> Well, it the seven periods it goes down from there. >> Yeah. Gotcha. >> And so bring that up. So again, I like to be very clear because sometimes we say this here and then the narrative might be it's Okaloosa dot dot dot. Mhm. >> So this isn't a phenomenon to Okaloosa. This is there's online opportunities. There's so many different opportunities for students. If you need 24 credits, you can
095do the math. 7* 4 is 28. So they start doing the math as well. But then additionally, again, when you can take courses online, which is a good thing, >> but that's less time here as well. So, it's just there's there's we're at a good place in terms of opportunities for students, but a lot of those opportunities, it creates decisions that have to have to be made at school districts. >> What about dual enrollment? >> It is also factored in um you still is we report it as we do a class in the school building. So, the same number of minutes, >> but you're you're still capped. And to uh Mr. Chamber's point, you can take dual enrollment classes all year. They have over the last, you know, since COVID increased the number of virtual
096online classes offered through our partners at Northwest Florida. And a lot of our accelerated students are doing that. But that also means then they are not enrolling in courses at their brick and mortar school. >> So I I want to go back to uh Dr. White's uh question point there and you can see through these categories um our projection for the 2526 school year and then where it actually ended up with survey 2. Um >> and Mr. Spolski if I can just make a comment for my colleagues. So, so what happens to us, all of us, the district and the school board, is that we build our budget for the next year based on the projections that you see up there. >> And then when the year progresses and we take the actual headcount or
097seat count as we're doing now in February, um we see how close we were. And I think the graphic speaks for itself. Uh I think uh for traditional schools I think it says uh we missed it by 623 students roughly. >> Yes sir. >> Then you can multiply that times the cost factor. you can choose 5,000 or 7,000 and you can see what uh we'll be compelled to do unless it just so happens that Miss Perry has put all that money aside in reserve and sometimes she does put a portion aside. That's why the question is important. >> Yes, sir. And if I could speak just to the timeline of the projections. Um last year with we had an early session and we were um required to adopt a model from the DOE and submitted
098in January within the middle of January. So that is even before we knew who was coming back for our second semester what our February count looked like and then we are held to that model as it's submitted to um the DOE and the estimated conferences. So this year we had a little bit more time Um, but last year was definitely a challenge in that we still didn't know where we were going to land and we were already being asked to project for 2620 or 2526. >> So, as we transition forward, Miss Merve was presented three models from the um Florida DOE this year, models 4, 8, and nine. And so, let's take a look at our projection just briefly for 26 27 even though we're in the middle of survey 3 right now. Well, we're
099about to start doing our budget >> for next year. Yes, sir. >> And and you're registering, right, >> in schools? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Yeah. >> There's there's never a slow time in the school business. No, ma'am. >> But all those go together, your registration count and then, you know, FTE and then us trying to get our budget going. And without sounding corny, I will tell you the amount of pressure and responsibility on our superintendent to balance this budget along with our CFO. It's monumental during these times. >> Absolutely. >> And our board to approve it. Yes, sir. >> Madam Chair, can I ask Mr. Spolski to go back one slide? >> Yeah, be glad to. >> I'm looking at a decrease of traditional online DJJ 623. Charter went down 55. We see a jump
100of 126 and then of a total decrease of >> 551. Where are those children? Are they just gone? Because it seems like we've listed all the possible places they could be. >> Not right. >> Not all of them. So there are um there's another option the uh FES PEP scholarship. We had a significant number of students that is outside the FFP calculation >> that opted to take that PEP scholarship um >> which is through the Florida tax credit. It's funded differently than the FEFP. >> Correct. So we that number is not included in our model. So not included in the slide but we did see a decrease of enrollment >> but it wouldn't represent 551 would it? Each year we already go down about 3% this year just by natural attrition and what's going on
101in the state of Florida. Um so some of that is that but there there were significant numbers probably 300ish that were in the uh the PEP program for the first time. >> Okay. >> Well and then just a reminder as well to this to the discussion that we were just having. So when you look at a seven period day or a six period day or a five period day or a four period day and just a reminder miss can do it better than I can but FTE is not a student so it's a it's not a student >> right >> but then you also look at uh which impacts this as well which is but it's a blessing too. So middle school students what do they have the ability to do? >> High school credits.
