Latest news with #MarkMcQueen
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
BDS plans for new location of Tyndall Academy
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Plans for a new school on Tyndall Air Force Base are moving forward. Bay district leaders held a workshop meeting on Tuesday to discuss the next steps for the Tyndall Academy K-8 facility. The current school is old. It was built in 1950 and has had several upgrades, additions and renovations, including substantial repairs following Hurricane Michael. The school district's lease with Tyndall for the campus expires in 2029. The two sides are considering three sites for the new academy. One of them is not on the base. Before selecting a location, they'll commission an acoustic study. 'What we need to do is make sure that we have the sound attenuation in place to help mitigate what's taking place from the aircraft that are flying off the runways, which is right across the street from where the proposed one of the proposed sites are. Sound attenuation is very important as we want to make sure that we're doing the right thing to help provide an environment safe for learning for all of our students,' Bay District Schools Superintendent Mark McQueen said. Then the school district will need to complete an environmental study, acquire a lease and get the funding, all before construction can begin in three years. Tyndall Academy currently serves about 1,000 students. Tyndall officials are anticipating more personnel to be stationed at the base over the next five years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Margaret K. Lewis School to relocate to St. Andrews School at Oakland Terrace site
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Bay District Schools is updating the Margaret K. Lewis School. It is a special education school with 200 students. As part of the new design, the school must have exits that prevent runners, covered student pick-up areas, and storage alcoves in hallways. Every classroom needs a handicap accessible bathroom. The school said they also need skill labs, an agricultural green space, and they'd like to add a covered, exterior dining option. The costs are adding up. However, Bay District Schools Superintendent Mark McQueen said they want to meet their students' needs. 'There are items that you absolutely have to have that meet ADA compliance requirements, for example. And we also need to make life safety considerations in there and then personal safety of the students. And we had some examples of how you have students that need to go out a door that's designed for a fire exit,' McQueen added. Designs for the Margaret K. Lewis School will be completed in the next 12 months. The school will be relocated to the St. Andrews school at Oakland Terrace. They will tear down the old facility and then begin construction. Construction will begin by next summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Northside Elementary's new library promotes technology and preserves traditional books
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Learning just got a little more exciting for some local students. Northside Elementary unveiled its newly renovated library on Monday. A $77,000 grant from the St. Joe Foundation provided new flooring, paint, and furniture. In addition to over 10,000 books, there's also a book vending machine and new technology for students to discover. Officials believe the new environment will spark a love for reading. 'Little ones, they can learn to grow to have a hunger and a thirst and a passion for reading because you learn to read all the way up to the third grade and then you read to learn from fourth grade on and you know, as lifelong learners, we're still reading to learn more,' Bay District Schools Superintendent Mark McQueen said. The upgraded space promotes technology while preserving the value of traditional books. Liberty County teacher in top 5 for Fla. Teacher of the Year award 'As much as we are moving forward, I think we do not need to get lost in the foundation of things, like books are always going to matter. And I think being well-rounded as individuals and citizens to know how to read a book or look up something in a dictionary is just as important on how to Google something. So, I think all of the types of literacy are important,' Northside Elementary Fifth Grade Teacher Adrianna Swearingen said. The initiative to promote literacy has already proven successful among Northside students. 'I love it. It just feels more spacious and less crammed, and it just feels more comfortable and makes me want to read more,' Northside Elementary Fifth Grade Student Charlotte Forrester said. Northside is one of the first to receive the renovations, but officials said more schools will see the upgrades in the future. The new library is set to be fully operational for all students for next school year. But fifth graders have already seen it before they move on from Northside. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Bozeman High breaks ground on exciting expansion for students
