🍎🍽️ Welcome Back, Santa Rosa County! 🍽️🍎

After the hurricane closure, our Food Service team was grateful to welcome students and staff back to schools across Santa Rosa County.

From the moment the cafeteria doors opened, our team was ready with open hearts, big smiles, and delicious meals to help make the return to school a little brighter. Thank you to our incredible cafeteria teams who worked tirelessly to prepare meals and create a warm, welcoming environment for everyone.

We know the days following a storm can be challenging, and we're honored to serve our students with the nourishment, comfort, and care they deserve.

We're happy to have our students back where they belong and look forward to a great school year ahead!

🎉Time to celebrate! 🏆

🦅East Bay K-8 School has been recognized for their work implementing a school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. PBIS is an evidence-based, three-tiered prevention framework that national research shows leads to reduced exclusionary discipline and improved student and teacher outcomes.

Through this framework, they developed the skills of their students and staff, used data to identify needed supports, acknowledged appropriate behavior, and made system changes where needed to enhance school climate. As a result of this work, they are being recognized by the FLPBIS Project for achieving Gold PBIS Model School status. This award demonstrates their commitment to positive outcomes for all students!

For more information on their efforts, visit https://www.santarosaschools.org/o/ebk8. To learn more about @FLPBIS Project Model Schools, visit https://flpbis.cbcs.usf.edu/.

#EastBayK8School #GoldPBISModelSchool #FLPBIS #PBIS #PBISGold #SRC_PBISPROUD #SRCDS #PositiveBehaviorSupport #PositiveSchoolCulture #StudentSuccess #SchoolExcellence #CelebratingSuccess #EveryStudentEveryDay

🚌 Transportation Update for Monday, October 19 🚌

As we prepare to welcome students back to school tomorrow, we understand that some bus stops may still have significant storm debris that could prevent students from safely waiting for their bus.

Working in collaboration with local and state partners, the District has identified and cleared additional temporary bus stop locations to provide safe waiting areas for students. Temporary bus stop signs (see attached photo) have been placed at these locations to help families easily identify the designated stops. A map of temporary bus stop locations is attached to this post. You can also access a list of temporary bus stops as well as the map by clicking the links below:

Temporary Bus Stops Map: https://aptg.co/yv0Y86

Temporary Bus Stops List: https://aptg.co/vqRkkc

School buses will run their regular routes and service their normal stops while incorporating these temporary locations as needed until conditions return to normal. Families are encouraged to check the MyRide K-12 app for the most up-to-date transportation information for their students. Parents or guardians picking up kindergarten students from the bus must present a photo ID.

We look forward to welcoming our students, educators, and staff back on Monday, October 19, to begin a wonderful week together. Above all, we are grateful that our school community is safe, reunited, and able to focus once again on learning and preparing our students for a successful future.

Community Resources

Families who need assistance can access the following resources:

- 211 Northwest Florida is available 24 hours a day. Call 211 to connect with storm-related services, resources, and support.

-To text 211 for assistance, text your zip code to 898211

- For assistance with storm cleanup, contact the Crisis Cleanup Hotline at 1-800-451-1954.

October 16 - Update

All 36 Santa Rosa County District Schools will reopen on Monday, October 19.

Transportation Information

Regular bus routes will be operational on Monday. If any bus stop is moved, due to debris, notification will be sent to those students affected through the My Ride K12 app. The county will work to remove debris from those locations before students return to school on Monday.

Because debris removal across the county is expected to continue for several weeks, parents and guardians are asked to walk students to and from their bus stops each morning and afternoon to help ensure their safety. Parents or guardians picking up students from the bus must present a photo ID.

Medication Information 

Due to recent power outages, temperature-sensitive medications stored in school clinic refrigerators have been compromised, and any affected temperature-sensitive medications, including insulin and other refrigerated medications, must be discarded and replaced before they can be administered at school. 

If your child has a medication stored in the school clinic that requires refrigeration or temperature-controlled storage, please contact your child's healthcare provider and/or pharmacy as soon as possible to obtain a replacement medication. Once obtained, please provide the replacement medication to the school clinic.  School health staff may contact you directly if records indicate that your child has medication stored at school that may have been affected by the power outage. If you have any questions, please contact your school's clinic staff. 

We look forward to welcoming students and staff back to school on Monday, October 19 and returning to a sense of routine while recovery efforts continue throughout our community.

Community Resources

Families who need assistance can access the following resources:

• 211 Northwest Florida is available 24 hours a day. Call or text 211 to connect with storm-related services, resources, and support.

• For assistance with storm cleanup, contact the Crisis Cleanup Hotline at 1-800-451-1954.

October 15 Update -

Our thoughts continue to be with our students, families, and employees who are navigating the challenges of recovery following Hurricane Isaias. As we prepare to reopen schools, we remain committed to supporting our community every step of the way.

Our goal remains to reopen all 36 Santa Rosa County District Schools on Monday, October 19. We are continuing to assess school facilities and operations, and we will provide daily updates as we approach reopening. If any school requires an alternative schedule or location, families will be notified immediately.

