By ASHLEY AMASON
The Walton County School Board rescinded action taken at the Jan. 18 meeting in which members unanimously voted not to allow students who elected to take the performance based exit option by passing grade 10 FCAT and the GED walk at graduation ceremonies.
After reviewing policy, the board determined students utilizing the exit option will be allowed to walk and participate in all graduation ceremonies, as under this option students do not drop out of school to earn a GED, rather remain in class and take the GED. Those who drop out of school and earn a GED will not be permitted to walk.
In opening comments, Kevin Chilcutt addressed the board to commend the students of Walton County who attended Chautauqua Assembly events the week prior. Chilcutt praised the students’ maturity and manners. Superintendent Carlene Anderson said she’d received rave reviews of the Walton High School junior and senior classes who attended Céline Cousteau’s presentation. “We are blessed in this county to have such well-behaved children.”
Anderson informed the board on the transition to a new data system which will provide real-time information between the district, instructors, and legislators in Tallahassee. In addition to real time data, the internet-based system offers a parent portal where parents can check students’ attendance, grades, and schedule.
All transportation requests were approved including the Freeport High School (FHS) baseball schedule and Walton High School (WHS) softball schedule. Ten students from FHS will travel to Tampa Feb. 20-22 to compete in the state Life Smarts competition, which develops consumer and marketplace knowledge in areas of finance, health and safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities. The WHS Anchor Club will travel to Orlando March 3-6 for the Florida District Anchor Convention. WCSB members will travel to Gainesville Feb. 15-19 for the certified board member program and personnel and bargaining issues training module.
The next WCSB meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m.