By ALICIA LEONARD
The Walton County School Board met June 17 in the South Walton High School media room for their second regularly scheduled meeting for the month of June 2014. All board members were present. The meeting started off with Emerald Coast Middle School (ECMS) Principal Jeff Infinger recognizing ECMS teacher Leigh Glenn for the hours she dedicated working on a grant from the St. Joe Community Foundation for a robotics class. Executive Director for the foundation, Janet Greeno, presented a check for $8,742 to Glenn for the robotics academy for students for the 2014-2015 school year. Sixth-grade students will be the first to use the program and a new grade level will be added every year as the school has the ability to reapply for the grant for the next two years.
The board then moved to approve the agenda before them as well as the adoption of minutes from past meetings. Board Chair Faye Leddon asked for public comments and with none forthcoming, the board moved onto the consent agenda portion of the meeting.
The board moved 5-0 to approve the consent agenda which consisted of items mainly concerning transportation of students for sporting events.
Under the action agenda, the board approved agreements and
contracts, unanimously.
Under resolutions, the board amended the wording of the referendum to appoint a Superintendent of Schools to reflect no position, but that they wanted voters to make the choice. Board members were concerned that the prior wording sounded like they wanted appointment over election for the position.
The board approve 5-0 personnel recommendations, including Jason Campbell as principal for Walton Middle School and Alexis Tibbetts, the former superintendent for Okaloosa County to the job of principal for South Walton High School (SWHS).
Under facilities and construction, the board moved 4-1 with board member Sharon Roberts being the nay vote, to move ahead with the negotiations for the purchase of a piece of property consisting of 33.25 acres from Forrest View LLC for the price of $3,175,000 for a potential future school site. The property is located closer to the east side of Walton along U.S. 98.
The board then discussed a proposed change to the graduation dates for SWHS from May 27, 2015 to May 28, 2015. The motion carried 4-1, with board member Mark Davis being the nay vote.
School handbooks passed 4-1 with Roberts being the nay vote.
A special meeting is scheduled for final budget amendments for the 2013-2014 school year on June 30 at 5 p.m. and the next regularly scheduled board meeting will be held on July 1.
To see more on meeting dates and school news, go to www.walton.k12.fl.us.
