[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6331358,"mediaKeyId","2311241-2c928a4a1582eca2b55b5e77ffac10bd","parentId",2311241,"title","Superintendent and staff report productive Tallahassee meetings; district presses legislative interest in student behavioral supports","audioSeconds",87,"startMs",1709000,"endMs",1796000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2311241-2c928a4a1582eca2b55b5e77ffac10bd&start=1709&end=1796","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2311241-2c928a4a1582eca2b55b5e77ffac10bd/thumbnail_1709000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6331358/Florida/Superintendent-and-staff-report-productive-Tallahassee-meetings-district-presses-legislative-interest-in-student-behavioral-supports","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331358-0a2b0a6a97240e805258e7bff3ee9690/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202249&Signature=Z5lWKR8ObPZ5yIv24N9NZOBHmyFpWWHgy6FeCrU16UrK6aa5B~atWnAAbptwB5j3nA1LroDXkAsEg5Fgt3ZYwg-dkJuzTxMNShG1q93CKOVHGoIzgmEHhCKhk1X8kfpa7Xx7fkpLp0myhCGljNhfc1aXeY3LX-v~9P0OZSK27YQ1FzSP96mojMjYHYfEqarE5KmYgviz2F6u78ipgz1aWCjbCrtHcwe3g74iFEd-U56CfhmzwvCvHT5cKeiidh4V1QuIkiuLzMapI8Fu2Dk5zfZuapl4LFAZ-h1SoaDcB1ODapvyPLawnEeWQlNSLZS7kkZ~8-u9a43ouv1bBdTj6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Okaloosa County School District","date","2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","article","Superintendent Chambers and senior staff reported on a recent trip to Tallahassee in which district leaders met with legislators and the Florida Department of Education to discuss Okaloosa priorities, including student behavioral supports and teacher recruitment/retention.

Dr. Hale and other staff said they met with the education commissioner (Jose or Richard Diaz was referenced in discussion as \"Mr. Diaz\") and with local legislators, including Senator Gates and Representative Pat Mahaney. Dr. Hale said the delegations presentation emphasized district data and operational realities and that the legislative staff were receptive to the districts behavioral requests. \"They were very, very interested in the things that we provided to them from an Okaloosa standpoint,\" Dr. Hale said.

Board members noted the district provided concrete data to Tallahassee and that several legislators had asked about local interventions already in place, including risk-management training, MTSS steps, functional behavior assessments and behavior intervention plans. Dr. Hale and district staff said some legislative language addressing the issue has been drafted by local representatives and that conversations will continue.

Board members also raised funding questions tied to capital needs and to county/state revenue allocations. A board member suggested pursuing restoration of a historical capital allocation that had been reduced about 2010; district leaders said they will continue to press legislative staff and meet with budget staff to explain district needs.

The board did not take formal legislative action at the workshop beyond acknowledging the trip and authorizing continued engagement with legislators; district staff said they will continue follow-up meetings with local representatives and lobbyists.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Workshop 2-10-2025","oneSentenceSummary","District delegation met with legislators and education officials in Tallahassee to discuss legislative priorities, particularly student behavior supports; staff said some language is being drafted and that legislators responded to district data.","taxTitle","Okaloosa, School Districts, Florida","taxId",14347,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6331363,"District reports first-semester progress on multiple capital projects: completed multipurpose buildings, sunshades and site work",388,3099000,3487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2311241-2c928a4a1582eca2b55b5e77ffac10bd&start=3099&end=3487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2311241-2c928a4a1582eca2b55b5e77ffac10bd/thumbnail_3099000.jpg","/articles/6331363/Florida/District-reports-first-semester-progress-on-multiple-capital-projects-completed-multipurpose-buildings-sunshades-and-site-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331363-a25428eb74c926a9970b7420493c0e55/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202249&Signature=EJt5sRqspwq1jgp~c7wizi42Qo5lKkbOy2R5zri5E8Gut2HzymDmXD~zL3QxyF0ngGsa1OemDKMopshlXKNYaPUz1Dk~231jecAEyNdVMKgI6vYkkwpTOdumqPFHR9gzDJPMcu9Iqlx1jBzxhE4F4Ph3BMWXms4jFpoicbFVBAoe9B3lDqbND5U3fvej5DSFeSMomMZEZ7sZYykDp-NU-Nv6KT5R2P70yv~qYKKVe64RUyjoV9PE4RiM34CaQ4RJ5LtWrextN87ml~muXZ~c3adCupmzrnKolTeGAl-U-4TjlhWDT3Pfbg4~d5IUphIkaVrlgdM0bcO4tIgZImH6eA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mr. Meyer, district construction program manager, updated the board on capital projects completed in the first semester and projects in progress.

