New school year just around the corner
By Gabriel Tynes
Just 71 days after the last bell rang on the 2005-2006 Walton County school year, teachers and administrators will be welcoming students back to the classroom Aug 4.
Bay Elementary, tucked away in the woods of Point Washington, will be introducing its new role as a K-5 school to help accommodate the area?s growing population.
?We are extremely excited,? said Dr. Gail Pettus, Bay?s principal.
As the oldest school in South Walton, Bay?s role had been reduced to K-1. But the school board agreed last year to expand the grades serviced to help alleviate the over-crowding at nearby Butler Elementary. A new roof and an extended administration area were installed at Bay over the summer, and Pettus said they were trying to ?tie up all the loose ends? last week.
?We have 250 students enrolled this year,? Pettus said, ?so we?re at capacity.?
Bay had to hire an additional 15 teachers to meet state studentto-teacher ratio requirements. Enrollment is up all over Walton County, although official student numbers will not be available until next month.
In preparation, shoppers have been flooding area clothing and office supply stores, taking advantage of a back-to-school tax break that runs until the end of the month. The Old Navy in Destin was packed last Saturday, and a manager said typical backto-school items, such as shorts, denims, khakis, polo shirts, graphic tees, book bags and lunch boxes were being restocked every day.
With the exception of the Seaside Neighborhood School, neither Okaloosa nor Walton counties have implemented uniform policies, although standards of dress are strictly enforced.
Charlie Marello, dean of students at Freeport High, said dress is a concern but often not a problem.
?Students and parents generally know what can be problematic attire,? Marello said, as he searched the dress code for the red flags. ?It?s hats and short dresses that tend to cross the line.?
With 31 days of scattered breaks, Walton County?s 2006-2007 school year will conclude May 23, 2007 for students and May 25, 2007 for teachers.