Local schools will participate in state-wide civic and debate initiative

Three Bay District Schools will be part of Governor Ron DeSantis' first phase of the Florida Civic and Debate Initiative.

Breakfast Point Academy, Dean Bozeman School and Merritt Brown Middle School are three of the 60 schools participating in the program.

The governor announced the multi-year, $5 million grant from the Marcus Foundation Inc. back in January. The purpose of this program is to elevate civic knowledge, civic skills, and civic disposition for middle and high school students through speech and debate.

"I don't think you're ever too young to start learning about civic responsibility and civic duties, such as voting and understanding about the law and the constitution and different things about government because I think knowledge is power," Breakfast Point Academy Principal Clint Whitfield said.

​Bake Middle School and Ft. Walton High School were chosen from Okaloosa County, and in Washington County Vernon Middle and High School were chosen to participate.

The first phase of the initiative consists of 60 schools in 28 school districts, with the goal of expanding into all Florida school districts by 2023.