Main Menu

School Board

Superintendent

Employment

Departments

Schools

Event Calendar

Calendar

PDF

Contact Us

Legislative Contacts

Upcoming Important Dates:

August 16- Five Day Work Week Begins
August 16-20- Preplanning
August 19- FWHS Grades 6-12 Orientation 6pm
August 20- CHS Grades 10-12 Student Orientation 10am and 5pm
August 23- First Day of Classes 2010
August 30-CTA Bargaining @4:00pm

School Times
Elementary
All (except Fort White)	7:45AM - 2:15PM
Fort White	7:45AM - 2:20PM
Middle
Lake City / Richardson	8:40AM - 2:55PM
Fort White	9:00AM - 3:20PM
High
Challenge	8:45AM - 2:50PM
Columbia	8:29AM - 3:15PM
Fort White	9:00AM - 3:20PM

The Columbia County School District does not support or endorse Discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, marital status, political belief, age, national origin or disability.

If you believe you have been discriminated against, you may contact:

Narragansett M. Smith

Columbia County School District

Equity Officer

(386) 755-8015

Summer Construction

New Construction at Fort White Middle School

Remodel at Richardson Middle

Remodel at Niblack Elementary

Superintendent Notes..

WELCOME BACK

Dear Students and Parents:
Welcome to Columbia County Schools; we hope you have an exciting new school year! Your many summer activities – traveling, getting away from it all, camping or just relaxing – have provided needed rest so that you are better prepared for the new academic term.
Please take advantage of every opportunity to be involved in all your schools’ activities. Parents must be active participants in their children’s education if we are to attain higher student achievement.
All Columbia County Schools encourage this involvement and offer many opportunities for volunteering at many different levels and in a variety of ways.
Our schools remain the main focus for our community. There are 14 school sites within the Columbia County School System in grades PreK-12. There are nine elementary schools, three middle schools, with Fort White Middle School housing only 6th grade students at this time and two high schools, including Fort White High, which has grades 7-12. Additionally, the Challenge Learning Center is our alternative education site for grades 6-12. Evening and adult classes are available to those wishing to advance their educational levels. All schools maintain high scholastic and academic standards and are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Our students today face a multitude of challenges. Columbia County educators know that they need the support of everyone – volunteers, businesses, families and the entire community – to assure that all students are provided with the opportunity to be well prepared to successfully enter the workforce, career/technical training, or higher education.
Remember our district motto:
Touching Tomorrow Through Teamwork Today. When all stakeholders work together for the good of all, our district will be well on its way to achieving its mission. For specific questions please call the following numbers for more information.
Transportation 755-8060, 8062         Secondary Education 758-4935
Food Service 755-8046                    Elementary Education 755-8015
Volunteers 755-8041                       Adult Education 755-8190

Have a great year,

Michael F. “Mike” Millikin
Superintendent of Schools

Class Size Update

All Parents:

As you probably are aware the State of Florida is in the final year of implementation of the Class Size Reduction Law originally passed in 2002. Our schools have fared well during this process and have been compliant. The method of determining class size for each school may change with a final vote to the citizens of Florida on the November ballot.

We ask parents, students, and staff to be patient with school administration and guidance counselors as we try to comply with the law as it reads now, balance our budget, and hire and retain teachers. All of this must be done with virtually no additional money. Even if the law changes to give schools more flexibility, we face more difficulty than usual as we schedule students into classes because we don’t know the final outcome of the November vote.

Thanking you again for your understanding,

Mike

In the News...

1st Day of school

Parents get ready for big transition; students navigate through campus. Read more>

Principal's Mind

Richardson Middle School's new leader ready to implement changes, programs. Read more >

Qualified parents urged to apply for free school
meals. Read more >

More than 50 teachers get funds to recharge classrooms
Fort White Elementary School first-grade teachers Barbara Royster (from left) and Heather Hudson get excited as teacher Susan Mosley awards them with $50 cash for classroom supplies on Tuesday. The money was given to almost 50 teachers from the Fort White Community Thrift Shop, a nonprofit organization that resells donated items.