Meyer said the district completed multiple multipurpose/cafetorium buildings and that Niceville High School's multipurpose building will have a ribbon-cutting on Feb. 14. Other first-semester completions included the Plue and Ruckle cafetoriums and sunshades installed at Choctaw, Destin, MEGS and Pryor. Meyer said Crestview High School received a new chiller and Florosa received a roof coating. He emphasized that the new buildings include restrooms, a weight room and flexible spaces for after-school activities.

Meyer provided photographs and said the sunshade structures have an expected structural life of more than 20 years and the shade fabric about 10 to 15 years, with warranties provided by vendors. He discussed in-house maintenance work that moved six portables at Destin Elementary and other smaller projects such as sidewalk repairs, restroom renovations, playground upgrades and scoreboard installations.

Meyer said new-school construction at Pine View School and Destin Elementary is underway, with foundation and rebar work progressing. He noted coordination with county road work and a bridge connection being completed by the county to accommodate the new Pine View access.

Board members asked questions about warranties and whether the cafetorium projects would relieve traffic at specific sites; Meyer said the projects should help in several locations and that some bus ramps and car-rider lines were improved as part of the work.

Meyer said many projects were completed in partnership with Jacobs (task order 12 and others) and with in-house maintenance teams. The presentation included recent ribbon cuttings and examples of work done over school breaks to limit classroom disruption.","Capital projects manager gave a first-semester update showing completed multipurpose/cafetorium buildings at several schools, new sunshades, HVAC and roofing work, ongoing Pine View and Destin Elementary construction and planned ribbon cuttings.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6331368,"District extends controlled open-enrollment window, says 15 schools closed to transfers due to capacity",134,2432000,2566000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2311241-2c928a4a1582eca2b55b5e77ffac10bd&start=2432&end=2566","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2311241-2c928a4a1582eca2b55b5e77ffac10bd/thumbnail_2432000.jpg","/articles/6331368/Florida/District-extends-controlled-open-enrollment-window-says-15-schools-closed-to-transfers-due-to-capacity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331368-f91d61595259488a753fc1f33c81804d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202249&Signature=HEKRKRZobl4WvrJJ7eABC2bEjtA0KXc-uSfG3JdaYAz1TjfSUspKTi5pLZlt9EndJnXiFMAbYHOvxxCXZwM-z2hl1gYLJf5ZBVw8t16krWoaWJY8SLip9f1EBLAcSvY3mJIu4fVG~XBCwYqcCQtiOQzhUuYGlJYQkLS23LyYDNUl-HD4GMocMC6dIEVghNIdpvAJR1vOfVeH0b75MX~Etwdfzoys6X40hAgbMRWpJMKozTBjynsTPIaap9wzjIp5YYunZmYs1yvuXHY2DKPyuBpDBPmyplZUpY57MOFAgD3nqQGweYYRxG-f0Lz8ituUVHS1jNgdl3T9HR0i7OH3~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Okaloosa County Schools staff updated the board on the controlled open-enrollment (COE) process and said the district extended the first application window because of recent weather disruptions.

Attorney and board-staff discussion cited state law directing districts to adopt a COE plan under section 1002.31. Mr. Spolsky reviewed the schedule: the first COE window was planned to end Feb. 15 but was extended to Feb. 22 due to a winter storm; parents will receive notices on Feb. 23. The district will reopen a window in March that will remain open until school starts.

