For Additional Headlines - go to our News Section »

• Beach Business Claims Self Defense in Spring Breaker Injury
  made by dontwanttosay
• Boyd to Support Healthcare Reform, Candidates for Office Respond
  made by wifeandmom
• Bay County Water Wins Regional Taste Competition
  made by SaveTheCirclePit
• Boyd to Support Healthcare Reform, Candidates for Office Respond
  made by gator
• Boyd to Support Healthcare Reform, Candidates for Office Respond
  made by kilacow

• Boyd to Support Healthcare Reform, Candidates for Office Respond
• St. Joe Company Moving to New Airport Site
• Mail Carriers Arrested for Stealing Mail on Their Routes
• Body of Deceased Boater Recovered from St. Andrew Bay
• Wewahitchka Woman Hit and Killed
• La Vela Numbers
• Driver Crashes Into Home
• Pizza Mascot Loses His Head in Robbery
• South Walton Beach Patrols Handle Underage Drinking
• Gas Prices Predicted to Hit $3

Entire School Moves Mid-Year
12/14/09 - 05:28 PM
 RSS Feed

An entire Bay County Middle School packs up and moves in the middle of the year.  Tuesday is Merritt Brown Middle School’s last day before the break.

It’s causing some stress for teachers and administrators as they attempt to get everything out of the school before next semester.

They need massive renovations. They say they will take longer than just a summer break.  It’s going to take an entire semester.

Anna Simmons packs away eight years of teaching on Monday.  She says while it is stressful, she’s grateful for the move.

“This is definitely something that we need,” said Simmons.

The school was built in the 1980s and is in desperate need of a new heating and air conditioning system. The unpredictable temperatures are causing mold and mildew, a safety risk for the kids.

“On any given day it can be 70 or 80 degrees outside but it is chilling, bone chilling cold inside,” said Principal Charlotte Marshall.
Even though almost everything is in boxes, school must still go on.

“You’re trying to keep the kids going and get everything done that we’re required to do and want to do with our students but we also know that we need to pack,” said Simmons.

“We have to move every paper clip every piece of paper,” said Marshall.

After the break, the kids will be housed in the brand new Deer Point Elementary building.  It’s currently sitting empty until it opens in the fall.

To give the teachers time to move everything in, the kids get an extra three days added to their Christmas break.

“They [parents] have to make arrangements for them normally during Christmas vacation so we’re hoping making it three days early is not a huge inconvenience,” said Marshall.

When the renovations are complete, Marshall says it will be like a brand new school.

The renovations include a new air conditioner, roof, floors, and security cameras.

The students will report to Deer Point Elementary with the rest of the district on January 4th.