June 12th  |  High School Focus Group

Key Takeaways

• The schools serve as anchors of the community. Regardless of who you are, they serve you, or someone you know, daily. It’s important that this is reflected in the rebuilding process, and that schools are prioritized.
• Panama City has an abundance of local businesses and industries. Creating working relationships between the schools and the business communities is mutually beneficial.
• Hurricane Michael was physically and emotionally draining for the entire community, including students. Ensuring that mental health services are available in schools is necessary to assist students to work through the trauma.
• Many of the problems seen in schools reflect the precarious housing situations of students and their families. Restoring housing and ensuring housing security for students is a necessary first step.