It looks like W.S. Neal Elementary and Middle Schools in East Brewton will get new sidewalks along Williamson Street after members of the Escambia (Ala.) County Board of Education approved a commitment to the Sidewalks Grant Project-City of East Brewton in the amount of $25,000 at last Thursday's meeting. The total amount needed to complete the project is about $270,000, which includes some engineering costs, according to School Superintendent John Knott.
The city of East Brewton approached the board in July 2017. They had applied for a federal grant to put in new sidewalks following the accidental death of student Devon Spencer, who was hit by a car in February 2016.
“Part of the grant would go to put sidewalks where the elementary school is and all cross walks in front of that and tie in sidewalks going to all apartments,” said School Superintendent John Knott. “They would give walking students a clear unobstructed walk to and from the front of the property to the front door practically.”
Knott said the funding for the project will come from multiple sources, including the city, the board of education and the federal grant.
“The city was going to end up having to spend around $265,000 for the total project,” said Knott. “On top of that, there are still some engineering costs, etc. Even with the grant, the city had to find money from other sources to make it happen, because this issue effects our kids' everyday walking. For their safety, we are happy to commit $25,000 toward that project.”
“We have a lot of kids who walk on Williamson Street, to and from the apartments near the schools, and the only place they have to walk is on the street,” said East Brewton Mayor Terry Clark. “We had a young man lose his life, so we began looking for some funds to put in sidewalks. We found a grant for $280,000. We are going to put the sidewalks in from the apartments buildings nearby all the way to the schools' front doors. We had to come up with matching funds. The school board came through with $25,000 then another group came through with $25,000 and another group came through with $15,000, so we are just about there.”
Mayor Clark said he is hoping to get the project underway in May so students will have a safe way to walk to school beginning next fall.
In other business, the board approved the following recommended action items in one motion: authorization to sign a contract with the Brewton Area YMCA and the Atmore Area YMCA for the use of a bus during the YMCA Summer Day Camp Programs; to exercise options from 2014-2015 contracts with Information Transport Solution and extend the VOIP and WAN/internet access contracts with Information Transport Solutions for one year, July 1 through June 30, 2019, in the amount of $411,600, pending E-rate approval; to award the contract for cellular phone services for the term of July 1, 2018 throough June 30, 2019 to SouthernLinc Wireless in the amount of $32,220; to adopt Eureka/Engage NY Math curriculum as a supplement textbook to the adopted “Go Math” and “Glenco” curriculums; of summer maintenance custodians; and to hire students for summer work.
The motion was made by board member Mike Hoomes and seconded by board member David Nolan, and the motion carried.