Student and Staff Support

We recognize this storm has been a traumatic experience for many students, families, and employees. Additional counselors and support personnel will be available as students and staff return, and our schools are prepared to provide emotional support during this transition.

Medication Information

Due to recent power outages, temperature-sensitive medications stored in school clinic refrigerators have been compromised, and any affected temperature-sensitive medications, including insulin and other refrigerated medications, must be discarded and replaced before they can be administered at school.

If your child has a medication stored in the school clinic that requires refrigeration or temperature-controlled storage, please contact your child's healthcare provider and/or pharmacy as soon as possible to obtain a replacement medication. Once obtained, please provide the replacement medication to the school clinic. School health staff may contact you directly if records indicate that your child has medication stored at school that may have been affected by the power outage. If you have any questions, please contact your school's clinic staff.

Displaced Families

If your family's living situation has changed because of the storm, please notify your child's school and complete the required residency information so we can connect you with available resources and support services.

Transportation

To the extent possible, we will run our normal bus routes. Bus routes will be driven this week to identify bus stops impacted by storm debris. The county will then work to remove debris from those locations before students return to school on Monday. Debris removal across the county is expected to continue for several weeks. To help ensure student safety, parents and guardians will need to walk students to and from their bus stops.

Food Services

Regular school meal service will resume upon reopening. Families whose income has been impacted by Hurricane Isaias are encouraged to apply or reapply for free and reduced-price meal benefits through MySchoolApps or by visiting www.myschoolapps.com

Community Resources

If you need assistance, 211 Northwest Florida is available 24 hours a day. Call or text 211 to connect with storm-related resources and support services.

If you need help with storm cleanup, contact the Crisis Cleanup Hotline at 1-800-451-1954.

Recovery will take time, and we know many families are still facing challenges. Please know that our schools are here to support you, and we are committed to caring for our students, families, and employees as we move forward together. While much recovery work remains ahead, our goal continues to be reopening schools on Monday, October 19, and welcoming everyone back to our campuses.

Good morning,

After careful consideration and respect for our community, the Santa Rosa County School Board unanimously voted at this morning’s regularly scheduled School Board meeting, to remain closed through Friday, October 16th. School will resume on Monday, October 19th.

This extension will allow for continued work at our school sites to ensure safety for our students and staff and provide additional time for our community to recover. If there are specific schools on Monday still without power or where restoration work has not been completed, we will notify families in advance.
The school calendar will be adjusted as a result of the additional days of closure.

On behalf of Dr. Barber, our thoughts continue to be with all of our school district family. If families are in need of resources during this time, please contact the United Way at 211 for resources and support.

Please stay tuned to district communication channels – including our Facebook, Instagram, and the SRCDS app through Rooms – throughout the week for any additional information.

Good afternoon,

On behalf of Superintendent Dr. Karen Barber, we hope that everyone is safe and recovering following Hurricane Isaias. We want to express our sincere thanks to all the organizations who are helping our schools and our community recover following the storm. Our thoughts and concerns continue to be with our district family and community during this time.

At the direction of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education, all school districts in the Florida Panhandle, including Santa Rosa County District Schools, are directed to reopen schools on Wednesday, October 14th. Teams from Emergency Management, FPL, EREC, the National Guard, and our district staff are working to make final preparations for this reopening, including the clearing of roads and reconnecting electricity to schools still without power. If there are schools that will not be able to reopen, that

CAMPUSES
Multiple recovery partners are actively engaged in restoration efforts. Damage Recovery Group is coordinating restoration activities through the Florida School Boards Insurance Trust. Southern Catastrophe and Edwards Roofing are addressing roofing repairs and temporary dry-in measures. Bergeron Emergency Disaster Services is coordinating debris removal, while Thompson Consulting is monitoring debris operations. A determination will be made Tuesday afternoon for any school that is not safe and ready for students, and families and employees of that school will be notified. Our schools will not be in perfect condition, but they will be safe for the return of our students.

TRANSPORTATION
Buses will run on Wednesday, but alternative routes will be developed, due to the likelihood of post-hurricane debris and debris removal crews working along roadsides. The Florida Department of Transportation and Santa Rosa Emergency Management are coordinating the removal of debris. Parents and guardians, please walk and supervise your children to and from the alternate bus stop to your home to ensure your children are safe. Please check My Ride K-12 app for alternative route information. Updated route information should be available by Tuesday evening, October 13.

MEALS
On Wednesday, alternative meals may be provided, due to delayed food supplier deliveries. Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) may serve as this alternative meal. Students may certainly bring meals from home, if parents and guardians prefer.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Any athletic practices and contests scheduled for Wednesday or later may still take place at the discretion of the schools, teams, and coaches, and as facilities and conditions allow.

Lastly, we realize there may be some students and staff who are not able to return to school and work. Please communicate directly with your school and leadership regarding your circumstances.
Our thoughts continue to be with all of our school district family. If families are in need of resources during this time, please contact the United Way at 211 for resources and support.

Please stay tuned to district communication channels – including our Facebook, Instagram, and the SRCDS app through Rooms – throughout the week for any additional information.
Additional helpful information from Santa Rosa County can also be found at the link below.

https://santarosa.fl.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/2209

🏆💛 Time to celebrate!