Staff said 15 schools or specific grade levels were already closed to transfers because of capacity. \"If they're closed, with the exception of doing a hardship, there's no way they could go there,\" a board member said; district staff confirmed hardship applications are parent-initiated and handled in order received. Special consideration is given to military dependents and students in foster care; the district prioritizes students who reside inside the district over out-of-county applicants.

Staff also said principals and MIS (management information systems) staff are monitoring COE applications and will maintain a public COE capacity report on the district website. For families subject to rezoning, staff said the district will review hardship requests on a case-by-case basis and coordinate outreach to affected families.

District staff said enrollment is \"about the same\" overall and that kindergarten numbers were a little light while some middle-school grades were heavy; the district is tracking toward an approximately 32,000-student enrollment figure but final calculations tied to state funding (FEFP third calculation) were pending.","District staff said the first controlled open-enrollment window was extended to Feb. 22 because of a winter storm; parents will receive seat offers on Feb. 23 and 15 schools are currently closed for transfers except by hardship.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6331373,"Board discusses ClearTouch deployment and seat-management support costs; several small capital appropriations listed on consent agenda",0,812000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2311241-2c928a4a1582eca2b55b5e77ffac10bd&start=812&end=812","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2311241-2c928a4a1582eca2b55b5e77ffac10bd/thumbnail_812000.jpg","/articles/6331373/Florida/Board-discusses-ClearTouch-deployment-and-seat-management-support-costs-several-small-capital-appropriations-listed-on-consent-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331373-98fe259ae66b3369261519e1494cb326/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202249&Signature=ZkMr0OlA0GuvR6ZHIXsaEsc8-WTRX7vbK1g9b8Vl7iG39DmESwb60ynjHMDdCYevaC2H8RpdQ5lsR7pAqAe6s22mc~xN6R~KMAPtQ37SpdZsp2l3v9rRAeMmL2Fkr4kcPj4i0H74P0Ru0VyMO8hGqD1eHfTrA5piGNnRCwCqr-PH5dmiLGETi7j8tmKiH6VT7beDIzrRQdm9d8F3TtndonaqgHn2Vtx-lnPubzNdjOEdIwqnkbOTp1T9YVJlGsNeXrCPGzvqF7o1uAiQ4lBobVO4vxWFNNzsz13GEPujHp~Qjo~yLe87dibLOfszqIS6X0QcGvad6L6OZf6bIP2gRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members discussed how the district's new seat-management contract will change the ongoing support costs for ClearTouch interactive panels and listed multiple capital outlay appropriations to individual schools for panels and other equipment on the consent agenda.

A board member asked how the new seat-management contract will affect future ClearTouch purchases and support. A district representative in the audience, identified in the meeting as Mr. Mitchell, said: \"Under the terms of the new contractor, every seat management device or every ClearTouch that you buy is purchased in support right now. ... How that's actually done is either gonna be paid by the schools or the district depending on how we make that decision.\" The district said the finance department will determine whether recurring support charges are paid centrally or by individual schools.

Board members asked whether a deployment schedule exists for future ClearTouch panels. District staff said there is no final deployment schedule yet and that curriculum and capital-budget staff will plan a systematic deployment and prioritize specific content areas (for example, algebra, geometry and biology had been prioritized under the prior approach).

The workshop's consent agenda (agenda section 7) included multiple appropriations of school board member capital-outlay funds for ClearTouch panels and other items; the superintendent recommended the items. The transcript records the agenda items and dollar amounts but does not record a final vote on those items in this workshop excerpt. Items listed in the consent agenda included appropriations to Mary Esther Elementary, Okaloosa STEM Academy, Riverside Elementary School and others for ClearTouch panels and a Riverside sound system. District staff said they can provide a simple inventory list of ClearTouch panels at each school on request.

District staff also noted that the seat-management contract will initially support existing devices and that as new devices are added they will be incorporated into the seat-management program. Staff said principals and curriculum leaders will help determine which schools are next in line for additional devices.