102Yeah. >> So, they have the ability to accumulate a number of high school credits. So, now they're already ahead when they get to high school. And that's everywhere. So, that's a good thing. But many of those students aren't necessarily going to continue to take that full day. So, they're not generating a full FTE. So, those who don't generate a full FTE, family empowerment scholarships, PEP like they're talking about um as way as well. And then just normal um attrition factors as well. and then you see these these types of decreases. >> Can you explain the difference between the uh fees and the PEP? >> The those two scholarships, the FES are the educational options and the unique abilities and those are funded through the Florida Educational Finance Program. >> Uhu. >> You want to speak
103to PEP >> and the PEP is >> through the Florida tax uh corporation scholarship. The and I almost hesitate to bring this up. The interesting thing that I learned last week was if the number of students in the PEP program outpaces the contributions from the FTC program, they will backfill it from the FFP and have >> Wait a minute. I'm sorry. Say that again, please. >> So, if the number of students across the state outpaces the amount of money that was set aside, >> so if it's growing faster than they've allocated. Okay. >> Correct. So they've already allocated those funds to those families. They will backfill it from the FFP which >> is this >> which is this. >> Yes. So then we're catching up and that's kind of the conundrum we've been in this
104year not just in Oklahoma County which we have felt but across the state is the catchup from last year because it far outpaced the participation across the state what the expectation was. So they came back and prrated um Miss Perry can probably speak to that better than I can. they prrated all districts across the state um their final calculation. So we have this and then we have extra pools at the end of the fiscal year as well which is why one of our this board and our district's legislative priorities was to have separated funding. Correct. Which we did >> completely remove from the FFP. >> That way we don't have to see this being pulled. Correct. >> Okay. And the status of that is do we know >> still >> not happening >> to be
105determined. >> Okay. >> But it's also part of when so let's jump forward when budgets come out and then and then you see Okaloosa went up $5 million. Well if family empowerment scholarship is a part of that charter schools are a part of that. So once you peel back those layers which Miss Perry does then you see the true amount that that we actually received. which is could be in the negative. >> Oh yeah. >> This past year, wasn't it plus $45 roughly? >> 41. >> Stand corrected. And we said 350 >> was what we needed. >> We need Yeah. >> Yes, sir. >> to break even. >> Correct. And Mr. Dustin, on your comment, I I really paused for effect because you remember we reported to this board, we take our largest high school
106in the north, Crest View, with 2,300 enrolled and some change. And remember, their highest their highest attended periods were fourth and fifth with only 2100, >> right? >> And the morning periods were under 2,000. The afternoon periods were under 2,000. So, we go back to what Mr. chamber. Superintendent Chamber said about where are they? In the high schools, we're losing um a lot of that seat time um by those by those students because there's uh more things that they're doing with their with their day. Um and they're accelerated in middle school with all our offerings. There is no other school district that is doing and offering what we are doing and maintaining the success. But we are going to have to make some adjustments in order to make sure that the numbers all match up
107with a proposed budget. >> And and Mr. Spokei and madam that's a question that that I have uh given the fact that we use the state's model and uh from that model we came up 623 roughly FTEES short. What options do we have in the future when we are required to use a model but we believe that the results of the model may be inaccurate certainly based on experience. Do we can we adjust that number or and I understand there may be some peculiarities about uh whether you want to be plus or negative in the final count. Um but do we have any any opportunity not to claim the 28505 for example? So you can but um to speak to that a little bit more over the years the model has been very reflective of
108our population. The 24 25 26 is the first time we saw the 600 drop as we went out with our school budgets because it was such a large what we thought was draconian uh drop in the projection. We were surprised to see that because remember we didn't have our February counts yet. So we allocated that in our budget this year. We've already started conversations about what 2627 looks like. Again, we're back in the same boat. It looks draconian, but is it? So how do we pro protect our schools in the budget process to make sure they have what they need when we start school next August, but not overfill for enrollment that we won't recognize. So there is some local adjustments, what we call local methodology that we've started meeting on uh before Miss Perry
