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Deer Point Elementary School Sneak Peak
11/02/09 - 04:34 PM
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Contstruction on a new school for the Bay District is nearing completion.  Deer Point Elementary School off CR. 23231 will bring changes next school year for about 700 students.  School board members took the first grand tour Monday, to get an idea of what it will become.

“I’ve been coming up here since the building was a shell.  Now to see it with all the vibrant colors everywhere… it just builds my passion and excitement because of the fact that it’s time to get serious about getting things ready for kids now,” said Deer Point Elementary principal Lendy Willis.

The 155 thousand square-foot building will accommodate an overflowing population in 59 classrooms.

“Panama City proper is very crowded so people are growing up this area.  We know this 231 corridor is the future and it’s right where it needed to be with all the schools in this area being so overpopulated,” said school board member Donna Allen, who voted for the school’s construction 2 years ago.

“Part of our mission was to eliminate those portables,” she said. 

The new school will house overflow from four other elementary schools in the area.  This includes Hiland Park, Tommy Smith, Waller, and Lynn Haven.

“We’re excited about the challenge but we’re also excited about the new opportunity,” said Allen.

Willis says the facility won’t be the only changes.  He plans to make an impact on the district’s curriculum.

“I want to be able to be a center for the district where teachers can come and learn from each other where they can model best practices for each other and then go back to their old schools and do the best that they can possibly do for their students,” he said, “I want every teacher at this school to be paired with another teacher and have a communal concern over a group of students.”

Before opening for permanent students, the population of Merrit Brown Elementary will relocate there in January while their facility’s HVAC system is remodeled.

If you would like to know if your child will be impacted by the new school, click here.