The transcript does not record final approvals or vote tallies for the consent items during the workshop; each consent item was \"presented by\" a staff member and \"recommended by the superintendent.\"","Board members and staff discussed how a new seat-management contract will affect ClearTouch interactive panels, and the meeting listed multiple capital-outlay appropriations to schools for ClearTouch panels and other equipment; final approvals were not recorded on the transcript.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6331378,"Okaloosa schools review insurance market risks and workers—comp trends; 25 staff injuries from student contact reported",427,111000,538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2311241-2c928a4a1582eca2b55b5e77ffac10bd&start=111&end=538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2311241-2c928a4a1582eca2b55b5e77ffac10bd/thumbnail_111000.jpg","/articles/6331378/Florida/Okaloosa-schools-review-insurance-market-risks-and-workerscomp-trends-25-staff-injuries-from-student-contact-reported","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331378-f20acbc73cac32319363409af3e0fc47/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202249&Signature=IeE0~zs8AWbCKRJn~B-Cg11axuWUi8tMxgPiKTVPCUwm9iKJDcmvONN8L7xreg~K5nQv9N0xERHshQj-dSYJ4CT49FrK8TXCJ0wRc7EaqAhTL36b0Cr3yeuwWaP6gFpEffPvYnKrQLmNPg-AbvDliAeIl~bVvWD43GcgJDZmRXYCe1lW5TkQr8V1wPvvyWV00U6kTIpJwcBNACYc3q14IcrFSxlXzXwyU6~jpga8W8D-zkOIQKFjl3JvwtMmKWIPeMwny6SSE8lame5tQPJIsVwD0GabF79JR8qtFGzTH4QpEc~0e-Mok~iVnIwOSlQ9uDviJFnj0AVm67mR0WWtEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Miss Kato, risk-management staff for Okaloosa County School District, told the school board on Feb. 10 that the district's property/casualty and workers' compensation renewals will be affected by national market factors and local exposure data.

\"We call them FSBIT,\" Kato said, referring to the Florida School Boards Insurance Trust, which handles claims administration, loss-control training and market access for districts. She said the district recently submitted updated square-footage and property values for the renewal process.

Kato outlined the district's claims process: district staff gather police reports, photographs and videos, submit the information to the trust and pursue subrogation where other insurers are responsible. She also presented the district's top 10 workers' compensation causes for the fiscal year and said the single largest category in incident count was staff struck or injured by students.

\"That red slice represents teachers that are being struck or injured by students,\" Kato said, noting 25 such incidents in the last fiscal year.

Board members asked for historic comparisons. \"How does that look compared to past years?\" Dr. White asked; Kato said she would provide multi-year data. Kato said some of the incidents are concentrated in specific classrooms and programs and that district legislative priorities include addressing student behavior issues.

Board member Mr. Spolsky praised the district's work. \"I truly personally appreciate the fact that as a school district we have taken risk management to a new level,\" he said, thanking Kato for elevating the program.

Kato noted district property values used in the prior renewal were approximately $1,100,000,000 and that recent increases in property valuation will affect premiums. She also described market disruptors including inflation, auto/technology changes and catastrophic liability losses.

The presentation included references to a recent Florida School Boards Insurance Trust winter conference and a Department of Education Office of Safe Schools briefing by Darren Norris; Kato said written materials from those presentations were included in the board packet and offered to meet one-on-one with board members to review detail.

The board did not take formal action during the presentation. Kato said staff will supply requested historical comparisons and will report back when the district's renewal figures arrive.","Risk-management staff briefed the board on property/casualty and workerscomp exposures, saying an insurance renewal is pending and noting 25 staff injuries attributed to students in the last fiscal year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent and staff report productive Tallahassee meetings; district presses legislative interest in student behavioral supports

District reports first-semester progress on multiple capital projects: completed multipurpose buildings, sunshades and site work

District extends controlled open-enrollment window, says 15 schools closed to transfers due to capacity

Board discusses ClearTouch deployment and seat-management support costs; several small capital appropriations listed on consent agenda

Okaloosa schools review insurance market risks and workers—comp trends; 25 staff injuries from student contact reported