109puts the school budget packets out >> which doc takes us to this next slide um as it pertains to 2627. So we have a model model 4 from um the FL DOE and then we can look at um of of this this decrease that will will cause us to go back out and and look at what we can do um for for the future. >> So let's let me let me make sure I understand. So so the model now projects for next year will be down 1293.41 41 >> with traditional online and DJJ >> from last year's projection that does not reflective of this year's already recognized 600 students. So it's saying yet again another 600 student decrease from our expected um annualized number for 256. >> So you're including this year in that number
110the reduction of 600 >> the 1200 is this year's 600 that we dropped and another participation. >> Let Miss Perry address that one. Okay, >> that's better. >> But it but not really because what it's important to remember is that 600 that went down this year, I had I had to use a onetime source of money to cover. >> You had to pay it back. >> So next year, you need to com we have to compare the projection to projection because this year's budget was built on the 28,55 students. Now next year's budget is going to have to be built on,93 less students. >> Yeah. >> Not just 600. you're doing both years >> pay it back >> pulling it back >> because I haven't because I I've got to take that reduction of new
111revenue. >> Are we seeing any of the student you know students who initially were out coming back or we don't know yet because we're registering particularly in our younger grades. >> Go ahead. >> We don't see them particularly coming back in our younger grades. We do see several coming back um to the high schools. >> Okay. We we've seen that in their early registration this year. >> Well, here's the good news. You guys are on it, okay? And and you see and you're helping us to anticipate what uh what we're going to be facing. >> And I'm very glad um so I appreciate you saying that because I was about to say to this board, our senior staff, we've been discussing this for months. when I say this >> the 26 27 school year >>
112and what what's going to need to be done. So this is not something where we go um oh my gosh even though when you look at 1293 that that that's significant. One thing that I've reminded um our senior staff is 1293 of FTE FTE is how we're funded as a school district >> as a school district. So when you look at if you go down 1293 and if this is your staff, these are your programs, if these are all the things you do, there's no way to maintain that. If you go down 1293 or if you go down 600 or if you go down 400, you have to adjust. If you do not adjust, well, then you're being very irresponsible with dollars that are coming that are entrusted to us that are taxpayer dollars. So,
113we have to be responsible with that uh with that. Um but again, this is something that we've already uh been looking at, you know, in thoughts of what was next year's FTE um projection going to be. Going back to Dr. White's point, uh, this isn't an FTE projection where we can just say, "Here's our projection. >> It's she knows what it's likely going to be in a ballpark, but then when those state models come, just like they're going to come to the other 66 school districts, just like you saw in Senator Gates's um, presentation, I think the number is 45, I believe, of the 67 school districts across the state of Florida are experiencing significant decline in student enrollment. So, for me, it's about being prepared. It's about planning. It's about being creative in what
114um I'll just speak for Okaloosa, what Okaloosa looks like as we go forward. It's about what is what are the elementary um options. I said to this board before, at the elementary level, we may have to spend some to be competitive at the elementary level. Never before did school districts necessarily have to say we have to be competitive, >> right? >> And so for me, that's just a reality now. This is just a reality of where we are and education in in our country and public education is not the only option. And with that being the case and it's a reality, then we have to continue to provide an excellent um option for families. And I believe wholeheartedly we have an excellent an excellent option and I believe it's the option. However, we have to
115continue to do a good job and add different opportunities for students along the way while at the same time being responsible with a budget. So certain things could come, certain things may go, but again, at the end of the day, if you saw those pictures earlier of those students, we're going to continue to create a have a great model and a great program and offerings for kids. >> Madam Chair, can I ask Mr. Spolski uh to go back one more slide, that one uh that almost 1300 decrease, what is the state model for really saying um from a nuts andbolt standpoint? Are we going to see just a larger increase of utilization of of vouchers and that's a big portion of that decrease or is it anything specific because that's a big another big hit