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Since before Hurricane Michael, Deane Bozeman High School has been planning to expand its classrooms to accommodate the growing number of students. 'This area is experiencing explosive growth. So, planning for the building was already in place. But just through all the things that happened from the devastation to the hurricane, where we are now, it's taken quite a bit of time. So a lot of preparation went into it. But we're excited to get it started,' Deane Bozeman Principal Ivan Beach said. This $14.5 million project is being funded by a FEMA mitigation grant. 'What we're doing today is we're doing the groundbreaking for a 23-classroom building facility. I'm telling you, this is a great way to be meeting the needs of our community. I'm so proud of our board that had the vision and the commitment to get to this point where we're actually getting after meeting the needs of this community and forecasting future requirements for this part of Bay County,' Bay District School's Superintendent Mark McQueen said. In 2000, Bozeman High School had just 700 students. Today, that number has grown to over 1,700, and continues to rise. Deane Bozeman Assistant Principal, Kim Timmins has seen this project full circle for the last 25 years. 'It's really cool to see that at the time we had like half of our classrooms were empty when we started, and now you're exploding at the seams. As far as our capacity, we have had to bring in portable buildings that were supposed to be temporary, like Gabby said; however, they've become pretty permanent. So we're super excited,' Timmins said. The addition of 23 new classrooms will help create a more effective and comfortable learning environment for the high school students. Students are enthusiastic about the future of their school and the opportunities the new space will bring. 'I'm excited to see it because I know they've been talking about it a long time. And so I know it's going to benefit a lot of students. And it might not necessarily benefit me, I don't know yet, but my brother and sister go here and they're younger than me, so I know they'll get to enjoy it,' Senior SGA President Gabby Hernandez said. The anticipated completion for this expansion is within the next 18 months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Young leaders show that Bay County's future is bright
Our Future Is Bright! One of the things I love most about my role at the Bay County Chamber of Commerce is that it's always fun, challenging, and meaningful. But every now and then, it also gives me the gift of real inspiration — and this week was one of those special moments. On April 14, we had the privilege of celebrating an exceptional group of high school students as they graduated from our eight-month Junior Leadership Bay Program. Their passion, confidence and heart were nothing short of inspiring, and they left me with an overwhelming sense of hope. These students are more than just impressive — they are the leaders of tomorrow, and after getting to know them this year, I can say with confidence that our future is in good hands. I was equally moved by the support system surrounding these students. Success never happens in isolation — it's shaped by the encouragement of families, mentors, teachers, and a community that invests in them and believes in their potential. This "village" stood behind them every step of the way. During the ceremony, we had the honor of hearing powerful words from Bay District Schools Superintendent Mark McQueen and Dr. Irvin Clark, associate dean of student & strategic initiatives at Florida State University. They spoke about what it truly means to lead and the responsibility that leadership carries. I have no doubt the parents in the room, myself included, were listening just as closely as the students. One of the most moving moments of the night came when we awarded scholarship funds to a remarkable young woman, Angellee "Angie" Garcia-Velazquez, a student at Rosenwald High School. These scholarships will help her take her next steps toward Gulf Coast State College and Florida State University Panama City. What made this moment so unforgettable was the reaction from her classmates. The room filled with cheers and heartfelt applause. You see, Angie isn't just a dedicated student — she's also a teen mom to a beautiful 3-year-old daughter. Her classmates understood that this journey wasn't just about leadership or personal growth, it was about creating a better future — not only for herself but for her child. Angie is a quiet but powerful force, both in her school and in the community. She's faced every challenge with resilience and grace, turning obstacles into stepping stones. Her strength and determination have been nothing short of inspiring to everyone who's had the privilege to meet her. As I reflect on these past eight months, I'm reminded that we set out to achieve clear goals with this program — and we did. But what stands out even more is the deeper lesson that emerged: true leadership isn't just about the path you carve for yourself, it's about lifting others up along the way — respecting, supporting, and celebrating those around you. That's the kind of graduation gift that stays with you, and it was the perfect reminder of why our future truly is bright. Patrick W. Chapin, President/CEO Bay County Chamber of Commerce This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County's future is bright, as young leaders show | Letter
