Santa Rosa County District 4 School Board Member Charles Elliott spoke out during today’s board meeting, stating he was unaware the district’s administration had moved to stop a decades-long tradition of fireworks displays at Pace High football games, citing insurance liability. The decision also impacts Navarre High.
The change came after fireworks were also being considered at Milton High School.
“We have not had any accidents in 20 years,” Elliott said, describing the sudden change at Pace High as “very disturbing,” noting it was done in meetings in which he wasn’t included. Elliott said he began receiving phone calls with questions which he was unable to answer due to not being informed. “It’s just one more thing that we’ve taken away,” he said.
Alexandra Timmons, who is employed as the district’s director of risk management, said she met with a group, including some local fire chiefs, on August 1 to discuss the matter and worked with fellow risk management department employee Safety Specialist Tobin Faciane to make the recommendation prohibiting fireworks. “We did not make this decision in haste,” Timmon said, noting there was “great exposure” to injury and the district, as a member of the Florida School Board Insurance Trust pool, has a responsibility to mitigate risks. She also stated the “climate of ligitation has changed.”
Timmons claimed the district has no contract with the vendor, The Cutting Board, stating it was “typically booster activity.”
Per Steve Gregory, representing The Cutting Board, his company has agreements with Navarre High and Pace High Quarterback Clubs. He said the company wasn’t contacted to participate in the meetings nor before the fireworks ban was put into place.
“We understand that it is a change that is never easy that causes some folks to not understand or to be upset that this change has occured,” said Dr. Karen Barber, superintendent of schools.
Elliott stated fireworks displays might be possible at sites nearby but off school campuses. He pointed out some schools may not have alternative locations for hosting the fireworks.
“I don’t understand why y’all can’t find a solution,” Gregory told the board. “The agreements currently in place between us and these booster clubs will have to be amended due to the fireworks ban, but we are dilligently working to find suitable solutions,” Gregory said.
Barber said Timmons could step out of the meeting into the hall to work with Gregory toward finding a solution.
