Okaloosa board hears request to restore fifth grade at Eglin Elementary; public hearing to be advertised

Assistant Superintendent Spolsky told the Okaloosa County School Board that leadership at Eglin Air Force Base requested restoring fifth grade at Eglin Elementary, asking the board to advertise a public hearing on the proposed remisioning.

Spolsky said the request originated with base leadership and that staff had reviewed allocations and school-data implications. “But this did come from a request from leadership at Eglin Air Force Base,” he said. He added that if the change is approved after the advertisement and subsequent vote, staff will meet with families using the same process applied for earlier remisions such as Bluewater and Destin Middle.

The proposal would return Eglin Elementary to a K–5 configuration; Spolsky noted, “Eglin Elementary right now is a K through 4. It used to be a K through 5. Fifth grade was moved to Lewis. Lewis has K through 8.” He clarified that Lewis would continue to serve fifth grade as well if Eglin’s configuration is restored: “There still would be a fifth grade at Lewis.”

Board members asked whether the change would relieve enrollment pressure at Lewis. Spolsky replied it would not necessarily “relieve pressure” but would “create more capacity.” The board did not take a formal vote on the remisioning during the portion of the meeting captured in the transcript; the item was introduced as a request to advertise a public hearing.

If the board follows the advertised hearing process, Spolsky said staff would hold family meetings and collect community input before any final board vote.

Meeting materials presented to the board included the formal request to advertise and staff notes on allocations and family engagement steps.