The Escambia County Board of Education (Ala.) heard several updates, including the W.S. Neal High School construction project and approved the FY 2019-2020 budget among other items at their meeting Thursday, Sept. 12.
W.S. Neal High School
W.S. Neal High School construction project consisted of two projects. The athletic facilities and the auditorium are in Phase 2. School Superintendent John Knott said the project has been finalized, and he met with representatives from the Alabama Building Commission last week and they have given final approval for completion of the project. Knott said there were a few small items on the punch list that are being completed now.
“The re-roofing project has been completed by Johns and Kirksey, a roofing company out of Tuscaloosa,” said Knott. “They did such a professional job and we are very pleased. That was an enormous project.”
Knott said the new roof has been signed off by the Alabama Building Commission, it has been completed and the warranty has been issued. He said there were two small items the building commission pointed out, and those were corrected the next morning.
Knott said he will have a report for the board next month on where they stand on future steps required to finalize everything.
Atmore City School System study
Knott told the board the city of Atmore has submitted a letter, received by the board on Aug. 16, informing the board members the city of Atmore has entered into an agreement with RNC Educational Consultants to do a financial feasibility study to present to the Atmore City Council. The council voted last April to do a feasibility study to consider an Atmore City School System.
“We were waiting on that letter giving us a formal announcement and also to instruct us to comply and work to collaborate with the consultants on the information they need,” said Knott. “Although we are in the middle of our FY budget and hearings, we have started this week to submit those documents and that information so they can move forward.”
Rachel Patterson chosen
As Alabama celebrates 200 years, Rachel Patterson Elementary School (RPES) in Atmore has been chosen as one of 200 schools to be designated an Alabama Bicentennial School, based on final reports submitted by each of the 200 schools.
Twenty-one schools were chosen, three from each congressional district in Alabama. Two Mobile schools and Rachel Patterson were chosen for the local district and given $5,000 grants and a Sylacauga marble sculpture created by Alabama sculptor Craigger Browne.
RPES Principal John Brantley and Media Specialist Julie McDonald were at the meeting and received a certificate of recognition from Knott.
Brantley said the school held a celebration recently and both State Sen. Greg Albritton and State Rep. Alan Baker came to present the school with a recognition of its accomplishment from the legislative body of Alabama.
“We are super excited about this,” said Brantley. “This was a teamwork effort. It took everyone, our teachers, our students, the community, and the businesses around Atmore to come together. We ended up donating almost $5,000 to the animal shelter. We've had testimonials from members of the community that our bringing awareness to the animal shelter, people adopted animals and also gave supplies to the animal shelter.”
Brantley said the school will continue this project and he hopes to involve more students and bring even more awareness to the animals that need adopting in our area.
FY 2019-2020 Budget
School system CEO Julie Madden presented the FY 2019-2020 budget to the board. The ending fund balance as of Sept. 30, 2020 is proposed to be $4,801,734, which is less than FY 2019's $5,709,278.
In a motion made by Coleman Wallace and seconded by Mike Hoomes, the motion carried. Board members Danny Benjamin and Mike Edwards were not present.
In other business, the board:
-Approved FY 2020 Stability for Foster Students LEA Plan: Escambia County Schools.
-Approved FY 2020 EL Plan.
-Approved FY 2020 LEA Consolidated Plan.
-Approved of the Capital Plan for FY 2020 through FY 2024.
-Approved to extend a transportation fuel bid for diesel and gasoline with Southern Energy Company for one year (FY 2020).
-Approved to negotiate and enter into a cooperative agreement with Gulf Regional Early Childhood Services, Inc. to utilize designated rooms and grounds for the purpose of conducting Head Start and Pre-Kindergarten services to children and families in the Atmore area.
The next school board meeting will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Brewton Central Office.