116in two years back to back. Is it just more of the same or is it >> look back one if you will notice that the bottom line is 5 notice that the bottom line is 551 currently negative. Now, if you go to next year, it's 694. The bottom line isn't really that different. I'm seeing the fees going up a lot, the 566. >> I see. >> Where if you look at the previous, it went up like 100. So, there looks to me like they are projecting a lot of that extra 600 to go into fees. >> Okay. Mer, if you want to add to that at all. >> Not today. Okay, we will we will capture February. Notice the last bullet. The state will process it from February 9th to the 27th and should get
117back with us in the April time frame. If we have it before then, then we will come and brief the board and senior staff. But as the uh superintendent said, we are forecasting and working off this projection so that we can really shore up what we need to do for solutions. Miss Missouri and I have been working very closely and it it is interesting how this parallels with enrollment, housing, birth rates, and school choice. >> So, >> well, and I and I almost dare say this, but >> so when you have these type of conversations, there's the you need to have these conversations, >> but then there's also you don't want to create um a sense of everybody's nervous at the same time. Mhm. >> So there's a So there's a balance to this. >>
118Yes. >> But I think it's also important to have these conversations. And again, I go back to this is something that uh we've been looking at and the other uh if you want to even call it a positive. The last two years we've had to really go through this this process. I've shared with this board the last two years we've adjusted our budget by over 22 million. over 22 million. I would suspect as we go into this next one, we we will be adjusting um in north of 10 million. >> Thank you, sir. >> So, that was not as jubilant as the previous health clinic. >> No, sir. >> That was not fun. Okay. However, Miss Dale, if you would come forward, as you know, uh, every five years, and I think now it's six
119years. Um, we have to go through an accreditation process. Uh, we went through one, I think approximately five years ago. Uh, we we did very well and it's a good time to refine what you do, refocus on what you do, uh, but in the current climate of where you are. So, we will go through that accreditation process. Miss Dale and others will lead us uh through that and want to give this board an update so you know what's coming. >> Before I start on that, I do want you to know, Miss Vancheek, the bookmarks are being ordered. That was part of our plan. Every student will receive a bookmark in Okaloosa County. >> Great. Thank you. >> The winners. >> So, good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to share with you today on Okaloosa
120County School District's Cogna accreditation update. It won't be as long as the others, but it'll keep your attention. So, what is Cognia accreditation? Cogna is a globally recognized nonprofit organization that accredits school districts and individual schools across the world. Accreditation affirms that the district meets rigorous standards for educational quality, effectiveness, and continuous improvement. I like to think of the accreditation process as an opportunity to strengthen our district. Many of Oh, why is accreditation important? Well, it's most important because it ensures the accountability and the continuous improvement of our school district as well as strengthens public trust and confidence to ensure that we align our systems leadership and instructional practice. But most importantly, it supports long-term student success. Many of you will remember in October of 2022, Okaloosa County School District received Cogna's index of education
121quality score of 382 and 5800s. This was very important because it named us as one of 38 school districts globally around the world with a system of distinction and as well as we were one of five school districts in the state of Florida that earned that distinction. And during this review, um, Cognia had multiple noteworthy practices of Okaloosa County School District to include our commitment to implement our purpose, our mission and goals, our data-driven processes as well as our strong professional development. Cognney also noted an area of improvement and I can state with certainty that in the last five years we have elevated student voice in our collective uh shared leadership model. Cognia uses a continuous improvement framework. So it's very cyclical. In the next few weeks, we'll begin the self assessment portion of uh
122the continuous improvement and each of you as well as teachers, students, families, and staff as well as our administrators will start self-evaluating. And through that self-evaluation, we as a district are then going to move into our engagement portion of the continuous improvement. And that's where we're going to collect evidence of what our systems within the school district are doing. So that will allow Cognia to look at our progress and evaluate everything that we're doing. Is it working together to carry out the shared vision and goals of Oklahoma County School District? I wanted to highlight for you the four key characteristics. the culture of learning, leadership for learning, engagement for learning, as well as growth in learning. These four key characteristics are what Cognia is going to delve into at looking at our work. Within these
