By Joshua Bledsoe, Public Information Officer
February provided an opportunity to celebrate what makes public education strong. During National Public Schools Week, Walton County School District joined communities across the nation in recognizing the essential role public schools play in preparing future leaders and sustaining vibrant local communities. Florida’s Future: Powered by Public Schools.
Public schools are accountable to the families they serve. They are governed locally, open to every child, and built on responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. That stewardship is evident in our continued partnership with Schneider Electric, which is helping transition district facilities to energy-efficient LED lighting.
This districtwide LED conversion is projected to generate approximately $4 million in long-term savings and produce a 14% reduction in utility costs. LED systems consume significantly less energy than traditional lighting and have a much longer lifespan, reducing both power usage and maintenance expenses.
March is an exciting month of celebrations as we recognize several important observances:
- Music in Our Schools Month celebrates the impact of music education on student creativity and achievement. Walton County has a strong commitment to developing the Whole Child, and that means strong music programs.
- National Nutrition Month highlights the connection between healthy choices and academic performance. We ensure students receive food that they like to eat while also taking care to provide food that is thoughtfully prepared and nutritious.
- Women’s History Month honors the achievements and contributions of women throughout history and in our own community.
We are also proud to recognize the finalists for this year’s No Ordinary Joe School Award, which honors outstanding students across Walton County:
Walton High School
Edward O’ Daniels, Nevaeh Messer, Julie Laviolette
The WISE Center
Aaliyah McCullough
Freeport High School
Larae Smith, Helena “Lainey” Pitts, Davis Goodwin
Magnet Innovation Center
Michael (Gabe) Griffin, Brent (Beau) Melancon, Grace Petty
Paxton School
Grace Tyner, Teghan Araneo, Forrest Geoghagan
South Walton High School
Joseph Gilmore, William Justiss, Sophia Mijatovic
These students exemplify what it means to be EPIC!
Dates to Remember
- March 13 – Early Release Day
- March 16–20 – SPRING BREAK!
- March 23 – Teacher Workday (No School for Students)
