In this Issue:

Did you Know?

OCSD Spotlight

Zot Artz Visits Silver Sands School

Richbourg School Hosts Olympics

Anne T. Mitchell Awards Ceremony

Each honors student was highlighted in a video tribute to the Senior Class of 2022: The Stars of Tomorrow, which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/xtb1S_MTcds.

For your planning purposes, Graduation dates and times have been scheduled and can be found here: https://www.okaloosaschools.com/articles/2022/graduation-dates-2022 . Each ceremony will be streamed live on YouTube, and schools will distribute links closer to graduation!

Crestview High School Band Selected to perform at Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival

The Crestview HS Wind Ensemble was recommended and selected to perform at the Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival, an invitational event sponsored by Music for All. The event was held at Georgia State University’s Rialto Theatre in Atlanta. 

The program included “O Vos Omnes,” a piece that was commissioned for the Crestview Band. The music was arranged and conducted by Dr. Clifton Taylor, the Associate Director of Bands at Mississippi State University. 

“The band received rave reviews from four world-renowned clinicians as well as other bands, band directors, and audience members in attendance,” said Jody Dunn, Crestview HS Director of Bands. “Okaloosa County was well-represented at this most prestigious event by the Crestview High School Band members!”

Okaloosa Public Arts Banner Contest

• Laurel Hill School – Heaven Green, Calie Steele, Maryssa Bryan, Briana Mott
• Fort Walton High School – Sophia Krantz, Jayde Claybrook, Eliana Batarao, Evdokia Watkins
• Crestview High School – Zoe Van Zandt, Katie Everett, Fiona Adair, Vivian Brooks
• Destin High School – Hope Wheatley, Megan Kurtz, Tony Martin, Colt Moore
• Niceville High School – Paetyn Hoffman, Natalie Larsen, Samantha Feldman, Lillian Mook
• Choctawhatchee High School – April Boutin, Yvonne McDaniel, Laikyn Worth

Proclamations

Human Resources

April Milestones

The following employees are enjoying a milestone this month based on their continuous service date.  Congratulations and thank you for your loyal service and commitment to excellence!

5 years of continuous service:

• Mr. Barbour, Crestview High
• Ms. Richert, Pryor Middle
• Ms. Wright, Riverside Elementary
• Mr. Young, OTC

10 years of continuous service:

• Mr. Cawthon, Destin Middle
• Mr. McNeely,  ITV

15 years of continuous service:

• Mr. Huerkamp, OTC
• Ms. Poynor, Transportation Central

25 years of continuous service:

• Ms. Henderson, Elliott Point Elementary

35 years of continuous service:

• Mr. Powell, Maintenance Central/South

Mental Health Minute

Congratulations to our Newly Appointed Administrators!

Risk Management

Delta Dental

Important: United Healthcare

Online Training: Vector Solutions

Professional Services

Retirement

To DROP or Not to DROP- What Are the Questions?

If you are eligible to retire (or getting close and thinking about it), one of the most important issues you will face is deciding whether to retire now, retire later, or join DROP and, in effect, do both; retire now, but continue to work for up to five years, allowing your retirement benefits to accumulate into a “nest egg” to enhance your retirement benefit. This decision is a highly personal one, and your individual answer will depend greatly on your own particular circumstances.

To help you decide, you may ask the division to prepare a DROP estimate for you. The estimate will show the benefits you could receive if you join DROP versus the benefits you would receive if you choose to remain in the FRS for the same period. Once you get these estimates, you might want to gather any significant financial data relevant to your situation and meet with an accountant or financial planner to discuss your personal financial situation.

The advice you get will probably not be free, but if you are unsure about how to proceed, it could be well worth the expense. You will want to consider your potential DROP benefit, your expected monthly FRS benefit, any personal investments or other assets you may have (such as your home), and your anticipated Social Security benefit (and when you expect to begin drawing this benefit). You will also want to consider any significant debts you may owe as well as other liabilities you may have. You might want to ask yourself some questions in order to maximize your chances of coming to the right conclusion for you. For example: 

• How much time do you have to decide? Are your circumstances such that you must decide quickly, or are you in a position to defer your DROP election to a later date? 

• Are you anxious to retire now, or can you wait? Can you picture yourself continuing to work for a few more months or years? 

• Will you be ready to stop working in no more than five years from your DROP eligibility date (or deferral date)? If not, do you have another job in mind or other plans? 