123four key characteristics, there's 31 performance standards. And that's the evidence that each of us within the school district to include school board members, our finance department, our administrators and teachers, the work that we're doing every day. And that's the work that they're going to evaluate to determine our progress. I wanted to provide you a timeline of what to expect over the next year. uh we have met with Cognia uh recently. We have not received our official review time. So this timeline may fluctuate um a little. So we're starting now the rest of this semester. We're going to do our self assessment and collect the evidence of our work. As we move into the summer and first semester of 2627 school year, it gives us an opportunity to analyze what we're doing and refine some of
124our prior priorities to prepare for Cogna's engagement virtual review. It will be virtual, not in person. That is a practice they changed um during uh COVID during 202021. And then second semester of the 26 27 school year uh in that time frame will be our virtual review visit. They will provide us feedback and findings and then hopefully by the end of next school year we will receive our final accreditation report which allows us then to start that continuous improvement process all over again. We're in a constant state of uh improving our school district for our community and most importantly our students. What questions do you have? >> That was very succinct and and right, you know, that's self-explanatory. I like that. And I think we're going to do well. I mean, I'm gl I forgot
125about that score that we had. That's good. >> Well, they've added a new distinction. So, it's a distinction of merit. So, that is what we are striving for. >> Okay. Is there a point number that we're trying to attain or is that just >> they don't know till they evaluate everybody? >> I'm going to say it will be greater than that was distinction. So, but I do not know the exact at this time. >> Thank you. Well, if I could just make a comment, I I remember that uh this was very important at one time and uh I I suspect it it still is and and uh I know that uh accreditation is important for high school students to be able to say that they went to an accredited high school as they transfer and
126metriculate and all those kinds of things. So, uh and and uh it's it's quite an experience. It's not quite the experience it used to be when it was the southern accredititation sachs. We've had dinners and all those kinds of things, but uh still very worthwhile, very valuable and uh looks like you're well prepared. >> We are our in our school district. Each of us will have a hand in it. Yes. >> Thank you, Mr. >> So these emails that we're getting, we should open up if it says Cognney on it. You will be better informed when you open up those emails. Yes. >> There you go. There you go. Thank you, Miss Dale. >> That's it. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you, sir. All right. Lots to digest, but got to know it, right?
127All right, board members. That takes us down to um section 13, board members announcements and requests for information. All right. So, let's get started with Mr. Heinley today. >> Okay. Um, few things. First off, the important stuff. Um, Mr. Superintendent, do you know what the score for the Duke North Carolina game was? >> You don't have to answer that. Um on a serious thing this uh FTE there's an ideology uh shift happening and it's it reminds me it's we're beingcome more like a business. Okay. You know we're having to adjust to these numbers that are out of our control a little bit. Um so when you do that you have consolidation you got staffing. You got services that we have to look at to either increase or decrease to match the requirements. But what you
128said soup was we have to talk about marketing. I mean you just described a business. Okay. And uh so kudos to everyone for not being a government entity that has their head in the sand and just waiting for it to happen. So y'all are being proactive and more business-like and just want to identify that. Um, other announcement. I had the privilege of going to the all county band and I saw several of you there and man kudos to those that was impressive. I mean, the people we got from to come in and direct it and the students, it was very impressive operation. And I sat next to Mr. Wooten the whole time and bugged him the whole time. I found out that I mean truly Okaloosa County is the top the premier in in that
129type of the facilities we have here in the county but but what we produce out here every we got that University of Florida director because we are the top he came here to recruit our students so it was very impressive impressive day um and to continue the tradition today is the 9th who board members Who was the ninth president of the United States? >> Tyler Pulk. >> Tyler was 10th. >> Shortest servant. >> Harrison. William Henry Harrison >> live uh was 31 days. It was the shortest president ever. >> Okay. For Mr. Destin since he complained, uh 9 plus 31 is what? >> A year ago. >> 9 plus what? >> 31. >> Oh, public math. I think that's 40. >> 40. Who was the 40th president? >> I think he was an actor. >>
