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| We are excited to provide you with a snapshot of some of the many amazing things that happened in the Okaloosa County School District during the 2022-2023 School Year!
First and foremost, our students went above and beyond this year, representing the Okaloosa County School District and their Schools at the District, Regional, State, and even National levels! They excelled in Science Fairs, App Challenges, Art Shows, Band and Choral Musical Performance Assessments (MPAs), Academic Tournaments, JROTC Pass in Reviews, Theater Performances, and Athletic Competitions. Teams and individuals won state and national titles, and we are beyond proud of their hard work and determination, as well as the educators, coaches, parents, and community members who were there to support them! To see some of these achievements, we invite you to visit the websites and social media accounts of our schools and District! |  | Marcus Chambers Superintendent Okaloosa County School District |
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| Military FriendlyAll 37 OCSD Schools earned the state’s Purple Star School of Distinction designation. | |
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 | District Earns an A | OCSD was awarded an A-rating by the Florida Department of Education based on student academic performance- one of fourteen A districts out of sixty-seven in Florida. |
|  | Academically High Performing | OCSD received Academically High Performing School District status from the Department of Education based on academics, financial accountability, and class size compliance. Okaloosa is the only District to receive this designation every year since 2013. |
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 | System of Distinction | Entered the 2022-23 School year recognized as one of thirty-eight School Districts of Distinction worldwide by Cognia, a school accreditation agency. Cognia serves 36,000 public and private institutions from early learning through high school in more than 90 countries. |
|  | School Security | Our School District completed District-Wide School Security Upgrade projects including single points of entry, enhanced camera and communication systems, and perimeter fencing. |
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 | Mental Health a Priority | Emphasized student mental health by successfully integrating Hope Squad programs in all of our schools. |
|  | Bus Replacement Program | This year we continued our bus fleet refresh process with the purchase of fifteen new school buses. |
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 | #3 District in the State | Rated #3 School District in Florida by Niche.com. |
|  | New Student Information System | Transitioned to a new platform (FOCUS) for parents and students to access grades, attendance, and more online or through a mobile app. |
|  | Almost 62,000 Volunteer Hours | More than 6,600 volunteers registered through the Raptor Volunteer Management system giving almost 62,000 Volunteer hours back to the schools. This represents 40% of our approved volunteers. Thank you!! |
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New Construction |
 | Possible design for NEW k-8 school(s) in Crestview. |
|  | Possible design for new fourth and fifth grade wing at Destin Elementary School. |
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Began design work on a new K-8 school on an 80 acre parcel in Crestview and a fourth and fifth grade expansion at Destin Elementary School. Plans are in place to design words build an elementary school in Niceville.
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Classroom Additions
Multi-Purpose BuildingsCafetoriums |
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Our students and staff deserve the safest learning environment possible. This year, our Safe Schools department… Increased the Office of Safe Schools (OSS) personnel to improve school-level support and safety monitoring. Extensive professional development training completed by OSS personnel to maintain the highest level of readiness and professional expertise. Two “stocked” response vehicles were added to the OSS fleet based regionally for quick reaction and emergency management response and recovery efforts. OCSD Safe School’s Program Director was appointed by FLDOE & MSD Commission Threat Management Committee to develop FL specific threat management processes, instruments, and manuals to be used by all public schools in the state. Increased training facilitated by OSS for school-based safety teams and administrators to include monthly scenario-based training opportunities. Enhanced inspection and compliance practices, utilizing data obtained to identify specific school-based needs or recommended district-wide best practices.
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Our students’ mental health is a priority! This year our Student Services Department… |
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Increased the number of providers for the OCSD School-Based Mental Health Program with the addition of two District Mental Health Counselors, bringing the total to 21. Partnered with CDAC to add 11 full-time health providers to 11 high-need elementary schools. Completed Hope Squad integration in all elementary schools centered around kindness. Hope Squad, a peer-to-peer suicide prevention and intervention program was introduced in every secondary school in 2021.
