Public urges reconsideration of Mary Esther Elementary closure; board says decision driven by enrollment

At the public-comment portion of Wednesday’s workshop, Cynthia West urged the Okaloosa County School Board to consider equity and alternatives before moving forward with a possible closure of Mary Esther Elementary, which is slated for a February 23 preliminary vote.

West, who identified herself as a community researcher of district funding and policy, said Mary Esther serves a high-need population (she cited roughly 72% of students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch and proficiency rates just over half in reading and math). "If this were a higher income school sitting on a less valuable land, would this closure even be under consideration?" she asked the board.

Board response and clarifications: district leaders responded that closure discussions are driven by enrollment patterns rather than property value, and that Longwood (another Title I school discussed in the same process) is also under consideration because enrollment data dictate consolidation options. The superintendent and staff emphasized that Mary Esther is not a "failing" school under state assessments and said district records show Mary Esther is a B-rated school.

Financial question: a board member asked where proceeds from a hypothetical sale would be used. Staff replied that proceeds would be treated as capital dollars and would not be available to plug operating gaps such as pay raises. "It does not" help operating budgets, a district official said when asked whether sale revenue could offset recurring operating costs.

Next steps: the board has not yet voted on school closure; staff and board members said they will provide data and continue the enrollment and community-impact discussion before any final decision.

Ending: the board welcomed the public comment and said staff would continue to brief members on enrollment data and options ahead of any formal vote.