Reopening Schools Update
October 13, 2026 | 2:45pm
Over the past several days, district teams have continued to assess conditions at our schools and the impact Hurricane Isaias has had on our community. We have remained in close communication with Commissioner of Education Dr. Henry Mack and Governor Ron DeSantis' Office regarding recovery efforts and the needs of our students, families, and employees.
Based on those discussions and our ongoing assessments, all Okaloosa County School District schools and district facilities will remain closed on Wednesday, October 14. School will resume on Thursday, October 15.
While significant progress has been made, we want to extend grace and compassion to the many families and employees who are still experiencing challenges caused by the storm. Some continue to be without power or water, while others are dealing with property damage, or transportation issues. Providing an additional day will allow families more time to recover and prepare for a successful return to school.
This additional time will also allow employees whose classrooms and workspaces were impacted by the storm the opportunity to prepare their learning environments and welcome students back.
At this time, we anticipate reopening schools and resuming normal operations on Thursday, October 15. Schools will communicate any school-specific information regarding extracurricular activities, athletics, and events directly with their students and families.
We sincerely appreciate your patience, understanding, and resilience throughout this recovery process. Our goal is to ensure that when students return, they are returning to safe, welcoming learning environments where they are set up for success.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to Commissioner of Education Dr. Henry Mack and Governor DeSantis for their support, to our Facilities Maintenance, Transportation, and Food Services departments, Florida Power & Light, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, and the many companies, organizations, volunteers, and individuals who have worked tirelessly to help restore services and get our community back up and running.
Thank you, and have a great evening.
Tropical Weather Update
October 12, 2026 | 4:00pm
School will resume on Wednesday, October 14. Absences and tardies for students who evacuated or are commuting from areas impacted by Hurricane Isaias will be excused. Please follow your school's established procedures for reporting excused absences and tardies.
Schools will communicate any updates regarding extracurricular activities and after-school programs directly with families and staff as needed.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and support as our community continues to recover. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Wednesday.
Have a great evening.
Tropical Weather Update
October 11, 2026 | 4:00pm
Due to ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Isaias, all schools and district facilities will remain closed Monday, October 12 and Tuesday, October 13. All extracurricular activities, athletic events, and school-related activities have also been canceled.
District teams continue to assess storm impacts, including flooding, power outages, downed trees, and damage to school campuses. This additional time will allow crews to safely prepare our schools for students and staff while supporting continued recovery efforts throughout our community.
At this time, we anticipate reopening schools and resuming normal operations on Wednesday, October 14. However, we will continue to evaluate conditions and will communicate any changes if necessary.
We also encourage families, employees, and community members to rely only on official Okaloosa County School District communication channels for accurate information. Any decisions regarding school operations will be communicated directly through district text messages and callouts, the district website, official social media accounts, and our official press release.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and support as our community continues to recover. Please stay safe.
Tropical Weather Update
October 7, 2026 | 1:00pm
School district officials continue to remain in close communication with Okaloosa Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox as we monitor Tropical Storm Isaias. Weather experts expect our area to experience high winds, storm surge, flash flooding, and the potential for tornadoes beginning as early as Friday mid-day. The Okaloosa Public Safety Department will open shelters as needed, with the possibility of using one of our schools as a shelter. This system is expected to make landfall as a high-end category 1 or 2 along the northern gulf coast on Friday evening or Saturday early morning.
Due to the anticipated weather conditions and evacuation protocols, Okaloosa County Schools will be closed on Thursday, October 8 and Friday, October 9 to alleviate additional roadway pressures and to provide our families and school district employees with sufficient time to make the necessary arrangements in preparation for the storm. Schools will communicate directly with families regarding any school events, extracurricular activities, or athletic events that may be impacted.
As a reminder, Monday, October 12, is a scheduled Teacher Workday. Classes are expected to resume on Tuesday, October 13.
We will continue to closely monitor the storm and provide updates as needed through text messages and callouts, as well as on our website and social media channels.
Thank you, and stay safe.
Tropical Weather Update
October 6, 2026 | 5:30pm
District officials are in communication with Okaloosa Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox as we closely monitor a tropical system in the Gulf. At this time, it is too early to determine the storm’s path or any potential impacts to our area.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed through text messages and callouts, as well as on our website and social media channels.