Avalon Middle School has been recognized for their work implementing a school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. PBIS is an evidence-based, three-tiered prevention framework that national research shows leads to reduced exclusionary discipline and improved student and teacher outcomes.

Through this framework, they developed the skills of their students and staff, used data to identify needed supports, acknowledged appropriate behavior, and made system changes where needed to enhance school climate. As a result of this work, they are being recognized by the FLPBIS Project for achieving Gold PBIS Model School status.
This award demonstrates their commitment to positive outcomes for all students!

For more information on their efforts, visit https://ams.santarosaschools.org/o/ams. To learn more about @FLPBIS Project Model Schools, visit https://flpbis.cbcs.usf.edu/.

#AvalonMiddleSchoolMiltonFL #GoldPBISModelSchool #FLPBIS #PBIS #PBISGold #SRC_PBISPROUD #SRCDS #PositiveBehaviorSupport #PositiveSchoolCulture #StudentSuccess #SchoolExcellence #CelebratingSuccess #EveryStudentEveryDay

.🎉TIME TO CELEBRATE! 🏅

West Navarre Primary School has been recognized for their work implementing a school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. PBIS is an evidence-based, three-tiered prevention framework that national research shows leads to reduced exclusionary discipline and improved student and teacher outcomes.

Through this framework, they developed the skills of their students and staff, used data to identify needed supports, acknowledged appropriate behavior, and made system changes where needed to enhance school climate. As a result of this work, they are being recognized by the FLPBIS Project for achieving Gold PBIS Model School status. This award demonstrates their commitment to positive outcomes for all students!

For more information on their efforts, visit https://wnp.santarosaschools.org/o/wnp. To learn more about @FLPBIS Project Model Schools, visit https://flpbis.cbcs.usf.edu/.

#WestNavarrePrimarySchool #GoldPBISModelSchool #FLPBIS #PBIS #PBISGold #SRC_PBISPROUD #SRCDS #PositiveBehaviorSupport #StudentSuccess #SchoolExcellence #CelebratingSuccess #EveryStudentEveryDay

Good afternoon,

On behalf of Dr. Barber, we hope that you and your families are safe following the storm and as clean up and recovery are ongoing.

District staff have been assessing damage to sites and campuses and the impact of Hurricane Isaias. Based on the information we have, campuses will not be ready for the return of students and staff on Tuesday, October 13th, and schools and district offices will continue to be closed. This includes all district- and school-sponsored activities, practices, and athletic contests, with the exception of the School Board meeting on Tuesday. Crews will need additional time to complete the cleanup and recovery efforts at our schools and roads need to be clear and safe for school buses to run.

Our campuses remain closed and there should be no staff or visitors on campus. Also, all district and school sponsored activities, practices, and athletic contest are canceled, except for the regularly scheduled school board meeting on Tuesday, which will still take place.

At this time, we are waiting on information from Emergency Management, Florida Power and Light, and Escambia River Electric Co-op related to the clearing of roads and restoration of utilities, including power and water, to our schools, and from our maintenance department that our schools are clean, safe, and ready for students. Our goal is to open as soon as Wednesday, October 14th, but that determination will be made on a school-by-school basis by Tuesday evening.

If we are not ready for a complete county opening, families will be notified on a school by school basis.

As always, the health, safety and well-being of our students and staff is our highest priority. If families are in need of resources during this time, please contact the United Way at 211 to for resources and support.

Please stay tuned to district communication channels throughout the week for any additional information.

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

My thoughts and concerns are with all our district family during this time. We hope that all of you are safe and healthy following the storm. Due to the impact of the storm, it has been decided that schools and offices will be closed on the previously scheduled Planning Day, Monday, October 12th. We hope this time allows for our staff to tend to families and your homes. This will also allow the district to survey damages and make any necessary plans and adjustments.

Plans for Tuesday, October 13th, and beyond will depend on information received about our schools and from our service providers and will be communicated later.

Again, our thoughts are with our school district family, and we hope that all of you are well. Dr. Karen Barber

Update regarding Tropical Storm Isaias

 In consultation and coordination with Santa Rosa County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service in Mobile, Santa Rosa County District Schools is sharing the following important information regarding Tropical Storm Isaias.  Schools will remain open, Thursday, October 8th.  However, all after-school and extracurricular activities scheduled for Thursday, October 8th, are canceled. Latchkey will remain open Thursday, 10/8, through 6:00 p.m.

 Out of an abundance of caution and with the safety of our students, employees, and families as our highest priority, all district schools and offices will be closed Friday, October 9th. This includes athletic events, practices, clubs, meetings, and other school-sponsored activities.

 All district and school-sponsored activities scheduled for Saturday, October 10th, are also canceled.

 We understand that changes to school schedules can create challenges for our families, and we appreciate your patience, flexibility, and understanding as we prioritize the safety of our school community.

 The district will continue to monitor conditions and will communicate any additional updates through our official communication channels. Families and employees are encouraged to monitor district messages for the latest information.