130He was an actor. The great communicator. >> The old Ronald Reagan. >> You got it. That's all I have. >> Can't pull a fast one on me. >> Okay, Mr. Destin. >> I just got a bunch of superlatives for tonight that I'll save uh Lindsay Smith, Holly, all them over at uh and and and her staff uh over at Fort Walton. I mean, they're crushing it this winter and spring semester. So, got a long list, but I'll save it for tonight. >> Great. Thank you. All right, Mr. Bryant. >> Uh, I would just like to shout out one of our employees at Southside Primary School, uh, Mr. Cook. Um, he is one of our, uh, custodial uh, experts, as I would like to say, because uh, he does a great job. very quiet man, but
131uh I understand, you know, he might be quiet around most, but he is uh definitely a lively person with the staff and the teachers. And uh you know, I put something on Facebook about it and just the comments that were coming back about Mr. Cook uh just exemplifies people like him who are support people for our educational uh uh leaders out there. But, you know, you think about somebody like Mr. Cook who comes in early, stays late just to make sure that the school is in tip-top shape and clean and all, you know, uh he's just a a testament to our school district. Uh I would Mr. Destin, if it's okay. I mean, I had the opportunity to go see one of my favorite productions of all time, and I'm not ashamed to say that
132I love ABBA. I've always loved ABBA, but Fort Walton Beach knocked it out of the park. And I know there's a certain uh uh drama teacher who is no longer at Fort Walton Beach that would be very proud of her student. And I know she is because she did reach out to me and say how much she uh uh is proud of her student. But they knocked it out of the park. And if you are like me and you hear ABBA on the radio, you know you're going to sing their song. that that that whole audience was singing at the very end and they had a just had a great thing. So, you know, we talk about the arts and to see that is just incredible. And they're not the only ones that are putting
133on these great shows. We got more coming. So, if you really want to take a look and see what's going on, I know Niceville just had a like a winter production, but they have Foot Loose coming up in May. Uh so, there's there's a lot going on. Crest View has their production coming up and you know I'm really excited to see these productions. They they make great date nights for me and Beth. So uh but to see the faces and uh uh just the what the students put on uh was just Broadway caliber production. So uh kudos to Miss Madison who is the the arts teacher or the drama teacher at Fort Walton Beach. They did a great job. So that is it. >> Okay. Dr. White. >> Thank you Madam Chair. Uh nothing this
134morning. >> Okay. All right. Well, I have some I have a couple things. First of all, you mentioned the uh uh career fair, college and career fair that is co-sponsored between the district and the public schools foundation. And it's coming up on March 3rd. It'll be at Beachside Community Church. And we're still um offering for any vendors, anybody would like to be a part of that to reach out to uh the school district and we will get them with Miss Debbie Tate and work that out. and this what a great opportunity for students and it's the sixth year we've done this and it continues to be a success. All right, let's talk about my Gators. Okay, first of all, uh the girls weightlifting team, I told you last meeting that they had won their ninth
135district championship. Well, they've moved on and they've captur captured their first regional title in school history and they did it in both areas of traditional and Olympic and that's almost unheard of. You just can't do that and it was significant beating their opponents 71-36 and 57 to 49. So, they didn't just win it, they dominated it. So ultimately this Friday they'll be in Lakeland, Florida uh down there for their their state. We have 11 ladies going down there to uh do weightlifting competition. So go Lady Gator. So we may be recognizing even more state champions. Um and I'm very just so very proud of them. And coach Oglesby at Baker, great program. And uh Coach Carile, he's excited. We're all very excited about that. In addition, uh we all know that um we've started pulling
136up our football fields in in our district. I think Chalkaw is underway. Is Niceville's underway? Okay. So, Bakers is coming up, but uh in in Gator fashion, they uh are going to do it in a fanfare way. And they're hosting Swampfest on next Monday. school is not in session on February 16th. And that evening, what they're going to do is send do a proper sendoff to a football field that has actually uh allowed a lot of champions to come out of Baker School. As you know, Baker has more state champions than any other school in Okaloosa County. >> I didn't know that, but thanks for coming. >> But uh yeah, just let it sink in. But anyway, they're going to have Swampf Fest and my It's true. Look it up. My Miss Hurley's out there.
