New Middle School in Point Washington

Do you mean the new Montessori school location?

(The Sun stopped delivering and I realized I don't miss it, so don't know the article you are referencing).

I know about the conversion of the Horn's house adjacent to Eden, this is a new public middle school...

I know about the conversion of the Horn's house adjacent to Eden, this is a new public middle school...

That is definitely the new location for the South Walton Montessori Academy. I believe that today is the official closing date. What a beautiful location for such an incredible school. They will indeed be a great addition to the neighborhood.

The new Emerald Coast Middle School will be off of Hwy 98, east of 395 and east of Peach Creek, on a plot of acreage purchased last year by the Walton County School District. I believe it will be in the general neighborhood of the forestry tower but I could be wrong about that.

Why so far East? I thought the permanent population was much more Westerly.

Why so far East? I thought the permanent population was much more Westerly.

The owner of the property offered to sell it to the school board, as it was landlocked and the Dept of Forestry looked more favorably on granting access for a school and not a private development. There were not a lot of sites to pick from - the other choice would have been on top of the old Blue Mt Beach landfill. :shock:

I think it would actually work out the same if not better for bus transportation, as this site is closer to South Walton High than the current Emerald Coast Middle is. Or at least it "feels" closer to me, and certainly less congested so far.

I was wondering where it was, too. That's not such a bad drive from either end, as we drive from near Butler to Bay each day right now. I can't imagine being in Seacrest or that area & having to drive 20+ miles one way.

It is next to Peach Creek RV Park. Close to Hwy 395. I really hope they leave the shown tree buffer on 98. Why don't schools leave more natural vegetation? Is it so the guards will have a clear shot during escape attempts?

http://www.waltonsun.com/news/school_1413___article.html/middle_plan.html

On Tuesday, the Walton County School Board approved master design and site plans for the proposed Emerald Coast Middle School to be built in Point Washington.
Board members approved a $1.15 million architectural plan in late February, but did not finalize details.
Right now the site plan is completely filled and includes baseball/softball fields, a gymnasium and football field.
According to Bill Elliot Jr. of Elliot-Marshall-Innes, P.A., the new school plan would give 200 parking spaces for the middle school and 96,000-square-feet for the possibility of a new elementary school that would share facilities.

That looks like a neat layout and I agree on the tree buffer, but are they really going to put that northwest corner on the flood zone boundary. Just because it says it's on the "correct" side of the flood zone line (i.e. in Flood Zone X), I think the flooding in Mississippi from Katrina should have us be a little more cautious on believing the accuracy of those maps. Hopefully, it will not be on grade to make up for the "risk" in location.

Someone might want to check with the Morgan family as to how high Peach Creek has ever gotten during hurricanes and other flood events. Of course, that's no predictor of what will happen in the future...:roll:

I imagine the tree buffer will stay. It is on forestry land, not the school districts.

This location is really nice for a lot of reasons. One is the fact that so much land was aquired...40 acres I believe. That is allowing a full sports park that can be used by the rest of South Walton for little league, football & soccer. The second reason this works is because of it's location. It is somewhat central, because a lot of the kids that go to Butler & Emerald Coast are from Miramar or Sand Destin, they have the option to go to Destin Middle. If you live in Rosemary, Eastern Lake or Seacrest and don't get into Seaside...that is a long haul, and you don't have another option. Last thing is Butler can take over the present location of EMCMS, which it could have done two years ago because of it's high numbers.
Though it is a little strange that Seaside, EMCMS, the Monesouri & Bay will all be within a few miles of one another. Now let's see how long is will take the county to build it...we STILL don't have a finished Gym at Bay, just a Gym!

This location is really nice for a lot of reasons. One is the fact that so much land was aquired...40 acres I believe. That is allowing a full sports park that can be used by the rest of South Walton for little league, football & soccer. The second reason this works is because of it's location. It is somewhat central, because a lot of the kids that go to Butler & Emerald Coast are from Miramar or Sand Destin, they have the option to go to Destin Middle. If you live in Rosemary, Eastern Lake or Seacrest and don't get into Seaside...that is a long haul, and you don't have another option. Last thing is Butler can take over the present location of EMCMS, which it could have done two years ago because of it's high numbers.
Though it is a little strange that Seaside, EMCMS, the Monesouri & Bay will all be within a few miles of one another. Now let's see how long is will take the county to build it...we STILL don't have a finished Gym at Bay, just a Gym!

remember the PTA was paying for most of the gym. I think that is why it is taking FOREVER...

Might just have a big ole school without any staff to run the place....seeing that the educational budget was cut, and many districts have a hiring freeze. Of course we can always employ the 267 teachers and support staff that Okaloosa county just got rid of.

remember the PTA was paying for most of the gym. I think that is why it is taking FOREVER...

