Okaloosa School Board approves rezoning for Ruckle Middle, Bluewater Elementary and Destin Middle

The Okaloosa County School Board on Monday approved a proposed rezoning of an attendance area that is dually zoned for Ruckle Middle School, Bluewater Elementary School and Destin Middle School, a motion that passed 5-0 after no members of the public spoke at the 6:15 p.m. public hearing.

Board members said the change will affect a small number of students. One board member whose district includes the affected area told colleagues the change involves 31 students: “23 of those are in seventh and eighth grade, 8 are in fifth and sixth grade,” and said the 23 in seventh and eighth will not be affected next year because transportation will be provided. The same board member said the eight younger students will be reassigned when a new wing opens and that the district expects the overall impact to be minimal.

The rezoning was presented on the agenda as "proposed rezoning of the attendance area dually zoned for Ruckle Middle School, Bluewater Elementary School, and Destin Middle School". With no public speakers during the hearing, the board took a motion to approve the rezoning. The motion was made by Mr. Bryant and seconded by Mr. Heinle; the board voted unanimously, 5-0, to adopt the change. Board members also noted that school-choice waivers remain available for students who wish to remain at their current school; transportation, where referenced, will be the limiting factor for continued service.

The board did not specify an effective date for the boundary change in the hearing record; members described a transition timeline intended to allow families the remainder of this school year plus one full school year to make arrangements. No authority, ordinance, statute or administrative rule was cited during the public hearing discussion.

The board returned to other business after the vote; no further public comment was recorded on this rezoning item.