School District hopes voters renew 1/2¢ tax
BY BRADLEY "B.J." DAVIS JR. Gulf Breeze News bjdavis@gulfbreezenews.com

In just two and a half weeks, Santa Rosa County voters will go to the polls to vote for a renewal of a tenyear, half-cent sales tax intended to fund capital outlay projects for Santa Rosa County School District (SRCSD). Although there was a 79 percent approval of the tax 10 years ago, school officials are still banking on continued community support.

"Our school district has done so well academically, and it's proved itself to the community as a quality school district," said School District Chair Diane Coleman.

Coleman said that school volunteer hours were at an all-time high last year, indicating support of the district.

"People see what we're about and that we're spending our money by giving the students one of the best educations in the state," she said.

Last year, SRCSD approved a fiveyear facility survey mapping out improvements for all district schools. According to the survey, the price tag for those improvements was just over $150 million. The District is estimating $2.2 million in state funds for survey

projects and nearly $91.7 million in millage revenue, leaving about $56.5 million required to fulfill survey recommendations. According to Tim Wyrosdick, Assistant Superintendent, the half-cent sales tax will generate around $6 million a year.

Some items of the survey include a $1.85 million auditorium for each Gulf Breeze and Navarre High Schools; three new classrooms for Woodlawn Beach Middle School and five new classrooms for Holley- Navarre Primary.

"When people can drive anywhere in this county and see where their money goes. When people see that, they are more apt to supporting (the tax)," said Coleman. Coleman added that classrooms are the main priority of the five-year plan because of state-mandated classroom size requirements. She's also a proponent for acquiring land for new schools as a result of future district growth.

"We can purchase land with (half-cent sales tax revenue), which is wonderful. It certainly saves the taxpayers money in the end," she said.

Homeowners are currently paying a 1.4 millage rate for the SRCSD in addition to a 6.6175 millage rate for the county. The city of Gulf Breeze recently lowered its millage rate from 1.9 to 1.6283. Those within the Midway Fire District pay a millage rate of 1.4.

"We'd rather have the halfcent sales tax rather than increase our millage," said Superintendent John Rogers. "Capital outlay projects are something that are needed in the Santa Rosa County School District."

In other school board news:

School board members approved the implementation of the Summer Volunteer Pre- Kindergarten (VPK) Programs for the district. Some of the requirements include that classes begin no earlier than May 1 of the school year; no child eligible to participate in the summer programs will be denied; pre-k classes will consist of no more than 20 children and school districts shall give priority to teachers who have experience or coursework in early childhood. There are currently 160 slots available as per the number of Central and South Santa Rosa County sites to hold classes. Four classrooms are scheduled at West Navarre Intermediate with 80 slots available. Board member Ed Gray expressed interest in locating the South End classrooms to Oriole Beach Elementary to cut the travel distance for Gulf Breeze area students.

March 5 through 9 was designated as national School Breakfast Week.

School board approved the 2007-2008 school calendar. Students are slated to begin classes on Aug. 20. Gulf Breeze High School senior graduation will be June 2, 2008 at 5 p.m.

The district received a check for $17,678.14 representing a rebate for the VISA Card program for the year of 2006 (Jan. through Dec.) $2,000 was approved to be used to fund this year's VISA Incentive Program.

The Santa Rosa Board of County Commissioners has request that the Santa Rosa County School District sign a statement of concurrence agreeing to become an active participant in the Santa Rosa County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMPT). The request was made in an effort to overcome potential fuel shortages or any other unknown delay in receiving normal fuel supply. Santa Rosa County Emergency Management will monitor the district's 47,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 15,000 gallons of unleaded fuel during disaster/emergency operations.

Southern Management, the district's janitorial service, announced to the district the capabilities of the company's ride-on extractor that can clean around 4.5 acres of carpet per night.

School board approved disciplinary action for the following:

Holley Navarre Middle School: one student for possession of a weapon (knife).

Gulf Breeze High School: one student perceived and was under the influence of drugs on school grounds (Xanax); one student for possession, distribution of and under the influence of drugs on school grounds (Xanax); one student for possession and sale of prescription medication without a prescription on school grounds.

Navarre High School: one student for possession and distribution of prescription medication; one student for possession of prescription medication without a prescription; one student for possession of prescription medication without a prescription; one for student possession and distribution of prescription medication without a prescription.