School Board hires three new assistant principals approves property purchases [PREMIUM]

MICHAEL DEAN KIEHNE, Assistant Principal at Freeport Elementary School.

Story and photos by ADRIANNE WALLINE CAMPBELL 

The Walton County School Board held its regular meeting on July 19, 2022, at the South Walton High School. 

A public hearing was held to discuss the proposed purchases of real property off Chat Holley Road in Santa Rosa Beach. No one commented, and both 10-acre parcels were agreed upon to purchase. The asking price for the Saunders property was originally $30,000 per acre, but because of the amount of wetlands it was reappraised at $17,500 per acre. The board approved the purchase of the Saunders property for $175,000. The board approved the purchase of the Brunson property for $350,000. There is a deed restriction on 4.2 acres from a previous wetland mitigation that wouldn’t be available to build upon. 

Telemedicine Services with 1.800 MD was approved for the 2022-2023 School Year.

There were three new assistant principals hired for the new school year: Brian Keith Morgan, Assistant Principal at Paxton School, Brian Scott Michie, Jr., Assistant Principal at South Walton High School, and Michael Dean Kiehne, Assistant Principal at Freeport Elementary School. 

The board approved the ESE Services Contract with The School Board of Okaloosa County. Superintendent Russell Hughes said he hoped to eventually bring those students back to Walton County with enough teachers and facilities to provide for their needs. 

An agreement Between Full Sail, LLC and Magnet Innovation Center of South Walton High was made. This prestigious university is a private for-profit university in Winter Park, Florida. It was formerly a recording studio in Ohio named Full Sail Productions and Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts. The school moved to Florida in 1980 and began offering online degrees in 2007. (Wikipedia) Brayden Dossey won first place in the Cultural Arts Alliance’s Under the Sea Contest, the digital design program that caught their attention. STEAM School students will be eligible for the scholarships from Full Sail University under this agreement moving forward.

THE SCHOOL BOARD at the July 19, 2022 meeting.

A property exchange between the Walton County School Board and the Florida Forest Service was discussed for property in south Walton. The state wants a 2.1:1 ratio exchange. There were two options presented. One is to receive 28.6 acres, including the 8.6 acres between U.S. Hwy 98 and the Emerald Coast Middle School and two separate 10-acre parcels close to the South Walton High School in exchange for 60 acres belonging to the school district. The second option is to receive 38.6 acres in exchange for 70 acres of land owned by the school district which is a ratio of 1.81:1. No decisions were made at this time. 

Growth for north Walton is 7.4%, central Walton (Freeport area) 43.1%, south Walton 30.5%. Overall growth of 22.2%.

Approval was given to Bullock Tice Associates for Freeport High School Master Plan Task Order #1. This includes the Athletic Complex Design and planning options for 1,000 student stations up to a maximum of 1,200. Projected cost of $ 120,410.00.

DAG Architects was approved to provide an analysis and report comparing the feasibility of adding 200 student stations each to two existing elementary schools (Dune Lakes Elementary and Van Butler Elementary) or building a brand-new elementary school with 1,000 student stations. Projected cost is $150,000. 

Approval was given for Task Order #3 to DAG Architects for A/E Services for ECTC Nursing Addition (Triumph Grant). It provide for design, construction documentation and construction administration services for an addition to create a mock emergency room at Emerald Coast Technical College. Projected cost is $179,716.

Approval was given for Work Order #2 to Culpepper Construction for modifications and additions to entrances and pick-up/ drop-off at Dune Lakes Elementary. Projected cost is $99,500.

Approval was given to renew the contract for “Let’s Talk” for the next year for $34,858, with board member Jeri Michie voting against.