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Good morning!
Okaloosa School District is facing a 452-student enrollment decline that translates to a $4 million funding reduction, while Fort Walton Beach City Council advances a proposal to move March elections to November. Fort Walton Beach High School and Choctaw principals join Silver Sands students for fishing to promote the upcoming fish fry fundraiser, FDOT schedules a public hearing on permanently closing the U.S. 98 median at Regions Way in Destin, Cox Communications offers online safety tips during cybersecurity month, and Eglin Federal Credit Union helps dedicate two Habitat for Humanity homes in Crestview.
- Plus, try today’s WordroW puzzle.
POLITICS
Fort Walton Beach City Council advances proposal to move March elections to November
Fort Walton Beach City Council voted 5-2 on Oct. 14 to advance a referendum that would move city elections from March of odd years to November of even years, aligning with statewide general elections.
- The proposed charter amendment would establish the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each general election year as the date for mayor and city council races. The ordinance will come back for first and second readings before the ballot question can appear before voters in March 2026.
Councilman David Schmidt, who made the motion to advance the proposal, said candidates would need to work harder under the new system.
“If the election were to change to November, you gotta go out there and really work even harder to get out to cover 30 to 40% of the voters,” Schmidt said. “Right now you gotta get out to about 10% of the voters.”
Under the proposal, seats one through four, elected in 2023, would next appear on the ballot Nov. 3, 2026, with terms beginning April 1, 2027. Seats five through seven and the mayor’s office, elected in 2025, would be on the Nov. 7, 2028 ballot, with terms starting April 1, 2029.
Next steps: On Oct. 28, the proposed ordinance language will be brought back to council for approval. First reading will be at the Nov. 18 meeting, followed by second reading on Dec. 16.
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GAMES
WordroW: October 21, 2025
Can you guess today’s 5-letter word in six tries?
WordroW is Get The Coast’s daily word puzzle featuring local words, places, and phrases from our community. You have six guesses to find the mystery word – green letters are correct and in the right spot, yellow letters are in the word but wrong position, and gray letters aren’t in the word at all.
SCHOOL
FWBHS, Choctaw principals fish with Silver Sands students to promote fish fry fundraiser
The Fort Walton Beach Vikings and Choctaw Big Green Indians aren’t usually seen side by side, but on a recent morning at Silver Sands School, the rivals came together for something bigger than football.
- Fort Walton Beach High School Principal Lindsey Smith and Choctaw High School Principal Michelle Heck visited Silver Sands School dressed in full mascot gear to fish with students and promote the school’s annual fish fry fundraiser.
The principals joined Silver Sands Principal Kristin Gilmore and students at the school’s aquaponic greenhouse, where the tilapia for the fundraiser are raised. (WATCH THE VIDEO)
The fish fry is scheduled for Oct. 24 from 5 to 6:30 p.m., timed perfectly before the Fort Walton Beach-Choctaw rivalry game.
Silver Sands School serves about 100 students with disabilities. The fish come from the school’s Growth House, an aquaponic greenhouse where students plant seeds, maintain the system and harvest both fish and vegetables as part of learning life and job skills.
- Students will compete in a fishing rodeo before the fish fry, with trophies awarded in elementary, middle and high school divisions.
Dewey Destin Seafood will fry the fish along with hush puppies and french fries for $10 per plate. All proceeds support the school’s programming.
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TRAFFIC
FDOT schedules public hearing on permanent closure of U.S. 98 median at Regions Way in Destin
The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a hybrid public hearing Oct. 21 regarding the permanent closure of the U.S. 98 median at Regions Way in Okaloosa County.
- The hearing will begin with an open house from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by a formal presentation and public comment period starting at 6 p.m. The event will be held virtually at www.nwflroads.com/calendar, with pre-registration required. Those unable to participate online may attend in person at the Destin City Hall Annex, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail.
The median closure is part of a U.S. 98 resurfacing project extending from Paraiso Boulevard to Regions Way. FDOT says the permanent closure is required to improve safety and traffic flow along the corridor, which serves approximately 53,500 drivers daily.