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Implemented a District Child Study Team to coordinate and assist in improving the intervention process for struggling students at each school. Established a paid internship program to recruit and retain School Psychologists and Mental Health Counselors, as both are hard-to-fill positions. Created and delivered voluntary Professional Development for Understanding the Brain States for Emotional Regulation (Surviving to Thriving).
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This year our ESE Department… Increased the number of professionals assisting with behavior interventions for struggling students (five Board Certified Behavior Analysts and nine Behavior Interventionists). Established an ESE Parent Advisory Committee to meet quarterly to provide feedback regarding ESE services for OCSD students. Purchased comprehensive and engaging curriculum for our Pre-KD classrooms and classrooms with students on ACCESS points. Initiated Project SEARCH, a unique program designed to help students with disabilities successfully transition from high school to the workforce by partnering with Hilton Garden Inn (FWB), which enables students to participate in targeted internships.
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Ordered new wheelchair accessible vans for Richbourg School and Silver Sands School in order to safely transport students participating in school-to-work programs. Hired an ESE teacher to support Students with Disabilities who enroll with Okaloosa Online. Increased professional development for bus drivers, ESE teachers, and ESE Paraprofessionals (Safety Care, de-escalation strategies, appropriate restraint techniques). Invested in and implemented Orton Gillingham multisensory training for Elementary Resource teachers as a supplement to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling does not come easily to students, such as those with dyslexia.
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Our Curriculum Department was busy with new curriculum and testing! They… Implemented the new Benchmarks for Excellence Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) standards and purchased new state adopted textbooks in ELA and Math. Provided targeted in-person professional learning on high-yield standards-based instructional practices. Implemented the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), Florida’s new statewide progress monitoring assessment system to include VPK-Grade 10 ELA, VPK-Grade 8 Math, Algebra I, and Geometry EOC. Increased the number of ELA and Math Instructional Coaches to differentiate professional learning at the school level. Career and Technical Education (CTE) earned 1,281 industry certifications for the 2022-2023 school year and $930,015 from Career and Professional Education (CAPE) funding. Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Grants provided: 630 student iPads and iPad pencils 21 teacher iPad Pros (13”) with pencils Apple TVs 21 TV monitors with stands
Hired a District Media Specialist to review library books and materials prior to purchase. A district parent permission form was established for teachers to use for novels and videos that are being used instructionally. Teacher classroom library book lists were added to the schools’ websites for stakeholder access and preview. Instructional and Library Media Materials lists and policies are linked on the District’s website allowing stakeholders to review the materials, providing transparency to stakeholders.
Added 100 Clear Touch interactive boards in Title I elementary classrooms with training provided.
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Purchased 15 new air-conditioned buses to continue our bus fleet replacement cycle. Implemented automated video download system for school buses in Transportation North and South. We will implement this system in Transportation Central in the 2023-2024 school year. Food Services served 782,929 Breakfasts and 2,328,128 Lunches. That’s over 3 million meals! (as of 5-19-23)
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Professional Development Certification ProgramParticipants in the Professional Development Certification Program take prescribed courses and complete District and State requirements that allow them to obtain a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate. The online courses in this program help new educators become competent in the Florida Educator Approved Practices.
New Teacher InstituteImplemented the New Teacher Institute for teachers who did not go through a formal teacher preparation program to learn the basics of classroom management, lesson planning, instructional strategies, and professional responsibilities.
Self-Funded Medical InsuranceOur Risk Management and Finance Departments executed an extensive analysis of the employee insurance program which resulted in the implementation of a self-funded group medical insurance plan that replaces our existing plan. Some major benefits include: The difference between health insurance premiums paid by the district and the claims made against those premiums, which could be significant in a given year, will now belong to the district rather than an insurance company. There will be increased flexibility for employees to create tailored health solutions. There will be more transparency to factors impacting the financial condition of the plan.
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