137I know she probably has the exact stats, but anyway, um Mr. Destin, my colleague and businessman, is going to he and I are going to run the fish fry area. I'll supervised. He's going to do the work. And that's how we usually do it. And we're having we're having that. We got um live music. Uh we're going to have a lot of different events. It's a family event as we um cheer on that old field and we're going to welcome in the start of the new one. Uh all the money and seriously the the track team is losing money of course they can't have their events. So this will help them with their season as all the funds um that we raise will go to them in that um that program. Uh all kinds of
138food besides the fish fry also. Um, Mr. Spolski, here we go. Guess what? They're gonna have a cow patty bingo. Okay, that you can do now. Come on. That's good. And um cow patty. >> I have seen it. They used to do that at Chalk Doll a long time ago. But we're up there in Bakers, so it's easier to get to cows. So um it's going to be a really good thing. Okay. And so it's it's a big big event. Bring your family. uh lots of fun, lots of food, lots of things, and we're expecting not only our Baker community to come out, but everybody throughout the district. So, I hope you'll join us. It's going to be a great time. And um I know part of it also is bakers um still uh celebrating
139having attained that A. So, we're looking forward to it. So, that's next Monday. Uh starting the gates will open at 5 and this is at the stadium. So, um it's going to be fun, right? Gonna be fun. We're going to have some good fish. It's going to be great. >> So, hope everybody will will come. Put that on your calendar. >> Snow cones. >> We didn't talk about snow cones. >> Well, considering when we planned this, it was like not above the freezing mark. >> That's true. >> We didn't talk about the snow cones. So, >> too cold, >> but it it's it's going to be nice weather. We're thinking, yeah, >> that's the next one. >> It's it's the next one. That's right. Okay. Thank you so much. All right. Moving along to section
14014. uh public comment and we do have a yellow card. Okay, our yellow card is uh Miss Cynthia West and her topic is Mary Esther Elementary. Miss West, if you would like to come forward and I will turn it to our attorney. He'll give you some instructions. >> Yes, ma'am. You'll have two minutes to make your presentation. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. I'll be quick then. Appreciate the opportunity to speak before you. Thank you, Madam Chair, superintendent, public, and administrators. Mary Esther Elementary School is set to be voted on for closure on February 23rd. When a Title One elementary school serving some of our most vulnerable students faces closure, the public deserves careful consideration and full transparency. Let me ask a question that deserves to be asked plainly and on the record. If this
141were a higher income school sitting on a less valuable land, would this closure even be under consideration? Members of the Okaloosa County School Board, thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Cynthia West and um I've been taking a deep ra dive into how the district operates, how funding flows, how facilities are managed, and how state education policy directly affects local communities. Through that work, I've been deeply engaged with the Florida ed Florida education legislation focused on improving outcomes. I want to ground this discussion in the district state admission to prepare all students to achieve excellence while empowering them to positively impact their families and communities. Mary is a title one school. Approximately 72% of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch. Only about half of these students, just over half, are
142proficient in math and reading. This tells us clearly that these students in this community need more support not to be displaced. Schools are anchored in underserved communities. Keeping families close strengthens engagement, stability, and involvement. Moving students farther away does the opposite at a time when consistency matters most. One option we're seriously considering is the Florida Schools of Hope initiative. Schools of hope are public charter schools created by the legislature to serve students from persistently low performing schools. These communities and also communities near opportunity zones. There are um that are operated by approved providers subject to heightened accountability and reporting and auditing requirements. Under Florida law, a school of hope may be located within 5 miles of a federally designated opportunity zone. They're 3.3 miles away. I urge you to consider this as an option. >>
143Do you >> Excuse me. >> Did you want any comments? >> No, I just want to say you you were focusing on the title one part. >> Yes. >> Okay. And saying that >> Well, that's not what's required for a school of hope. It's within the five miles of the opportunity zone. They're 3.3 miles away. >> Right. Gotcha. But at first you were saying that these students need the additional um services, right? For because they're title one. >> Oh, I'm just saying that displace them. They're already a disadvantaged population worth consideration. Um when you have a disadvantaged population, they're less likely to have par parents in a community that's going to advocate for them to stay open. And then when you combine that with the um the higher value land that they sit on, that's
144why I'm just hoping that we're considering all options. As we stated earlier, you know, we respect coming to the conversation with more options. And um even though we may disagree, we all agree on the student outcomes as our priority. >> Madam Chair, I don't want to go tit for tat, so I'll just end on this point. I I have heard some people make the comment, you know, I think your first point was uh if this wasn't on valuable land, would it have ever been a consideration? I can probably put that to ease by the nature of the discussion, including Longwood, which is, I believe, also a title one school, and its potential to be closed. This is enrollmentbased and not value of the landbased because Longwood wouldn't even be in consideration because if you close
145Longwood that goes back to the military, there's no value in it. So if it was a strictly value of land discussion as trying to kick them out so we can sell land and derive a profit, Longwood wouldn't even be on the chopping block because you can't derive any value from it. It reverts back to the military. I think that's multiaceted because when you look at trying to overfill the other schools to make up for the attrition, I really honestly feel that the school board is missing the mark when you're looking at the um the enrollment declines when we're not looking at the um the core route to why families are choosing to pull their children out of public education. And that goes back to the outcomes. And that's far more than just the educational outcomes.
