District News

Superintendent A. Russell Hughes has announced that the Walton County School District (WCSD) start date for students will change to Monday, August 17^th, which represents a one-week change. All WCSD employees will still report as scheduled.

The change in start date has been made for three reasons. First, by bringing faculty and staff back as planned, the WCSD will be able to provide additional training days for employees on topics such as health, safety, and the WCSD’s new Innovative Learning Digital Academy (ILDA). Second, schools will have time to create and train with innovative strategies, such as modified block scheduling, which can help decrease traffic and exposure in schools. Finally, the WCSD has ordered additional computers, which includes a one-to-one initiative for all middle school students, and the week will allow for computer preparations, imaging, and etc.

As always, the number one priority of the WCSD is safety, and this adjustment will ensure the health, safety, and efficiency of our district and for your students. Thank you for your understanding and support.

La Junta Escolar de Walton County (Walton County School Board) les pide a nuestras familias que se comprometan a una de tres opciones educativas para sus hijos/alumnos para el semestre de otoño del año académico 2020 – 2021. Nuestro objetivo es recibir respuestas confirmadas de todas las familias para el 20 de julio. La elección de abajo será un compromiso de semestre a semestre. Los padres/tutores necesitarán completar un (1) Formulario Estudiantil de Intención para el Año Académico 2020-2021 para cada alumno en su casa.

The WCSD is asking our families to commit to one of the three educational options for their children/students for the fall semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Our goal is to have confirmed feedback from all families by July 20. The below decision will be a semester-by-semester commitment. Parents/guardians will need to complete one Student Intent Form for the 2020-21 School Year for each student in their household.

Superintendent A. Russell Hughes will hold a live virtual town hall to discuss the WCSD Re-opening Plan with a live Q & A session.

Monday, July 13, 2020

6:00-7:15 p.m.

There has been MISINFORMATION about in person graduation ceremonies for WCSD schools. They have not been cancelled to date; we still PLAN to have those graduations as rescheduled in May. There will be some restrictions and guidelines as safety is forever a priority. Look for those specifics/details from your schools or administrators the early part of next week.

Thank you

Superintendent A. Russell Hughes has developed a Re-opening Plan for the Walton County School District (WCSD). The plan, which was created through a Re-opening Task Force which began meeting in May, has been vetted by local experts, including the Florida Department of Health and Walton County Emergency Management. The plan is a lengthy, internal document written as directions for employees, but this FAQ sheet has been written specifically with parents and students in mind. As you read over this handout, please remember the COVID-19 situation is a fluid one. Because the re-opening of schools is a local decision, we will continue to watch and learn from several data points, including COVID-19 numbers and locations, CDC and state guidelines, and Florida’s Re-open Plan, so there may be revisions to the plan as the summer progresses. If you have any questions or concerns, please send a text to 850.204.9667 or call 850.892.1100.

Due to the Commissioner of Education’s Emergency Order No. 2020-EO-06, the Walton County School District will now release our Re-opening Plan for the 2020-2021 school year by end of business on Wednesday, July 8th. Thank you for being understanding and supportive as we create the best plan for our students and our employees.

Due to the Governor’s new Executive Order No. 2020-EO-06, the Walton County School District will now release our Re-opening Plan for the 2020-2021 school year by end of business on Wednesday, July 8th . Thank you for being understanding and supportive as we create the best plan for our students and our employees.

Walton County School District Education Partner Honored as Recipient of

Commissioner’s Business Recognition Award

Walton County School District nominated the St. Joe Foundation for state recognition as a recipient of the Commissioner’s Business Recognition Award, an honor bestowed through the Florida Education Foundation. On Thursday, July 2, 2020 Walton County School District and the St. Joe Foundation received notification of being the 3^rd of 4 distinguished district and business winners! (see video announcement below) The Walton District-St. Joe partnership was recognized for working collaboratively to provide innovative learning opportunities in our community and for our student’s academic performance.

The goal of the Commissioner’s Business Recognition Awards (CBRA) is to recognize Florida’s business leaders and partners that have shown the most commitment in bringing positive change and implementing bold, innovative approaches to improve the academic performance of students in Florida’s education system and communities. These educational connections help Florida school districts gain a competitive edge in providing enhanced services to the students they serve.

St. Joe Foundation’s collaborations with the Walton County School District include awarding Walton Education Foundation, a supporter of education in Walton County, with a twenty-thousand dollar grant for classroom laptops and technology needs; Fifty-thousand dollars for library books and technology to the new Dune Lakes Elementary School Makers Lab and, additionally, twenty-five thousand dollars for technology to the Magnet Innovation Center (MIC) at St. Joe Watersound. The MIC is the vision of Superintendent A. Russell Hughes and is Walton County’s first Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEAM) school. This new MIC academic center opened November 21, 2019 and is state-of-the-art seeking to prepare students for the global workforce through experience and exploration. Courses include: Principles of Engineering, AP Computer Science, Internship/Externship and Industry Certifications. The St. Joe Foundation has empowered Walton County Schools to provide students the opportunity to meet tomorrows challenges with a cutting edge, world class education.

On behalf of the Commissioner of Education and the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Education Foundation is donating a check in the amount of $5,000 to Walton County School District to continue the partnership with the St. Joe Foundation and to fund the educational programs that have made a lasting impact on Florida's students.

We are all so grateful for this opportunity for our students, and so appreciative of the generosity, commitment and collaboration shown by the St. Joe Company.

Congratulations to these 2019-2020 Cosmetology Program Graduates from ECTC. They will now take their state board licensure assessment. WCSD wishes them the best of luck and success!

ECTC Cosmotology Grads 2019-2020