‘He was our voice’: Milton High remembers longtime announcer John Everitt
John Everitt, the man who announced the Milton High School band for 28 years and helped brand it as “the Mighty Black and Gold,” died earlier this month. He was 78.
School Board adopts $528.9 million district budget
The Santa Rosa County School Board unanimously approved a $528.9 million budget Sept. 10 for the upcoming fiscal year.
Mental health resources in Northwest Florida
Santa Rosa County District Schools is recognizing National Suicide Prevention Month this September by connecting families with the mental health resources they may need.
Santa Rosa schools provide mental health resources for students
Each September serves as National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to bring awareness to mental health issues and the resources that could save people’s lives.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide was responsible for 48,824 deaths in 2024, the most recent year the agency has statistics for. While this amounts to a little over 1.5 percent of the total deaths across the U.S., CDC stats show a profound increase in the suicide rate per 100,000 from 2001 to 2024.
School district partnership to support student safety, digital wellness
Santa Rosa County District Schools is continuing its partnership with SmartSocial for the 2026-27 school year.
New Pea Ridge principal sets sights on ‘A’ grade
The new principal of Pea Ridge Elementary School has set a clear goal for her first year: Move the school from a “B” to an “A.”
Commerce chief Kelly named sole finalist for Pensacola State College president
(By Ana Goñi-Lessan) Pensacola State College is poised to tap Alex Kelly, Secretary of the Florida Department of Commerce, as the school’s next president.
The school’s board of trustees made its recommendation Friday for Kelly to be the sole finalist after a national search.
Sheriff’s office: T.R. Jackson change unrelated to Soundside
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office says the removal of a school resource officer from T.R. Jackson Pre-K Center had nothing to do with the opening of Soundside High School, disputing the account given by Milton’s police chief.
More than a name: Family, friends recount former Santa Rosa superintendent’s life
Benny Russell is a name many in the community may be familiar with. Football stadiums, sports fields, a park, an elementary school and a section of highway bear his name.
Pace High principal disputes classroom capacity claims
Pace High School opened the new school year with Santa Rosa County’s largest student population with 2,351 students enrolled for the year and school officials saying they added portables to keep up with demand.












