Don’t lose the high school spirit, Destin

There has been a movement to have a high school built in Destin. Knowing that Destin provides almost 50 percent of the tax base for Okaloosa County, it makes more sense to support a high school for our projected 750-plus students than it does for less than 130 students in Laurel Hill High and less than 350 in Baker High. Two new schools are being built in the north end of the county without tax increases. Why do they talk about tax increases for a school where most of the present tax money comes from?

I have always been a supporter of Superintendent Alexis Tibbetts and believe she has my children’s best interests at heart. I have three children in school one at DES, one at DMS and one going to Fort Walton Beach High. Having to send my son 14 miles one way every day to a high school with over 1,850 children for school and activities does not make sense.

It has become a real challenge supporting our children’s activities. It is especially challenging for us to support our son’s high school activities due to the distance and size of the school.

Since my son’s activities are not financially supported by the school, we have to provide over $3,500 a year to support him. This involves over $2,000 out of pocket money and many hours of fundraising. The transportation requirements are very challenging and frightening. There is practice everyday after school, pep rallies, ball games, gym days and other required activities. Fundraising is also very, competitive in a school as large as Fort Walton Beach High with all of its organizations.

Teachers and parents are drained by all the fund-raisers they are hit with.

Furthermore, think of the Destin kids that can not participate in any activities due to transportation.

FWB has a good academic reputation, and I am confident the education our Destin children would have in a smaller local supported school would be as good — if not better. Call it what you want, but would it not make sense for us to keep and support our children in our community instead of subjecting them to the woes of another community we have very little involvement in?

Why do we send our children to school together for eight years then split them up between three different high schools? Some say we would be isolating our children too much by keeping them in our community. I question the logic behind that thought. What about all the school districts like DeFuniak, Carrabelle and many others? Are their children suffering due to isolation?

The Destin City Council voted unanimously in late February to support the notion of a Destin High School. They even asked the Okaloosa County School Board to set up a meeting to discuss the issue.

Mrs. Tibbetts was to appear before the City Council at its Monday meeting but has pulled out because she says the city wasn’t following proper protocol. Our City Council represent the people of Destin and surrounding areas. Now the people of Destin are confined to School Board protocol?

A meeting has been set on their turf at the School Board on May 8 at 9 a.m. at 120 Lowery Place in Fort Walton Beach. The momentum and support for a much more convenient 6 p.m. meeting in our community has been changed to a much less convenient time 15 miles away.
Many Destin residents can not participate due to work requirements, but we can still make a difference.

Please attend this important meeting if at all possible.

We have very little land left in Destin. The county is considering selling all the land they own next to the airport to developers. There are a few more locations, but when it is gone, the School Board will have the best excuse they need — NO LAND!

Terry Eisler is a Destin resident.