On-going projects, personnel put in place
The Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education approved several items for the upcoming school year starting next week, as well as heard an update of on-going projects from Deputy of Operations Shaun Goolsby at its meeting Monday afternoon.
The cafeteria floor at Escambia County High School is complete. Luxury vinyl tile was installed after work was done to smooth the floor where years of patches made it a tripping hazard. The project was taken care of by emergency contract so it would be finished by the start if this school year, according to Goolsby.
He said the HVAC systems at Escambia County Middle School will have their final state inspections this week so the school will be ready for students next week. The units there were replaced with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds of around $1.5 million.
At Flomaton High School, all the classroom flooring has been replaced that were left with carpet except the library, which Goolsby said there are plans to replace in the future.
The K-5 new alternative programs as well as the Escambia County 6-12 alternative school have moved into the Escambia County Middle School to be ready for the first day of school.
He said the Atmore Central Office Professional Development rooms got the last of the new furniture install Monday. Goolsby said it’s ‘all hands on deck’ with the IT and maintenance departments as well.
“We’ve got a lot going on and then, some unexpected,” said Goolsby. “Just be patient. We will get it done.”
Financial
Collier gave a financial statement that the balance is $13,113,202.76, which is 4 months operating reserve. Collier said that the system has about $6 million to be reimbursed because its spent local Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.
In other business, the board:
-Approval of purchase of enCore Curriculum physical goods classroom package for K-12 from Teachtown in the amount of $95,840.73, to be paid out of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds
-Approval of contract with LBP Interpreting, Inc. for interpreting services for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals for the 2024-2025 school year.
-Approval of contract with Gulf Coast Therapy for physical and occupational therapy services for the 2024-2025 school year.
-Approval to renew SchoolsPLP user licenses for three years in the amount of $254,700, to be paid out of (ESSER) 3 funds
-Approval of revision of athletic medical services provider contract from $125 per varsity game to $200 per varsity game and from $100 per middle school/junior varsity game to $125 per middle school/junior varsity game.
-Approval to extend summer employment of summer maintenance/groundskeeper student workers through August 5, 2024, to be paid at $10.00 per hour
-Board Policy Revision-Section VI. Students- 6.15.1.Distribution of Explicit Images (This item will be tabled for 30 days)
The board also approved the following recommended personnel changes. The changes are as follows:
Resignation
Victoria Shipp, 7-hour lunchroom worker at Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 11, 2024; Nikita Pinkney, teacher at Escambia County Middle School, effective July 15, 2024; Aundrea Beasley, special education aide at Flomaton High School, effective July 23, 2024; Allison Lowery, elementary teacher at W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective July 31, 2024; Brigitte Hoomes. 6-hour lunchroom worker at W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective July 31, 2024
Employment
Jamieka McMorris, pre-K auxillary teacher aide at A.C. Moore Primary School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Kimberly Burris); Kathleen Camp, kindergarten teacher at A.C. Moore Primary School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Nikki Trawick); Sandi McMurphy, itinerant registered nurse at Escambia County High/Middle School, effective July 31, 2024; Ray Morris, assistant principal at Escambia County High School, effective July 29, 2024 (replacing Layton Knight); James Weber, media production teacher at Escambia County High School, effective Aug. 1, 2024; Deri Grissett, band director at Escambia County High School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Kathryn Canterbury); Teralyn Kast, science teacher at Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Sydney Garrett); Terry Knowles, custodian at Flomaton High School, effective Aug. 1 2024 (replacing Sherry Evans); Kate Kiser, CTE pre-engineering teacher at Flomaton High School, effective Aug. 19 2024 (replacing Rafeal Adams); Tiffany Fretwell, English/language arts teacher at Flomaton High School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Joy Daniels); Skye Ramsey, custodian at Flomaton High School, effective July 30, 2024 (replacing Jeana Barrow); Jenny Lynn, zundel instructional teacher aide at Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective Aug. 1,2024 (replacing Maranda Lambeth); Taylor Campbell, elementary teacher at Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Leah White); Kimberly Waldrop, elementary teacher at Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Christin Brooks); Rider Jernigan, English/Language arts teacher at W.S. Neal Middle School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Ashley Gafford); Aubrina Washington Bowens, English/Language arts teacher at W.S. Neal High School, effective Aug. 1,2024 (replacing Tiffany Oliver)
Employment Change
Raquel Davis, from assistant principal at Flomaton Elementary School, to elementary curriculum and instruction supervisor for Escambia Co Board of Education, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Nicole Spottswood); Rita Jones from 7-Hour lunchroom worker at Escambia County High School, to CNP manager at Escambia County High School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Cindy Young); Vernametres McCracklin, from social studies teacher at Escambia County High School, to career preparedness teacher at Escambia County High School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Ann Walton Nichols); Quentin Riley, from teacher aide at Escambia County Middle School, to social studies teacher at Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Nikita Pinkney); Kisha Hagan, from 6-hour lunchroom worker at Flomaton High School, to bus driver at Brewton Bus Shop, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Kathleen Meadows); Hugh T. Fountain, from special education aide at Pollard McCall Junior High School, to physical education teacher/career prep at W.S. Neal High School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Mike Miller); Stacy Thomas, from 7-hour custodian at W.S. Neal Middle School, to bus driver at Brewton Bus Shop, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Shannon Folsom)
Transfer
Kathryn Canterbury, band director from Escambia County High School to Flomaton High School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Brittany Van Winkle); Ashley Gafford, ELA teacher from W.S. Neal Middle School to Flomaton High School, effective Aug. 1, 2024
Summer Employment
Joshua Coleman, (paid out of agriscience extended grant teacher) at W.S. Neal High School, effective June 8, 2024; Karl Smith (paid out of ESSER 3 funds) assistant at Principal Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective June 8, 2024
Rehire
Cynthia Clack, pre-K auxiliary teacher aide at A.C. Moore Primary School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Cynthia Clack); Rafael Adams, social studies teacher at Escambia County High School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Vernamtres McCracklin); Elizabeth Wallace, CTE-cosmetology I instructor at Escambia County High School, effective July 24, 2024 (replacing Elizabeth Wallace); Patrice Fountain, special Education teacher at Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective Aug. 1, 2024 (replacing Rachel Hadley); Sally Denton, part-time academic interventionist at W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective Aug. 27, 2024 (replacing Sally Denton)
The board’s next meeting will be at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 22, at Atmore Central Office.
