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COVID-19 delays opening of Destin High School to ‘21

Courtesy Photo

While Florida schools are closed until at least May 1, the pandemic has also delayed the opening of Destin High School. 

The charter school was supposed to open for its first school year this August, but the governing board made the decision last week to defer the opening until August 2021. 

In a news release, the school announced deferment saying that the COVID-19 outbreak delayed the closing on the purchase of the Destin United Methodist Church, where the school site is supposed to be, for several weeks. The delayed closing has also pushed backed necessary renovations to retrofit the campus in time for the fall 2020 semester. 

“It was an excruciatingly difficult decision to make,” said Board President and Destin City Councilmember Prebble Ramswell. 

Florida Statute allows charter schools to defer opening without penalty. The DHS board has notified the Okaloosa County School District about the deferment. Enrolled students will be able to attend Okaloosa County School District schools in their zone for the 2020-2021 school year.

Ramswell, who has an eighth-grade daughter who will attend DHS, said the board personally called the homes of enrolled students to notify them of the delay.

“Everyone understood the circumstances,” she said. “They’re still on board (for next year).” 

At this time, the school has about 125 students enrolled and another 160 pending. Students could enroll through the Lotterease automated lottery system.

With more than a year before the school’s opening, Ramswell said the board can spend the extra time looking at school electives and activities and taking time to select a school principal. 

“We are down to our top three candidates,” said Ramswell. “We’ve had an incredible field of 200 applicants from all over. One of the finalists is from Florida.” 

The Destin High School board was put together in 2016. By February 2019, the school’s charter was approved. 

Although the delay is a disappointment, Ramswell said the board is trying to look at the positive side. 

“(Destin High School) remains a huge passion for all of us,” she said. “This means we have more time to pour our energy in the school and make it more incredible."

Jennie joined WUWF in 2018 as digital content producer and reporter.