Our HistorySanta Rosa County School District has been from the beginning one of the leaders in the state in Community Education. The district's first program was established in 1970 at Gulf Breeze High School. By establishing this program our district became the second, behind Dade County, in implementing Community Education. Gulf Breeze was the first program to receive funds from the Community School Act passed by legislature in 1974. In 1983, all other county schools were included and the administration of this program was split into north and south ends of the county with offices at Gulf Breeze High School and Milton High School. In 1985 the program consolidated with one administrator and has remained that way. There are two Childcare Supervisors, one for the north end and one for the south end of the county. In the early years the program was totally financed by local tax dollars. As late as the 1981-1982 school year, over 85% of the funding came from local tax dollars. In the 1993-1994 the opposite was true, with 86% coming from earned income and 14% from local funding. In May of 1995 the Superintendent challenged the Community School to become self-sufficient, and since that time the Community School has met that challenge. The Community School program has changed from a primarily recreation or leisure program to one that encompasses services such as a pre-k program, before and afterschool childcare, and a summer camp program. Today our primary mission is "To provide a safe, affordable, and convenient childcare solution to our public school families.
