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New Emerald Coast Middle School

Jdarg avatar
JdargSoWal Expert
8,532 views
The Walton County School Board has had other issues on the table besides the budget. They voted 5-0 this week to go ahead with the new Emerald Coast Middle School, which is wonderful! The South Walton middle schoolers had temporary quarters at the high school, then were schlepped over to Butler, where they share facilities with the 700 Butler kids, who are at 155% capacity in their existing building and need to expand into the rest of the campus, currently occupied by the middle schoolers.

According to the article, the new ECMS will be occupied by June 2011.



Finance Director Jim McCall said he is concerned with the public understanding the difference in the types of budgets and how the Board is building a multi-million dollar school when laying people off.
Davis said part of the $20 million will stay in the local economy and with the room needed, it might be time to stop talking doom and gloom and go ahead with the project.


Middle school construction approved | approved, construction, middle - Local News - WaltonSun.com

Replies

40
Susan HornBeach Fanatic
#27
Where exactly in the point washington area would this school be?
Thanks

I think it's somewhere in the general area of the Morgans' and Barretts' property, on the north side of 98. I've seen it on a map but can't remember exact location. West of CI, I think.
Matt J avatar
Matt JSWGB
#28
Big land clearing on Hwy 98

Just across from the Regional Utilities World there is a small sliver on the north side of 98 that opens to a huge area being cleared. I looked on the PA's website and it's either privately held land or school board land. Anybody know what's up?
John R avatar
John Rneeds to get out more
#29
middle school is what the sign says.
Kurt avatar
KurtAdmin
#30
It is 40 acres being clear cut for Emerald Coast Middle School. Right now there is a buffer between the highway and the clear cut area which I hope remains.

I would be impressed and thankful if some nice trees were being spared to shade and enhance the new school.

This view shows mostly the entry road, which is a few acres. The majority of the land being clear cut is beyond.

30abob avatar
30abobBeach Lover
#31
I would be impressed and thankful if some nice trees were being spared to shade and enhance the new school.

I looked at the plans when the project was advertised for bid... the landscaping drawing called for lots of trees to be planted. Of course it will be years before they mature enough to provide any meaningful shade.

The trees are one of my favorite features at Bay Elementary where my son is in the 2nd grade. It's a shame that there weren't any mature trees that were "deemed" to be worthy of sparing at the new middle school site.
DuneLaker avatar
DuneLakerBeach Fanatic
#32
Ditto on sparing some of the trees. With new plantings there won't be much needful shade to talk of for many years. Oaks and palmettos have such old, tough root systems. Too bad more can't be left to provide a more stable land base and abate erosion during storms. Were there not any magnolia trees worth saving? Native landscaping and little to no irrigation would save money in the long run. It will be great to have the school. South Walton is growing and children are certainly filling up the schools.
GoddessgalBeach Lover
#33
New ECMS update?

HI --- Did anyone here take the open house tour of ECMS? If so, was there in fact an art studio, or space for art classes? I did a forum/thread search but did not find anything.

Thanks!
Jdarg avatar
JdargSoWal ExpertAuthor
#34
HI --- Did anyone here take the open house tour of ECMS? If so, was there in fact an art studio, or space for art classes? I did a forum/thread search but did not find anything.

Thanks!

I would have taken then tour if I had known about it. How did you find out about it?
GoodWitch58Beach Fanatic
#35
I would have taken then tour if I had known about it. How did you find out about it?

I would have too. In fact, I was with a Butler teacher yesterday and we were saying we would like to see the school...when was the tour?
GoddessgalBeach Lover
#36
It was in September. I would have also attended if I had known about it before. You can find a photo slide show by following this link:

The New ECMS

I saw an article online from the Walton Sun (I think), but can't seem to find it now. I then surfed over to the ECMS site.
GoodWitch58Beach Fanatic
#37
It was in September. I would have also attended if I had known about it before. You can find a photo slide show by following this link:

The New ECMS

I saw an article online from the Walton Sun (I think), but can't seem to find it now. I then surfed over to the ECMS site.

maybe it was not for the public yet?:idontno:
GoddessgalBeach Lover
#38
That may be the case....I guess we'll just have to wait to get all of the details...
mdd88jdBeach Lover
#39
The tour in September was for the staff at ECMS. The building and grounds are coming along pretty fast. The contractor should have the building to us before school is out this year. That will leave us plenty of time to get moved into the building. I am sure we will have open house and tours before school starts next year. It is a beautiful building and yes it contains an art lab and room, band and chorus rooms. Butler will take over the existing building at the Butler campus. Hopefully we can then get rid of the portables at Butler.
GoddessgalBeach Lover
#40
Sounds great - thanks for the info!

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