Okaloosa Superintendent recommends moving first day of school to August 31st

Superintendent Marcus Chambers will ask the School Board to approve a revised calendar for the 2020-2021 school year that changes the first day of school for students from August 11^th to August 31^st. 

Ongoing discussions with the Department of Health, military officials, school staff, and parents played a part in this decision, according to Chambers.

“The change to a later start date ensures that the District has sufficient time to enhance preparations and to provide training to all staff on the new protocols that will be in place this fall.”

Superintendent Marcus Chamber

“The change to a later start date ensures that the District has sufficient time to enhance preparations and to provide training to all staff on the new protocols that will be in place this fall”, said Chambers. “We know how much the community is counting on us to get this right. Our top priorities are to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff while also providing students with the best possible academic programs. The extra time to further prepare and train staff is critical and will result in safer school buildings when students return.”

Teachers and school staff will be coming back into the school buildings early to receive training on the new protocols in place in schools.    

In recommending the change, Chambers applauded the work done so far this summer by District and School-based employees.

“Our Reopening Schools Work Group has done a great job laying out a roadmap for coming back to school, and we will continue to seek guidance from health officials and others throughout the next month to inform our decisions.” 

Students who selected mySchool Online or Okaloosa Online instructional options would also begin August 31^st. With the change in school starting date, the window to select mySchool Online will be extended until August 1^st.