Construction of the 30-classroom addition at Destin Elementary School is progressing smoothly with less than six months until its scheduled completion, Assistant Superintendent Grant Meyer told the Okaloosa County School Board during a workshop Monday.
- Meyer said the building is dried in, with brick work about 85% complete and metal roofing expected to be finished in the next few weeks. Inside, framed walls are up and interior painting and casework have begun. Windows are in place and permanent power has been established on site.
“I can’t say enough about this construction project,” Meyer said. “We’ve had very few hiccups. It’s going as smooth as possible.”
The expansion is being built on a 7.6-acre parcel adjacent to the school that the district purchased in 2023. The two-story building will house grades 3-5 and includes a multipurpose building, a new administrative suite, an elevator and a redesigned car rider drop-off area featuring a high canopy leading into a large lobby space.
A new playground has already been installed on site and is currently in use.
Meyer said site work, including curbing and asphalt, has not yet begun but is expected to start in the coming weeks. He noted that while significant progress has been made on the building itself, there is still plenty of work ahead, with crews set to work through weekends and spring break to stay on schedule.
Conversations are also underway between district staff, Destin Middle School and fifth-grade teachers and students to prepare for the transition back to the elementary campus, Meyer said.
The expansion will allow fifth-grade students currently housed at Destin Middle School to return to Destin Elementary, making it a full pre-K through fifth-grade campus. Superintendent Marcus Chambers has previously said the project will also relieve overcrowding at Destin Middle School, which has grown to more than 800 students, and will eliminate portables at both schools.
The project was approved as part of a $175 million bond issuance during the school board’s July 2024 meeting. Construction is expected to be completed by August 2026.
