Cents and sensibility: Schools banking on half-cent tax for needed repairs

A half-cent tax will go a long way for Destin schools, area principals say.

Diane Kelley, principal of Destin Middle School, said the impact it would make on residents would be minimal compared to how much it would help the schools. With the extra money, DMS would make structural improvements to restrooms and install heating and air conditioning upgrades.

“With budgets being so tight, we need to be as efficient as we can,” said Kelley referring to the utilities. New HVAC controls will allow the school to put more energy into high traffic areas. They would also be able to reroute heating and air from places that aren’t used as often.

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For Destin Elementary School Principal Marti Gardner the sales tax, which will be on the ballot on Aug. 24, is a matter of trust.

“We owe it to the children; we really do,” said Gardner.

With the money, DES plans on renovating bathrooms in the first-grade wing, which were built in 1982. They also aim to renovate the kitchen that hasn’t had any upgrades since 1986.

“It’s still equipped with fryers that haven’t been used in years. We don’t do as much cooking as we do reheating,” said Gardner. “It’s really about making things more efficient.”

Destin Elementary is feeding almost three times as many students today.  They only had about 300 to 400 kids when they first opened. Now they have almost 900 students.

Gardner also hopes to receive some money for technological updates — adding at least one wireless lab, a few more smart boards, and some hands on tools for the students.

Though DES isn’t budgeted to get as much as some of the other schools in the county, Gardner thinks the tax is important for the district as a whole.

“Our students will eventually grow up and most will move on to DMS and Fort Walton Beach High School. They will benefit from it in the long run.”

Destin Middle School would also be receiving money for more technology. The money will increase ratios of computers to one for every three students compared to the current one computer for every five students.

“It’s important that we are able to teach our students on the medium they are most comfortable on,” said Kelley.

Of course, not everyone agrees with the measure.

In a letter to The Log on page A6, Karl Denninger says the tax spares schools from making the tough decisions.

The Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, however, says the tax is a better alternative than property or millage rate hikes.

“I don’t look at this as a tax; I look at it as in investment in our future,” said Chamber Chairman Brian Haugen, Emerald Coast Wealth Advisors of Raymond James & Associates, about the Board’s decision to support the increase.  “Okaloosa County has always prided itself on its excellent academic record, and now we lack the broadband to power our computers.”