White to lead the school board

At the Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education meeting Tuesday, board members elected Loumeek White as president and re-elected Cindy Jackson as vice president of the school board with a vote of 4 to 3.

For president, Kevin Hoomes nominated White, which was seconded by Sherry Digmon.

Coleman Wallace nominated Mike Edwards.

For vice president, Digmon nominated Jackson. Edwards nominated Wallace.

In both elections, Hoomes, White, Digmon and Jackson voted for White president and Jackson vice president. Wallace, Edwards, and Danny Benjamin voted Edwards president and Wallace vice president.

The same four board members who voted to not renew Superintendent Michele McClung's contract are the four who voted tor White president and Jackson vice president.

Benjamin, who has served as board president for the past year, spoke prior to the election about his term this past year as board president.

"Looking back over my years of being affiliated and a part of this board for 35 consecutive years, I have been so blessed to have had the privilege to serve as the president of this board for this past year," said Benjamin. "I am thankful to have had the opportunity to have worked with nine superintendents and Miss McClung has really, really, really stepped up to the plate and done an amazing job in our school system. I am thankful to have had the chance to work as president alongside of her. I'd like for us to always know that, what we do is for the benefit of our children, be it superintendent, board members, staff, support personnel, all of you are here today because you are concerned about our kids, our children. Our children are the leaders of tomorrow. We need to get them prepared to do all that they can do. It's been a blessing for me. And whoever takes this seat, I want you to give it all you've got, because our kids deserve that."

President White took his place as president and led the rest of the meeting. White addressed the next agenda item, which was the superintendent's recommendation to pay the bills.

Benjamin made a motion to pay the bills, which was seconded by Wallace.

"I've got a question," said Jackson. "Mrs. (Rochelle) Richardson (Chief School Financial Officer), do you have a list of those bills for us to look at before we approve them?"

Richardson said she did not, but that she would send the board members emails that evening. The board voted unanimously to pay the bills.

On the agenda, under new business, it stated "Alabama code requires the board to hold a special annual meeting each year for the purpose of allowing the public to present the board matter relating to the allotment of public school funds or any other matter related to the administration of the public school in Escambia County." To fulfill that requirement, the board opened the floor to members of the public to speak. Under 'public comments', on the agenda, it stated, "The board requests no personal attacks directed toward any individual board members or employee". There were no requests for public comment at the meeting.

The board made a motion and voted unanimously and went into executive session, according to Board Attorney Kirk Garrett, to discuss "the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation as well as potential litigation controversies not yet litigated, but imminently likely to be litigated or controversies imminently likely to be litigated if the board pursues a proposed course of action."

The board took no action when executive session ended and the board returned. The meeting was then adjourned.