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District highlights career fairs and VPK outreach as enrollment strategy
Summary
At the March 9 workshop the district told the board that college/career fairs and a VPK movie-day outreach drew hundreds of students and families; the Okaloosa Public School Foundation provided backpacks and materials to encourage kindergarten and VPK enrollment.
District and foundation representatives reported a series of college and career fairs and a VPK outreach event at the board's March 9 workshop, saying the events aim to boost enrollment and connect students with local employers and postsecondary options.
Superintendent Chambers noted the district's CTE signing day set for April 15 and praised the Okaloosa Public School Foundation for support. Foundation and school staff described a VPK movie-day outreach that filled two theaters and a sequence of career fairs (Beachside, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach) that hosted hundreds of students and dozens of vendors, including colleges, military recruiters and local businesses. One presenter said nearly 400 students attended across fair events.
Speakers emphasized hands-on engagement and short activities that introduced students to workforce options (e.g., a five-minute Trainify exercise at a CareerSource booth) and encouraged summer employment leads and scholarship information from local clubs. The board credited volunteers, school maintenance staff and student ambassadors for supporting large, successful events.
The presentation was informational; board members said the outreach dovetails with efforts to reverse elementary-enrollment declines and to market district programs to families. No policy action was taken at the meeting.