146and I appreciate this conversation during hope week and I hope that we can get that data as we talked a few weeks ago and I was told that that data does not exist. Thank you. >> Okay. >> I'm not sure what data she's talking about. >> Oh, the one for the um the cell phone and the bullying because I was told that we don't keep track of data. >> Okay. Okay. I don't >> Is she referring to a conversation with you, sir? >> She must be. Um to say we don't keep track of data obviously would be an incorrect statement. >> The bullying data I was told. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> So to say that we don't keep track of data would absolutely be inaccurate. There was more to a context of a
147conversation. Now there was a lot that was just stated here um up at the dis. And the thing that I would uh remind anyone is we've had uh several meetings where we've gone over all the factors of what was just uh just stated and one thing I would say and to the south end of the county and we have fantastic schools but when you look at like we've presented over the last 10 years we've had a 19% drop in enrollment at the elementary level and that's just factual data. when you look at uh the two schools that are there uh Mary Esther B school absolutely fantastic school Longwood my first principal ship it's near and dear to my heart and the thing that I would say that uh and and I've heard it you know
148um you're closing these two schools to gain money based on land and this board um knows that that has no um factor in any decision. I probably would go even stronger on that. Um, but uh has no factor. Then you look at uh and I've heard this as well, you know, closing a school based on it being title one or free and reduced lunch. The amount that we try to do for all students in the school district, but especially uh for um our students in need is something that I know we all take uh near and dear to us. Um, so I'm just going to say that and just uh appreciate the comments that uh that you provided today and just uh and I'll stop there. >> Board members, anything? Let me ask you, we
149we have no failing schools. >> Correct. >> Okay. Or underperforming schools, however you want to say that. Right. So by state statute uh so we do not we have three C schools the rest uh A and B schools. >> Okay. And Mary Esther >> B school. >> A B school. Okay. >> All right. Thank you. Okay. >> I do have one. >> Oh sure. >> Talking about if we were to vote and actually close school. We haven't done that yet. But if we were to have vote and close that school down and we were to sell that property, where would that money go to? Because we just can't just and go to capital dollars. >> Okay. It doesn't go anywhere else that we can correct anywhere else. >> So, it doesn't help what we just
150a few minutes ago were talking about. That doesn't do anything for that, does it? By selling that school. >> It does not. And um it does not. >> So, it doesn't help us give raises. It doesn't help any in that way because it is a capital asset. Correct. >> That the school owns. Okay. The school district owns >> and it retains that designation. Right. >> Yes. Okay. All right. Any other comments or anything? Okay. All right. All right. Moving on. Um All right. So, we are we've covered a lot of things today and um I hope the public will watch and get a better understanding. So, let me ask senior staff if you have any comment any more comments. Okay. Miss Appleberg, Mr. Strong, anything. All right. Then this workshop. Oh, yes. Yes. Miss Ko,
151>> I just I have one last thing I wanted to add. I thought was pretty significant with the health clinic. The project manager from Marathon that goes in um and just builds and puts all the furniture in and make sure everything looks exactly the way it's supposed to be. She graduated um from Mary and Fort Walton Beach High School. And so this is a labor of love for her. And um her cousin, I believe, is a teacher with us as well. So it just comes all around full circle. And I just wanted to point that out. I forgot in my previous >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. All right. All right. This meeting is adjourned.