Okaloosa County School District

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February 2025 Capital Projects and New School Construction Update 

The Sales Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee met on February 4, 2025, to review the latest updates on capital projects and new school construction. Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer for the Okaloosa County School District, provided a financial update, including details on sales tax allocations and disbursements for Okaloosa’s charter schools. Grant Meyer, Assistant Superintendent of Operations, presented a comprehensive update on projects funded by the sales tax. 

The following ribbon-cutting ceremonies are scheduled to take place:

• Niceville High School – Friday, February 14

• Shalimar Elementary School – Thursday, February 27

• Edwins Elementary School – Wednesday, March 5

• Laurel Hill School – Friday, March 14

These events will celebrate the completion of key projects enhancing educational facilities across the district.

 December 2024 Capital Projects and New School Construction Update

The Sales Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee convened on December 3, 2024. Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer for the Okaloosa County School District, presented a financial update, including details on sales tax allocations and disbursements for Okaloosa’s charter schools. Joel Linder, Program Director with Jacobs/Titan Technologies, provided a comprehensive update of projects funded by the sales tax.

Exciting milestones include upcoming ribbon-cutting ceremonies at Ruckel Middle School and Wright Elementary, both scheduled for December. Additionally, plans are underway for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new K-8 school in Crestview. Jason Belcher, Chair of the Sales Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee, will provide the school board with a committee update on Monday, December 9.

September 2024 Capital Projects and New School Construction Update

The Sales Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee met on September 23, 2024. Grant Meyer, Assistant Superintendent of Operations for the Okaloosa County School District, provided a financial update to the committee and information on the sales tax allocation and disbursement for Okaloosa’s charter schools. Joel Linder, Program Director with Jacobs/Titan Technologies, provided a comprehensive update on the projects currently funded by the sales tax. Several schools will be hosting ribbon cuttings in the coming months.

July 2024 Capital Projects and New School Construction Update 

The Sales Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee met on July 9, 2024. Grant Meyer, Director 1 of School Operations for the Okaloosa County School District, provided a financial update to the committee and information on the sales tax allocation and disbursement for Okaloosa’s charter schools. Joel Linder, Program Director with Jacobs/Titan Technologies, provided a comprehensive update on the projects currently funded by the sales tax. Several school projects are nearing completion, and planning will begin to host future ribbon cuttings. Committee members discussed ways to continue highlighting the project completions and future ribbon cuttings to the public. Jason Belcher, the Sales Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee Chair, updated the committee on his presentation to the school board and would look forward to providing a future update in September 2024.

July 2024 Capital Projects and New School Construction Update 

The Sales Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee met on July 9, 2024. Grant Meyer, Director 1 of School Operations for the Okaloosa County School District, provided a financial update to the committee and information on the sales tax allocation and disbursement for Okaloosa’s charter schools. Joel Linder, Program Director with Jacobs/Titan Technologies, provided a comprehensive update on the projects currently funded by the sales tax. Several school projects are nearing completion, and planning will begin to host future ribbon cuttings. Committee members discussed ways to continue highlighting the project completions and future ribbon cuttings to the public. Jason Belcher, the Sales Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee Chair, updated the committee on his presentation to the school board and would look forward to providing a future update in September 2024.

May 2024 Capital Projects and New School Construction Update 

The Sales Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee met on May 7, 2024. Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer of Okaloosa County School District, provided a financial update to the committee and information on the sales tax allocation and disbursement for Okaloosa’s charter schools. Joel Linder, Program Director with Jacobs/Titan Technologies, provided a comprehensive update on the projects currently funded by the sales tax. Committee members discussed ways to continue highlighting the project completions and future ribbon cuttings to the public. Jason Belcher, the Sales Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee Chair, will update the school board at the May 28 meeting. 

March 2024 Capital Projects and New School Construction Update 

The Sales Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee met on March 13, 2024. The committee welcomed two new members, Cathy Ates and Jeri Toolan. Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer of Okaloosa County School District, provided a financial update to the committee and information on the sales tax allocation and disbursement for Okaloosa’s charter schools. Joel Linder, Program Director with Jacobs/Titan Technologies, provided a comprehensive update on the projects currently funded by the sales tax. Committee members discussed the recent ribbon cuttings to celebrate the recent completions of Crestview High School’s eight-classroom addition, Laurel Hill School’s four-classroom addition, and Fort Walton Beach High School’s Multipurpose Building. Jason Belcher, the Sales Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee Chair, will update the school board at a future meeting. The committee requested that future task order lists be categorized by active and completed projects and completion dates. 

Please check the Okaloosa County School District Half Cent Sales Tax Capital Program Dashboard for a snapshot of the program budget, project schedules, and each school’s project summary in the menu links above!

Edge Elementary School
“This beautiful, historic renovation of Edge Elementary’s front entrance provides increased building security while honoring the history of a community school that has educated generations of Niceville families.”

Dr. Samantha Dawson, Principal

Elliott Point Elementary School
“The development of our front entrance area to a true single point of entry, has been wonderful. It sets the tone to our students, parents, and faculty that safety is the district’s number one priority.”

Scott Nuss, Principal

Antioch Elementary School
“We are so excited to have our single point of entry project completed. Last spring, we saw the demolition of our front office begin and watched the transformation all summer. We now have a safe place for students, teachers, and families to be greeted upon arrival at Antioch Elementary School. The update has provided new office spaces for our bookkeeper and our School Resource Officer, as well as allowing for a waiting area for our clinic. This waiting area allows our clinic to be deemed a “sick clinic” only and students that need daily medications never have to enter the clinic and be exposed to students that could be contagious. The fencing out front has added an extra piece of mind as you can no longer access the back of the school without gaining permission to enter. Overall, the project gives all stakeholders a sense of safety upon entering the campus of Antioch Elementary School.”

Kelli Sanders, Principal