School board member gives high marks
Editor’s note: The following letter was submitted by District 3 Escambia County School Board Member Mike Edwards in response to an invitation given to all seven school board members in last week’s Tri-City Ledger to explain their vote on the renewal of Superintendent Michele McClung’s contract.
I’ve proudly served the citizens of District 3 which include all W.S. Neal Schools and Huxford Elementary for the past 11 years. During this timeframe I’ve worked with three superintendents and Superintendent Michele McClung has accomplished more in two years than the previous administrations.
Last week’s vote by the Escambia County Board of Education not to renew the superintendent’s contract was preceded by an evaluation of her performance, which was based on eleven categories. She received a satisfactory score on all eleven categories, and her contract should have been extended at that point. But four board members voted not to do so. I was one of three who voted to extend her through 2027.
Previous administrations have micromanaged from the top with one or two key players. They struggled to fill teaching positions and to meet minimum academic requirements. McClung empowers her leaders, teachers, and staff to do their job. She holds herself and all of the staff to the highest of standards.
Superintendent McClung’s strategies and success are based on organizing the system from top to bottom while demanding peak performance from every employee. Her own experience as a former math teacher, supervisor, and principal gives her the insight to know what’s needed in the classroom. Her accomplishments in such a short time are nothing short of amazing.
-Pre-K & AC Moore: This school was closed in 2017, but Superintendent McClung acquired a grant to re-open it for six Pre-K rooms accommodating 114 children with plans for K-8. Deputy Superintendent Shaun Goolsby restored portions of the school and is creating a functional kitchen. This will allow children to enter kindergarten at a higher level of learning.
-Expenditures & grants: If taxpayers are worried the “superintendent spends too much money” it should be noted that the school board approves every expense. Since 2020 the system has received approximately 23 million dollars in federal COVID money (known as ESSER) used to remain competitive and to implement systems to improve education that no one else is doing. The money has to be spent or it will go to other counties. That works out to $5,600 per student.
The bottom line on expenditures: Along with available grant money, there are partnership dollars with local businesses that are cultivated by the superintendent and her staff in a way that has never been done by previous administrations. These funds were used to improve education and the quality of life at school. Money was spent to buy Chromebooks for all students grades 2-12, new laptops for teachers, a new high tech security system, math coaches, interventionists, career tech programs, literacy and math camps, and extensive professional development for all employees. And all of our school buses are now air conditioned for the students’ comfort.
-New projects: For the past 10 years, I have proposed a major addition to Huxford Elementary to assist its needs in becoming Huxford Junior High School. Ms. McClung and her staff forged a new relationship with The Poarch Band of Creek Indians through their Tribal Council and Mrs. Stephanie Bryan. The groundbreaking and construction for this project is slated for February. We will soon begin on W.S. Neal’s new auditorium. Real estate has been purchased in Flomaton for the location of the new Career Readiness Center’s central location.
In addition, schools and facilities have been remodeled and upgraded to create a better environment for teachers and students.
Michele McClung’s leadership has moved a floundering school system into an effective learning one in a short two-year period. She has acquired and implemented innovative teaching strategies and systems. Her vision for our county is helping teachers to be more effective while providing the technical support that aids in their success. And she lets them know they are appreciated.
During COVID, the system plunged into a state of disfunction in all areas. Grades plummeted to the point where our system had multiple failing schools. Employee and student absences skyrocketed.
Michele McClung has quickly turned looming failures into a continued series of successes. She assembled a team of qualified and experienced associates that are dedicated to educating our children. Her all-star staff of assistants created innovative programs and training for teachers while upgrading our facilities, some of which are a century old.
Every member of the school board should remember that the best public relations for any community is a well-educated child. And under Michele McClung, the Escambia County School system is finally making that happen. When W.S. Neal High School can go from a failing school to a projected B in one year, that should tell you something. The district is expected to go from a C to a solid B also this year when the state releases the report card grades. Jason Weeks, McClung’s secondary supervisor, calculated grades for all schools and expects us to see six of our schools with a B up from two last year.
She has turned a failing school system into one that is on its way to being one of the most innovative in the state. That’s why I gave her the top score in all eleven categories for her review. The most important thing people need to know that doesn’t fall into any category: she truly cares about your children.
