At the Dec. 20 meeting of the Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education, School Superintendent John Knott gave board members an update on the W.S. Neal High School auditorium and field house renovation projects.
Knott said the contractors started on the roof of the auditorium in mid-December and were planning to work through the holidays, taking Christmas eve and day off only.
“Our objective is to get to a stopping point on the front,” said Knott. “We had a good meeting with the superintendent and architect, and it looks like everything is go. I am really excited we've got some really good contractors on the job.”
Knott said the HVAC contractors brought in extra help to get the units on top of the building, and they are in place already. He said Jan. 8 is set for an overall inspection and that they should be able to get a final inspection by Feb. 1.
“It looks like we are going to make it,” he said.
Knott said there is more work to be done on the auditorium, and that the contractors are working on the fire alarm and electrical systems.
“We have not pulled the auditorium chairs but our goal is to be done with auditorium by May 1,” said Knott. “We plan to use it for graduation. That is a definite, doable goal. I feel strongly like we will be able to do that. Hope fully we can get our kids into the new field house and get that old building torn down. The doors are on schedule, and the flooring company has come in and laid the floor. We had to bring them back to do touch ups and they have already come and taken care of that.”
Knott then recognized achievements by school board members Danny Benjamin, Coleman Wallace, Cindy Jackson and Mike Hoomes and David Nolin with plaques of recognition for their mastery in the Alabama Association of School Board conferences and meetings.
“Our school board members do work hard in making sure they are up to date on laws and legal issues and understand the strategies that we use and requirements we have to follow on the board and I appreciate all their hard work.”
Knott recognized Flomaton High School Coach Doug Vickery and the State Championship the team took and several other players who impacted the outcome, including Most Valuable Player of that game, Daquan Johnson, who now holds the state record now of 43 carries, a super seven state record, according to Vickery.
Vickery said he was reminded that the television cameras would be on him during the game, which helped him maintain calm and how proud he was to be a part of history, thanking the people that helped him and the team make it.
“The state championship was awesome, more than just the actual game itself, it was the journey that lead to it,” said Vickery. “The 13 years I've been there, all the boys that I was able to coach, I felt like I wanted it for them, I wanted it for the community, all the people behind the scenes, my assistant coaches, my wife, the players and the administration. Coach Hammond took a chance on me in 2006, hiring me away from Florala High School, and I appreciate him doing that. Flomaton has been a blessing to my family. God is the reason behind all this.”
In other business, the school board approved:
-the renewal of appointment of Board Attorney Broox Garrett, for Jan. 1, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2019, with a $1,000 retainer fee;
-the expulsion of students for violation of the Escambia County School Board Policy and the Code of Student Conduct.
New coach
Escambia County High School students will see a new coach and teacher when they return from the holiday break, following approval by the school board.
Scott Mason, former head football coach and teacher at Florala High School, will replace Escambia County High School’s head football coach Rico Jackson, effective December 20.
Mason, a native of Citronelle, coached at Citronelle and various other schools, such as Fruitdale, for several years before joining the Florala Wildcats for two years starting in 2017, when his team made the Alabama state playoffs for the first time in 12 years, leading their region in sports.
Mason still lives in Citronelle and will commute to Atmore for the job.
“It's my dream job,” said Mason. “I have wanted this job since I started coaching football.”
Mason said he watched Citronelle and Escambia County play and remembered how athletic and fast and big the ECHS players were.
“We beat Atmore that night, and I came out of the press box, walked through the stands and when we walked off the field, I remember thinking I really would love to coach these kids.”
Mason said he had applied for he job before, and was happy when things worked out this time so he can be in Escambia County.
“I am expecting great things, I really am,” said Mason. “The kids are great. Atmore is like a second home to us.”
