By ALICIA LEONARD
The Walton County School Board (WCSB) got back to business in the new year on the afternoon of Jan. 6.
Board member Jason Catalano, the board’s legislative liaison, held a short meeting going over priorities for the Florida School Board Association (FSBA) meeting he attended late in the year, before the board moved to their regularly scheduled meeting.
Some topics the FSBA platform is looking at in the new year include extending the transition period for the implementation of accountability measures relating to student progression/teacher evaluations, halting the practice of state-wide standardized testing until a revised accountability system is in place, enhancing state funding for educator professional development, increasing funding for courses and extra course instruction, empowering local schools with final decision making authority over charter schools and repealing any Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship programs to ensure public finds are not spent on voucher programs that are not required to meet the same public and academic accountability standards as public schools, among others.
After the workshop, the board moved quickly through the agenda, approving prior minutes, and consent agenda items, including transportation requests for students.
Under the Action Agenda items the board held a public hearing to discuss proposed changes in wording for some board policies, and no members of the public came forward to discuss the items.
The board then moved to approve personnel recommendations, and $750,000 in renovation costs for Bay Elementary School, plus another $100,000 for a secure lobby project at the school.
In closing Board member William “Bill” Eddins Jr., thanked staff for their foresight in dealing with some roll-over funds in their budget. Board member Kim Kirby thanked retirees from the district, and Board member Mark Davis asked the press to share that a hole on the property at Walton Middle School was a retention pond and not the beginnings of a swimming pool.
The next WCSB meeting will be held Jan. 20 at South Walton High School in the media room at 5 p.m.
To find out more about the district and important dates go to www.walton.k12.fl.us.
