Daily Outtakes: IB Buzz, Bruce Not Ready

Is IB Moving Out of PHS?

Rumors are flying that the International Baccalaureate Program may be moved out of Pensacola High School. Escambia County’s top students are no longer flocking to attend the academic program at PHS, according to teachers and parents at the county’s private and parochial K-8 schools.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Jay Mathews Challenge Index ranked PHS Pensacola in its top 25%, putting the school in the top 2% of America’s 22,000 high schools. Pensacola High is the only school in northwest Florida in the top 300.

• The school district credited the ranking goes to the school’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.

The PHS IB diploma program will host its annual Open House from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30. The good news is Dr. Colleen Boyett is back as the director of the program.

• Boyett led the program from 1995-2006. She returned in September 2022 to revitalize the IB program.

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Bruce Beach Opening in Fall 2024

Yesterday, Mayor D.C. Reeves announced that the park at Bruce Beach will not open until the second phase is completed in the fall of 2024.

“Phase One is complete, and that’s what you see when you drive by Main Street,” said the mayor on “Real News with Rick Outzen” yesterday. “Phase Two will start October 9th. We will open it all at the same time in fall of 24.”

He added, “I know we’ll get a lot of calls saying, ‘Why aren’t you opening that playground?’ We’re going to get the whole thing done, and then we’ll open it in fall of 24.”

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Smokies Win Southern League Title

The Blue Wahoos’ 2023 season ended Tuesday as the Pensacola failed to contain the Tennessee Smokies’ power-laden lineup in a 10-3 loss at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

The Smokies claimed their first league title in 45 years. The last time Tennessee hoisted a championship trophy, the 1978 team was named the Knoxville Sox, the affiliation was with the Chicago White Sox and Tony La Russa was manager.

The Blue Wahoos fell short of repeating their 2022 championship but had a memorable season.

Their 79-57 record in the regular season was the best winning percentage (.581) in the team’s 11-season history. It included a franchise record 10-game winning streak. The team set club records in seven offensive categories, including batting average (.250) and home runs (163) — the seventh-most homers in league history.

Three Pensacola Blue Wahoos players were recognized for their outstanding 2023 seasons on Tuesday, as Troy Johnston, Patrick Monteverde and Jefry Yan were named to the Southern League All-Star Team. Blue Wahoos manager Kevin Randel was recognized by his peers as the Southern League Manager of the Year.