• Do you expect a big pay increase or promotion (or have you recently gotten one)? If so, will it increase your compensation significantly over the next five years? Would the increase in your monthly benefit resulting from the boost in your AFC be enough to offset the value of your projected DROP lump sum, withdrawn in monthly increments over the course of your lifetime? (You could ask an accountant or financial planner about potential payout methods, such as various types of annuities, IRA structured payouts, individual qualified trusts, or other possible financial arrangements, to determine the form of investment and/or structured payout that will best enhance your retirement.) This is an individual consideration that each member will have to compare and decide. Will the money you expect from DROP participation be used to increase your retirement income after DROP by “rolling over” your DROP proceeds into a tax-sheltered individual retirement account (IRA) or other investment? If so, how much interest must you earn on your investment to exceed the loss of retirement income that results from a lower FRS benefit? 

• What impact might retiring early have on your potential Social Security benefit? For example, if you enter DROP at age 50, stay in DROP for five years and terminate at age 55, under current federal age requirements you could have from seven to 10 years of zero salary factored into the calculation of your Social Security benefit (the years between ages 55 and 62 to 65). This could reduce your benefit. Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine the potential impact on your future benefit. You could call the SSA toll free at 800-772-1213 or, if you have access to the Internet, you could reach the SSA at: www.ssa.gov. From the SSA homepage, under “Online Direct Services,” select “Request a Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement” and follow instructions from there. 

• Would you like to leave a lump sum to your beneficiary or do you want to provide a guaranteed benefit to an otherwise ineligible beneficiary? If so, DROP could allow you to do so. (Under the FRS, a retiring member has limited payout options, none of which directly provide for a lump sum payout. Moreover, to leave a benefit to someone other than a spouse or financially dependent family member, you must elect the Option 2 form of payout, which provides a benefit to your chosen beneficiary at your death only for the remainder of the 10-year period after you retire.) 

• Do you have a retirement “dream” that would cost more than you have in savings, but might be afforded through DROP? For example, if you don’t need your DROP capital to make your retirement more secure, and you have always dreamed of buying a boat and sailing into the sunset or buying an RV and touring the back roads and campgrounds of America, DROP might give you a way to make your dream a reality. 

• If you envision yourself retiring at a relatively early age and embarking on a new career or starting a small business, would a DROP account provide the money you’d need?

FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM * EMPLOYER HANDBOOK, 2020 edition, Chapter 9

Curriculum and Instruction

World Autism Month

Child Abuse Prevention Month

Month of the Military Child

Social Studies Corner

Calling all A.P. U.S. Government and Politics Teachers!

The Florida Joint Center for Citizenship hosts a one-day, project-based learning workshop for Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics teachers. FJCC’s Politics in Action is a project-based approach to learning involving students engaging in political discourse and real-world scenarios to learn about U.S. government principles and policies. Participants will develop strategies to support students as they grapple with the complexities of the course content through a series of simulations designed to augment and enrich the learning environment.

The workshop is at the Lou Frey Institute Offices in Orlando on Saturday, May 14, from 8:30 am-3:30 pm. Space is limited to 30 participants, and registration is first-come, first-served. Breakfast and lunch will are provided, and participating teachers will receive a $200.00 stipend.

To register, go to https://forms.gle/rWzfhR7Jryq9btWN7

Questions? Contact Chris Spinale at christopher.spinale@ucf.edu

Spotlight Instructional Strategy

Writing to Learn: QuickWrites

While FSA Writes may be over, it’s essential that students are still writing to learn. Students’ comprehension of science, social studies, and language arts texts is improved when they write about what they read. In addition, retention in all subjects is increased when students write about ideas, concepts, and content immediately after it is presented. 

Use QuickWrites When You Want Quiet Time and Student Reflection

When interest is waning in your presentations, or you want to settle students down after a noisy teamwork activity, ask them to do a QuickWrite or short journal-writing assignment.

Ask, "What was most interesting about [blank]?" "What was confusing about [blank]?" "What was the clearest thing you understood?" "What was boring about [blank]?" "What did [blank] make you think of in your life?" Try prompts such as the following, or develop your own: "Summarize what you have heard." "Predict an exam or quiz question based on this material." "Defend one of the positions taken during the prior discussion." 

Teachers often avoid giving this type of assignment because regularly assessing them can be overwhelming. So instead, manage this load by having students use a green (or another color) pen to circle one entry from the week you guarantee you will read. Occasionally, have them write a few sentences next to their entry explaining why they want you to read that particular entry. Then, let them know that you will read the passages marked in green, and time permitting, you might read the rest!

New Buses

Material Adoptions