Why is that? The district should have enough capital projects money to fund it. They are paying cash for two new schools in DeFuniak.

Might just have a big ole school without any staff to run the place....seeing that the educational budget was cut, and many districts have a hiring freeze. Of course we can always employ the 267 teachers and support staff that Okaloosa county just got rid of.

Since it is replacing ECMS at Butler, those staff and support persons are already hired and will be relocated. Walton County is fortunate that student population is still growing while it is declining in other counties. That is having a much larger affect on budgets than the 1.8% cut.

Since it is replacing ECMS at Butler, those staff and support persons are already hired and will be relocated. Walton County is fortunate that student population is still growing while it is declining in other counties. That is having a much larger affect on budgets than the 1.8% cut.

Yeah, they can be "moved in a box" just like the teachers were when Bay Middle moved to South Walton. ;-)

remember the PTA was paying for most of the gym. I think that is why it is taking FOREVER...

The gym was paid for by the county. PTO only paid for the A/C and the flooring which have both been completed for sometime now. The gym is actually finished and can be used at anytime, although the "official" Gym Opening Ceremony will be held June 4th.

I agree, the gym has taken a long time!

Great! We get out of school June 10Th...I thought is suppose to be finished in Jan.

We are growing faster then the county and schools can keep up! Both Emerald Coast & Bay still have portables for classrooms, Bay opened with Portables.

I do love the Pt Washington will be an education center for children from all over sowal. what a wonderful place to go every day. the new middle school location and site is very nice - plans look great!

Although I am excited about the new middle school - I HATE the location! I live in Miramar Beach, and dread the thought of maybe sending my kids to DMS; besides having to apply for a waiver, it is not in my County, does not have a bus route to my neighborhood, will not have the kids my kids have gone to school with since K, is on a major roadway, next to a boat storage/sales place and condos... I could go on... I love the small hometown feel of South Walton, and the schools especially. When we went to Bay for Kindergarten (when it wasn't offered at Butler) it was a 30 minute drive... I can't imagine what it will be like over the next few years...

By the time it is finished my kid will be at the high school. Does anyone in Pt. Washington want to carpool to ECMS next year? He rides the bus to the library after school and I pick him up there. Driving him in the mornings is eating up the gasoline!!!! I hate to make him sit on the bus for an hour in the morning and afternoon though.

The question that comes in my head, what happens to Bay, as they are proposing an adjoining elementary school?

BTW, Momof2kids, I ended up putting the eldest in Bay for the last term & drive 10 miles each way right now, but it's worth it. Loving it. Homeschooling & I didn't get along.:roll: Too much going on around here during the day & it was frying my brain. She's doing incredibly well and now I have the answer to the burning question of whether or not I should homeschool.... NOT!!!!!

The question that comes in my head, what happens to Bay, as they are proposing an adjoining elementary school?

BTW, Momof2kids, I ended up putting the eldest in Bay for the last term & drive 10 miles each way right now, but it's worth it. Loving it. Homeschooling & I didn't get along.:roll: Too much going on around here during the day & it was frying my brain. She's doing incredibly well and now I have the answer to the burning question of whether or not I should homeschool.... NOT!!!!!

Hooray for you!!! Homeschooling is hard, and I know I could never do it or even attempt it... I'm so proud of you for trying and making the decisions you've made - you rock!!!

After reading the thread about Montesorri (sp?) I'm thinking I may have to drive that way anyway!!! It sounds perfect for my oldest who has a sensory processing disorder, among other OCD issues... The drive is to Butler is just dreamy compared to driving to Pt Washington area. I will have to find a carpool buddy...

It will all be fine, and the area over there is absolutely wonderful for a school. It will just make me have better time management LOL!!

Thanks for the encouragement - you always know how to help!

Hooray for you!!! Homeschooling is hard, and I know I could never do it or even attempt it... I'm so proud of you for trying and making the decisions you've made - you rock!!!

After reading the thread about Montesorri (sp?) I'm thinking I may have to drive that way anyway!!! It sounds perfect for my oldest who has a sensory processing disorder, among other OCD issues... The drive is to Butler is just dreamy compared to driving to Pt Washington area. I will have to find a carpool buddy...

It will all be fine, and the area over there is absolutely wonderful for a school. It will just make me have better time management LOL!!

Thanks for the encouragement - you always know how to help!

That's much of the reason we're moving that way. That, and we've wanted to live in that area for a while.

Montessori is great. If you do choose it, it's a wonderful decision. Might put little guy in for a couple of years. Not sure just yet.

Right now, I do love the drive in that the kids are actually quiet and we have time together.

Thanks for the sweet words!