All Okaloosa County School District schools and district facilities will remain closed Wednesday, Oct. 14, and school will resume Thursday, Oct. 15, the district announced Tuesday afternoon.
The district had announced Monday that classes would resume Wednesday.
The decision follows the district’s ongoing assessments and discussions with Commissioner of Education Henry Mack and the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis about recovery efforts and the needs of students, families and employees, according to the district’s 2:45 p.m. update.
Why the extra day
The district said significant progress has been made, but many families and employees are still dealing with challenges caused by the storm.
“We want to extend grace and compassion to the many families and employees who are still experiencing challenges caused by the storm,” the district wrote.
Some are still without power or water, while others are dealing with property damage or transportation issues, according to the district. The additional day will give families more time to recover and prepare for a successful return to school.
It will also give employees whose classrooms and workspaces were impacted by the storm time to prepare their learning environments, the district said.
Activities and events
Schools will communicate school-specific information about extracurricular activities, athletics and events directly with students and families, according to the district.
“Our goal is to ensure that when students return, they are returning to safe, welcoming learning environments where they are set up for success,” the district wrote.
The district thanked Mack and DeSantis, its Facilities Maintenance, Transportation and Food Services departments, Florida Power & Light, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the companies, organizations, volunteers and individuals who have helped restore services.
