Walton Co. School Board Meeting 2/19 at SWHS

Thanks for your info on Mrs. Wilkerson. I didn't attack her personally, I just indicated that we at the TreeFrog house don't feel that she speaks for everyone in the community when she speaks out against teaching evolution.

Yes, thanks Goodwitch. I had always heard wonderful things about her, and I am still thankful for her vote to keep Blithe Spirit in the WCSD curriculum. It was just such a shocker and unfortunate that her words were so forceful on such a controversial subject.

Thanks for your info on Mrs. Wilkerson. I didn't attack her personally, I just indicated that we at the TreeFrog house don't feel that she speaks for everyone in the community when she speaks out against teaching evolution.

TreeFrog: You are welcome. I did not think you did. And, in fact, I completely disagree with her stand on this issue; and she does not speak for my household either.

I just wanted it on the record that the woman has a history of doing good things for education in some pretty tough situations. Sometimes this Board can get carried away without all the information (sometimes I can get carried away with all the information:blush:).

So, I just wanted to say that while that comment may have been off the wall, I'd like to see it put into the context of her overall contribution to our area.

I was not responding to your comment specifically.

WaltonGOP-

A couple of questions:

1-The mapping app at the WalCo web site shows the boundary between District 5 and District 1 as 395, with a short jog to the east at the 395/30A intersection that looks like it might take in beachfront properties down to about Seagrove Villas. I don't see any boundaries near Eastern Lake, as you indicate. Could you clarify?

2-I followed your link to www.voterfocus.com for Mrs. Wilkerson. But when I tried to come in to the top level/home page, it wanted my username and password. Is it a membership site?

1-Let me look at a district boundary map later today and get back to you. I am speaking from memory and not sure which is correct but I will find out.

2-The voter focus site is an external site the SOE uses. It probably does require a login for certain parts. Start at www.votewaltoncounty.com and it is in the candidate information. You have to choose the Primary for 2008 and then the candidate pages. It is a bit complex if you ask me, I always seem to have trouble finding the page.

And I checked with the spouse and she was a science teacher at Walton Middle School.

I've recently read that Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties are actually losing students in the southern part of the counties. I also understand that the walton board bases the need for a new school on the fact that so many new neighborhoods have been approved by the BCC for the 395 area. There have been almost no sales in any those neighborhoods and some do not even have infrastructure. i do appreciate long range planning so my question is this: Is there a proposed date for construction to begin?

I've recently read that Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties are actually losing students in the southern part of the counties. I also understand that the walton board bases the need for a new school on the fact that so many new neighborhoods have been approved by the BCC for the 395 area. There have been almost no sales in any those neighborhoods and some do not even have infrastructure. i do appreciate long range planning so my question is this: Is there a proposed date for construction to begin?

I think the short schedule has the school opening June 2010.

The question of enrollment numbers came up,since the school is being built to acommodate 650. Current enrollment at ECMS is 300-something (don't know Seaside's numbers), but current enrollment in the 3rd-4th-5th grades at both elementary schools is currently 409. Both elementary schools are packed, and there are also so many pre-school age kids, but it is hard to count them. I think it is wise to look towards the future and build it big enough!

An interesting point- South Walton High School was projected to have enrollment at around 300. We are at 580. There is one empty classroom left- we are already busting the seams and will have to look at expansion soon I fear. The school was built too small, so let's not make the same mistake at ECMS.

Regarding using home sales as a measure of families moving here- in this market, that is an inaccurate measure. Many families are renting right now. My daughter's kindergarten class has had at least 5 new kids since the start of school.:shock:

thanks for that info...i've looked at the county website and for info on the schoolboard and can not seem to find any place dedicated to school capacities and policies in regards to overall population and potential growth. (so i have to ask more questions here) With Freeport being the more affordable place for housing of parents with school age children, how do the numbers look for their present schools...

Busta, remember also that the present Emerald Coast Middle, as an attachment to Butler Elementary, was built as a "band-aid." When SWHS was built, it was said that we'd never fill a high school and, at first, we didn't. So, Bay Middle was closed and the middle schoolers occupied one wing of SWHS. Then, SWHS boomed. Emerald Coast Middle was built behind Butler Elementary to (1) free up both wings of SWHS for high-school and (2) be an addition to Butler when a standalone middle school was built. So, new construction in SoWal or not, we are still short one middle school.

Thank goodness our School Board did not elect to build on the site of the old Blue Mt Beach landfill. That was actually the plan at one point. :roll:

Thanks Shallows...i'm kind of surprised the bcc or school board were not able to have land for schools appropriated from joe or other developers...maybe they did and i'm not aware of it...i know the new development in Mossy Head handles that in their declaration of future development. I'm not sure if Hammock Bay or Plantations or Owls Head
have school land exchanged for the right to develop Freeport in such huge acerage...i think i saw that the land purchase for the south side middle school was around $4 million for 40 acres...at $100,000 per acre?

Regarding using home sales as a measure of families moving here- in this market, that is an inaccurate measure. Many families are renting right now. My daughter's kindergarten class has had at least 5 new kids since the start of school.:shock:

If and/or when we sell our house and move there, we will probably be renting as well. And we will be adding 4 additional kids to the schools! I say build 'em BIG!!!

We live in Forsyth County, Georgia and the newer elementary schools here are two stories. Great floorplans/layouts.
.

able to have land for schools appropriated from joe or other developers...

Appropriated? That sounds a bit like taking. And even if they used their powers to take the land, they still have to pay fair market value. A $100K an acre is a good deal down that way.

Don't get me wrong, I was an opponent of the purchase because they did not have an easement to the property, just a license to use it. I had my doubts the easement would be obtained.

But I was surprised last night when they announced an easement had been granted by the BLM to use the land as long as a school was their. So that problem is solved.

http://www.votewaltoncounty.com/Districts&Precincts/County Commissioner Districts.pdf

This is the district boundary map. Yes it does jog over to 395. You are going to be seeing some serious line changes in 2011, I imagine. The district numbers are pretty lopsided so after the 2010 census they will have a clearer picture and will be redistricting those lines, again.

Meeting turnout

After reading the Herald today and seeing the picture of all the people coming to talk about the ugly signs, then realizing that only three, yes three, public persons showed up at the SB meeting last night, it really gives me pause as to just what the priorities are for this area.

I believe the term used on the september 18th 2007 regular meeting for the school board was to accept the "donation of 42 acres of land" for a school from the developer in Mossy Head. At the same meeting the PURCHASE of 40 acres in south walton was discussed. :idontno:Win some lose some?

I believe the term used on the september 18th 2007 regular meeting for the school board was to accept the "donation of 42 acres of land" for a school from the developer in Mossy Head. At the same meeting the PURCHASE of 40 acres in south walton was discussed. :idontno:Win some lose some?

The donation was in lieu of payment of proportional fair share impact fees which some at the district were estimating to be several million dollars.