The intersection has been the site of significant safety concerns. According to a previous FDOT study, the location has experienced 60 documented crashes over a five-year period, with 14 crashes resulting in injuries requiring medical transportation. A fatal crash in April brought renewed attention to the dangerous intersection.
Following that fatal crash, the Destin City Council voted to draft a resolution supporting the closure of the intersection.
The FDOT study identified several factors contributing to dangerous conditions at the intersection, including traffic queuing issues, backup from nearby traffic signals, and “good Samaritan” gestures where drivers wave others through traffic, which accounted for 17 crashes. The study recommended converting the intersection to a “directionalized left-turn only” for eastbound and westbound left-turn and U-turn movements.
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Cox Communications offers 10 tips for online safety during cybersecurity month
Cox Communications is promoting digital security practices during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, offering tools and tips to help residents protect their personal information from growing online threats.
- October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Cox Gulf Coast Market Vice President David Deliman says the focus on online safety has never been more critical.
“In today’s digital world, cybersecurity is no longer a niche concern. It’s a shared responsibility that affects us all,” Deliman said. “With the rise in cyberattacks, remote work, and AI-driven threats, staying safe online is critical.”
Cox offers Cox Advanced Security, which provides real-time threat protection by blocking malicious websites and suspicious activity. The service is included with Panoramic WiFi at no extra cost.
Deliman emphasized that protecting personal information extends beyond IT departments and internet providers.
“As digital threats continue to evolve, protecting your personal information has never been more important,” he said.
BUSINESS
Eglin Federal Credit Union helps dedicate 2 Habitat for Humanity homes in Crestview
Eglin Federal Credit Union participated in the dedication ceremony for Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa’s 74th and 75th home builds in Crestview on Friday, serving as the financial partner for both construction projects.
The 74th home was dedicated to Samarian Thrift, a full-time mother and caregiver to a child with special needs. The home is the first ADA-accessible home built by Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa.
The 75th home was presented to Kassandra Hatten, a card services representative at Eglin Federal Credit Union.
“There are over 7,000 languages in the world, yet none can truly express what Eglin FCU and Habitat for Humanity have done for my family,” Hatten said. “Working for Eglin FCU is more than just a job. It’s a community, a family and a source of opportunity. This home isn’t just fresh paint or new grass; it’s safety, dignity, education, and freedom.”
SCHOOL
Okaloosa School District reports 452-student enrollment decline, $4 million funding hit
The Okaloosa County School District is facing a $4 million funding shortfall after enrollment fell 452 full-time equivalent students below projections, with kindergarten bearing the brunt of the decline.
- Assistant Superintendent John Spolski presented the enrollment figures during last Monday’s school board workshop, showing that approximately half of the decline are kindergartners.
“This is the environment in which we’re in,” Superintendent Marcus Chambers said. “We’re going to control what we can control and make decisions accordingly.”
The district attributes the decline to multiple factors including Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship program, which has grown dramatically. The number of scholarship recipients increased from approximately 1,800 students last year to about 3,000 this year, according to district officials.
The statewide scholarship program funnels nearly $28 million through the district’s budget as a pass-through, though Chambers noted that a large number of scholarship recipients never attended Okaloosa Schools.
- “I’m all for family choice and parents’ ability to make educational choices that best suit their childs’ needs,” Chamber said in an interview. “It is my hope that we look at the funding formula for this program and examine the impact on school districts.”
The funding impact extends beyond enrollment numbers. When a student uses the scholarship, families can receive approximately $9,000 per child — money that can be used for private school tuition, homeschooling expenses or other reported costs such as educational trips to Disney World and P.E. equipment such as stand-up paddleboards.
“FES is becoming more of a reality, not just with Okaloosa Schools, but across the state of Florida, and school districts will begin experiencing challenges unlike in years past,” Chambers said following the workshop.
The $4 million funding loss reflects more than just a simple per-student calculation. While the base student allocation increased by $47 this year to approximately $5,372 per student, actual funding depends on multiple factors including program cost factors, class size funding, supplemental academic instruction funding and local property taxes, according to the District.
When all funding sources are combined, the district receives an average of approximately $9,000 per student – the same amount families receive through the Family Empowerment Scholarship.
Click here to read the full story, how seven-period days factor in, economic changes and more
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Jared
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