Okaloosa County School District Superintendent Marcus Chambers highlighted the importance of direct communication between parents and school officials during a school board workshop on Monday, August 26, 2024, as the district enters its third week of the new academic year.

• Chambers began by acknowledging the overall positive start to the school year, which commenced on August 12. 

“I think we’ve gotten off to a smooth start of the school year,” he said, while also recognizing that there’s always room for improvement. “Things can always be smoother,” Chambers added, addressing the typical challenges that come with the beginning of a new school year.

The Superintendent detailed how various aspects of daily school operations have been steadily improving through ongoing adjustments. “When you look at bus routes, car rider lines, and lunch lines at the beginning of the year, there’s processes that schools are going through,” Chambers explained. He provided specific examples of how these processes have been refined over the first few weeks.

“The first week of school, for example, car rider lines may have taken an hour on that first day. On the second day, it was 40 minutes, and on that third day, it was 30 minutes,” Chambers said, illustrating the quick improvements made. 

• He noted that similar adjustments have been made to bus routes and lunch lines. Chambers specifically addressed a recent incident of an overcrowded bus that had gained significant attention on social media.

“We had a situation where the bus was overcrowded,” Chambers explained. “The bus driver did a great job of dealing with that situation, communicating with the transportation department. We also communicated with the transportation department at the district level.”

Chambers detailed the swift response to the issue: ‘By the time the afternoon route was there, the bus was no longer overcrowded. The adjustment was made and the families were contacted.” He emphasized that the situation was remediated in less than 12 hours, with communication to affected families happening within just a couple of hours.

Chambers expressed his appreciation for the hard work of teachers, staff, administrators, and district personnel in making these necessary adjustments. He also set realistic expectations for future years, stating, “I would love to say that next school year, in the first two weeks of school, that everything’s going to be 100% smooth. It’s not going to be, there’s going to be adjustments that are made.”

The Superintendent then addressed the role of communication in resolving issues that arise. While acknowledging everyone’s right to share information through various channels, including social media, Chambers strongly encouraged direct communication with school and district officials as the most effective way to address concerns.

• “I would encourage folks to reach out to your school, reach out to your teacher, reach out to your principal, and reach out to the district office,” Chambers said. “In more cases than not, when you reach out to your school, situations are handled.” He emphasized that this approach often leads to quicker resolutions and ensures that accurate information is being shared and acted upon.

Aside from the recent bus crowding situation, Chambers also addressed other concerns that had circulated on social media, including a rumor about Choctaw High School changing its name and a situation involving a particular student. In both cases, direct communication with the involved parties led to quick clarification or resolution.

• Chambers stressed the district’s commitment to student safety, particularly in cases where threats are made. “We have shown zero tolerance for anyone that makes threats against our students or our employees,” he stated, while also noting that the district must follow state and federal laws in addressing such situations.

School board members echoed Chambers’ sentiments about the importance of direct communication. Linda Evanchyk emphasized how board members help connect parents with the appropriate resources to address their concerns. “We are all very receptive to speaking with the public,” Evanchyk said, “but it’s mainly our job to make sure you get to the people who can solve the problem.”

• Tim Bryant praised the district’s approach to problem-solving, noting how it allows for quick responses to parent concerns. “I appreciate the fact that you give us that latitude to be able to reach out and not necessarily have to pull you in right away,” Bryant told Chambers.

Dr. Lamar White reinforced the board’s commitment to serving the community, acknowledging that while thorough solutions sometimes require time to implement, “we want to do the right thing.”

Chambers concluded by expressing his appreciation for the community’s support and the dedicated efforts of school district employees. “We’re not going to be perfect, but we are going to strive to truly make a difference,” he said, emphasizing the shared goal of positively impacting students’ lives.