Controlled Open Enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year will open on Monday, March 14th and remain open until Friday, May 6th.  All students who wish to apply to attend a school outside of the school zone they live in must complete an application for the school of their choice.  All applications will be reviewed by the school and district administrative staff.  Students will be notified by mail of approval or denial by the second week of June 2022.  All  schools must maintain ten percent of their possible enrollment for new students who enter their school during the school year. 

Controlled Open Enrollment Procedures:

 ¨ Log in to www.hdsb.org to access the Controlled Open Enrollment Application.

¨ Click Controlled Open Enrollment, located in the column on the left side of the home screen.

¨ Click on the green “Click here to access the application form” located at the bottom of the explanation box.

¨ Complete one application for each child in grades K-12 that you are requesting to have attend a school outside of your zoned area (a zoning map is available on the Controlled Open Enrollment screen, by scrolling down under the application section.

¨ Make sure to carefully read all Controlled Open Enrollment requirements when completing the online application:

       - Maintain Good Grades

      - Maintain Good Attendance

      - Maintain Good Behavior

      - Be prepared to provide transportation to and from school or to the closest bus stop for your child if no bus route for the requested school goes by your home or if the closest bus is at capacity.

Please be aware that all approved Controlled Open Enrollment applications can be revoked at any time during the school year if one or more of the requirements are not maintained.

¨ All students who reside outside of the state of Florida must request a waiver from the district office of the school system they reside in.  All waivers must be submitted to Mr. Matt Tate, 701 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Bonifay, Florida 32425 or matt.tate@hdsb.org for school board approval no later than July 27, 2022.  Any out of state student who does not have a waiver approved by the school board will have their Controlled Open Enrollment approval revoked.

This tax season, there are special rules for homeless and foster youth that were achieved through the American Rescue Plan Act. Qualifying youth experiencing homelessness and youth from foster care are eligible for a $1,502 tax refund through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). At the present time, these provisions are only for tax year 2021.  More information is available by clicking the Related Files link below.

Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program will be in our schools later this month offering no cost eye exams and glasses for our students.  We must have a minimum number of students at each school to pre-apply in order for them to visit that school site.  The deadline to sign up is Monday, February 14.  For more information, contact the health clinic at your child's school.  

To sign up, visit www.floridaheiken.org.  

I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!  I hope each of you will enjoy the time with your friends and families and remember to give and share with those that might be in need.

Thank you to every member of our staff who works diligently to provide an education to our students.  Bless our children as they work and sometimes struggle through a star-crossed period in our history.  Thank you to those that support our children, teachers, and staff.  Our success as a school district ultimately hinges on this support from all the partners in the process of educating our children.

Please remember those in uniform whether they be military, police, emergency responders, or medical professionals. These men and women work through the holidays, often removed from their families, prepared to render assistance or to provide that ultimate sacrifice.

Let us not forget that the spirit of the season is one of love, generosity, and of goodness.  Be kind to your fellow man and remember, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (Harper Lee)

God Bless each of you and a Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!

Buddy L. Brown
Superintendent of Schools