Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Boundaries topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School board to advertise public hearing on three Soundside High boundary scenarios
Summary
The Santa Rosa County School Board voted unanimously to advertise a public hearing on three proposed boundary maps for the new Soundside High School after a detailed presentation showing differing student counts, capacity estimates and a staff recommendation favoring the orange scenario.
The Santa Rosa County School Board on Dec. 11 voted unanimously to advertise a public hearing on three proposed boundary maps for the new Soundside High School.
Staff member Tom Harrell presented three color-coded scenarios — labeled purple, pink and orange — showing how students would be rezoned among Soundside, Gulf Breeze and Navarre high schools. Harrell said the purple scenario would place Soundside at roughly 80% capacity (1,441 students in the illustrative example), the pink scenario about 84% and the orange scenario about 68% in the opening-year model. He explained those figures both with and without an adjustment for 400 portable (relocatable) student stations used in some schools.
"If we take a look at Soundside High School ... there are 1,664 student stations at Soundside High School," Harrell said, explaining how each scenario affects fill rates and grade-level distributions. He described local growth pressures near the new site and said the orange map is the most attractive option based on expected growth and flexibility for future enrollment shifts.
Board members asked for clarifications about specific neighborhoods included in each map, and Harrell showed enlarged maps to point out boundaries such as Tiger Point East, Brewster Street and the Garson Point Bridge corridor. A committee member noted the orange scenario takes fewer students from Gulf Breeze and leaves more capacity for growth at Navarre.
Chair moved to advertise the public hearing so residents can review the maps and comment; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Harrell said the larger maps will be posted online and available in the superintendent's office starting the next day and that the public hearing will provide an opportunity for parents and community members to comment before the board decides on a final zoning plan.
The board did not adopt a boundary map at the Dec. 11 meeting; it approved only the advertisement for a public hearing and posted maps for public review. The hearing itself will be scheduled and notice provided per the advertisement.
