School board approves personnel, facilities and task orders; appoints new Destin Middle principal

At its regular meeting the Okaloosa County School Board approved a series of routine and substantive items, including personnel recommendations, facilities task orders and the appointment of Mandy Lopez as principal of Destin Middle School.

The board approved the agenda at the start of the meeting. Multiple motions across the agenda passed by unanimous voice vote (recorded as 5-0). The board voted to appoint Mandy Lopez as the principal of Destin Middle School after Superintendent Chambers presented Lopez's educational and professional background, including a bachelor's in elementary education from East Carolina University, a master's in educational leadership from the University of West Florida, and district leadership awards. The motion to appoint Lopez was made and seconded and carried 5-0; Lopez addressed the board, thanking colleagues and expressing readiness to begin at Destin Middle School.

The board also approved a consent agenda and a set of superintendent human-resources recommendations (items 8.3through 8.9), which included out-of-field reporting for school year "2526," employment separations, personnel recommendations, transfers, suspension actions, reinstatement and sick-leave reimbursement for a line-of-duty illness, and approved leave without pay requests. Individual motions and seconds are recorded in the meeting transcript and each item was approved by voice vote (5-0).

Facilities and construction items were handled in a group of motions presented by Dr. Smith. Approved items included: - Program 6, Task Order 22: districtwide ADA sidewalk and parking-lot striping (time-and-materials). - Program 6, Task Order 25: districtwide stadium repairs (time-and-materials). - Program 6, Task Order 32, Scope Modification 6: central administration roof coating and replacement, phase 2 (GMP). - Program 6, Task Order 45, Scope Modification 1: Okaloosa Technical College restroom renovations and Laurel Hill School restroom and locker-room renovations (GMP). Each of the above motions was moved, seconded, and approved by a recorded voice vote (5-0).

Votes at a glance (recorded in the transcript as voice votes): agenda approval (5-0); appointment of Mandy Lopez, Destin Middle School principal (5-0); consent agenda (5-0); HR items 8.3 (each 5-0); program/task-order approvals 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 (each 5-0).

Board members who appear in the voting record and transcript include Mr. Bridal, Mr. Destin, Mr. Bryant, Dr. White and Mr. Heimley (all recorded as voting "Aye" during the roll of items noted). The transcript records motions and seconds for each item; no roll-call dissent or abstentions were recorded in the public minutes.

Next steps: items approved proceed to implementation by district staff and relevant contractors; the appointment of Mandy Lopez is effective per district personnel procedures. The board adjourned after announcements and a brief public-business period.