CHALK TALK: School Board candidates see room for improvement in Destin (WITH ELECTION GUIDE)

With only six days left until the 2010 Primary Election, the candidates running for the Okaloosa County School Board shared their thoughts on Destin with The Log. Here is a brief bio of each candidate and their responses.

The candidates include: Paul Wendel Brock (District 3), Howard Hill (District 5), Melissa Thrush (District 5) and Rodney Walker (District 3).

Paul Brock is connected to Destin by marriage to his wife Jane (Skipper) Brock, and is a life-long educator, having spent more than 30 years teaching social studies at both the middle and high school levels. Brock has also been a Boy Scout leader for nearly 40 years and is a sponsor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Junior Achievement and a member of the YMCA Advisory Board.

Howard Hill has sat on the Okaloosa County School Board since 1996 and served 24 years of active duty, from squadron level to The Department of Defense, while in the U.S. Air Force. Hill is a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Value Adjustment Board, and has been married to his wife Elizabeth “Libby” Andersen for 43 years.

Melissa Thrush attended Okaloosa County Public Schools from first grade through twelfth, and upon graduation, she attended North Carolina State University on an AFROTC scholarship. Thrush has been married to her husband, Dr. Chris Reid, for 19 years, and three of their children will be attending Okaloosa County Schools.

Rodney Walker is a lifelong educator with 30 years of service to the Okaloosa County School system. Walker was elected to the School Board in 1994, was elected as vice-chairman in 1995, and from 1996 to the 2001-2002 school year, Walker served an unprecedented five consecutive years as the chairman of the school board.

What is the biggest issue/concern you see facing Destin Schools?

Brock: My wife attended Destin Elementary and her Mother Ruby Skipper taught there for many years.

Destin is not a sleepy fishing village anymore, and sometimes it’s the forgotten part of the county school system. The biggest concern facing Destin’s schools is managing growth. For instance, Destin Elementary has grown so much that the facility will have to be upgraded to accommodate growth, while the continued loss of capital funds during this economic downturn makes it extremely difficult to expand the school to meet this challenge. Destin’s educational needs should be a top priority of the school board because of its growth.

I think the school board should have used money to expand and upgrade Destin Elementary before they renovated Valparaiso Elementary only to close it a year later. The board could also do a better job of projecting growth and preparing a budget that reflects the constant changing of school age population.

Hill: Enrollment at Destin Elementary is currently at 849.  Too much additional
growth would put a strain on the administration and staff as well as the
school's infrastructure, such as the media center, cafeteria and available
classrooms.

Thrush: The budget deficit and class size.

Walker: To complete the total renovation project at Destin Elementary (the project is currently 4/5 complete). The restroom facilities and replacement of the storm windows on the last ramp are remaining projects.

   If passed, how would you best utilize the half-cent sales tax to improve Destin Schools.

Brock: The ½ cent sales tax should be used to expand and upgrade Destin Elementary and begin to lay the groundwork for a high school in Destin.

Hill: Do exactly what has been advertised, as the School Board indicated with
its vote to place the issue as a referendum on the August 24th ballot.
Specifically, projects for Destin ES would be a. Renovate kitchen and b.
Renovate 7 group restrooms and 2 single restrooms.  Destin MS projects
include a. Renovate 1 group restroom, b. Install HVAC controls, c.
Technology retrofit and d. Increase ratio of computers to 1 for every 3
students.

Thrush: I would plan a meeting with the Destin schools’ administrators, educators, and support staff and assess with them their facility priorities.  I met recently with administrators at both Destin Middle School and Destin Elementary and the following infrastructure needs were identified.

1. Parking and student pickup via buses and cars is also an issue.
2. There are also drainage issues on the school grounds and a termite infestation in the gymnasium floor.

Walker: The renovation of the kitchen and restrooms at Destin Elementary are on the project list for the half-cent sales tax.  Possibly additional classrooms will be built as well.

The idea of building a high school in Destin has been discussed at length in the past, would you support adding a school to the city?

Brock: I definitely support the building of a Destin High School and have spoken to many people about land for a new high school, but it doesn’t look good unless land that is already occupied is bought and the buildings razed to make room for a high school. This could be very expensive.

I could see a possibility of a high school at Destin Middle School. A 6-12 school could be built there.

Doing that would meet the criteria of having at least 600 students to meet the funding threshold necessary to support the school. Many schools in Florida have that set up.

This would not be hard, I taught at a school similar to that in Jackson County Florida. In our district, Baker school is very similar to that set up. Destin is a city that needs the community identity that comes with a quality high school.

I believe that Destin High School (doesn’t that sound great) would become a top high school in Florida if it is built.

Think of how much fun a rivalry between South Walton and Destin would become. It would energize the community.

This is because the Destin Community is made up of stable families who are involved in the children’s education and other activities. A high school would be the center of Destin’s unique social and cultural structure.

I also believe that a good high school would attract business who would like to locate here. Like many others, I have been concerned for some time that the distance traveled by Destin students to FWBHS is a burden on families.

Also, the constant threat of hurricanes cutting Destin off from Ft. Walton Beach can seriously interrupt a students educational progress.

Hill: No.  Destin students have a choice of two excellent high schools, i.e.,
Fort Walton Beach HS and Niceville HS, that are large enough to offer a wide
range of academic and co-curricular programs.  Destin does not have nearly
enough students to open a high school that could even come close to
providing similar opportunities.  Also, where in or around Destin could you
even find 40 acres, the current prescribed size of a high school campus, to
build a new high school?  Then there's the problem of funding $70 to $90
million, the estimated construction and outfitting costs of a new high
school.

Thrush: With the economic outlook continuing to be bleak and the enrollment not being present to support an entire school I would not currently propose to build a high school in the Destin area.   While I understand travel time concerns associated with attending either Fort Walton Beach or Niceville High Schools, we have to spend our limited district resources on vital needs.  As demographics and enrollment levels change this option may need to be evaluated.

Walker: Yes, if the proper funding can be acquired.

VOTE EARLY

As the August 24 Primary Election approaches, Okaloosa County voters have three options to choose from when it comes to placing their vote.  Residents can still take part in early voting, up until Aug. 21, which will be held at the University of Florida REEF facility, 1350 N. Poquito Road in Shalimar, the Robert L.F. Sikes Crestview Library, 1445 Commerce Drive, and the Supervisor of Elections Office Headquarters at 302 Wilson Street North, Ste, 102 in Crestview.

Early voting will be held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. and on Wednesday and Saturday from 7 a.m.- 3 p.m. Absentee voters can request ballots by phone, mail, website/email, fax or by visiting the Supervisor of Elections office. Precinct voting will take place from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. on election day.  Voters can now locate their polling place using the voter status lookup tool on the Supervisor of Elections website.

For more information, visit the Supervisor of Elections website at www.govote-okaloosa.com or call 850-689-5600 or 850-651-7272.

Your 2010 Okaloosa County Election Guide:

For your Sherrif's Candidates, click here.

For your County Commission Candidates, click here.

Check back this weekend for your congressional candidates.