The Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education voted Thursday, November 16, to raise their monthly pay from $600 to $800.
The recommendation was made by Board Chairman W. J. Grissett as he read remarks seeking re-election to that position: “that the Board approve a one step raise for Local Board members for an additional amount of $200 dollars per month to become effective when the next new or returning Board members take their seat at the Board Table.”
Immediately following his comments, the board voted to re-elect Grissett as chairman and Cindy Jackson as board vice-chairman.
As soon as the vote was completed, board member Danny Benjamin read a resolution raising board members’ pay to $800 a month. The resolution served as a motion and was seconded by Coleman Wallace.
A unanimous vote was required to pass the motion, and in a roll call vote, the motion was passed.
State law allows $600 a month for board members. Any amount over that has to be approved by the state legislature. The board’s pay request will be submitted to the local legislative delegation – Rep. Alan Baker, Sen. Greg Albritton, Rep. Mike Jones – which has the option of presenting the request for a vote of the legislature.
Following are stats on other boards, including whether board members are elected or appointed, annual salary, and number of students in the school system:
* Baldwin County (elected) $7,200; 30,463 students
* Brewton City (appointed) no salary; 1,104 students
* Clarke County (elected) $7,200; 2,645 students
* Conecuh County (elected) $7,200; 1,752 students
* Escambia County (elected) currently $7,200; pending $9,600; 4,378 students
* Mobile County (elected) $8,400; 55,299 students
* Montgomery County (elected) $10,000; 29,903 students
* Monroe County (elected) $7,200; 3,411 students
* Saraland City (appointed) no salary; 3,042 students
* Thomasville City (appointed) no salary; 1,219 students
Agenda items
The following items were on the agenda.
* Annual Meeting – Ala. Code §16-8-3 requires the board to hold a special annual meeting each year for the purpose of allowing the public to address the board relating to the allotment of public funds or any other matter related to the administration of the public schools in your county. No one was on hand to address the board.
* Superintendent’s Remarks – Superintendent John Knott gave an update on the Escambia County High School Auditorium project. The lobby is expected to be open in the next few weeks with the auditorium open maybe by the end of December.
Knott noted that all county schools recognized Veterans Day in some way.
* Monthly financial statement for October 2017 – Chief School Financial Officer Julie Madden reported the fund balance at $10.2 million with 3.5 months operating reserve.
Bids awarded
The following five items were discussed in executive session and approved when the board reconvened in open session:
1. Awarded bid for emergency asbestos removal at W.S. Neal High School to Aegis Environmental, Inc. in the amount of $194,700.
2. Awarded bid to Dixie Acoustical in the amount of $185,330.00 (add $2,870.00 for payment and performance bonds) to furnish and install acoustical ceiling grid and acoustical ceiling panels at W.S. Neal High School – Male Athletic and Auditorium buildings.
3. Awarded bid to Conrad Watson in the amount of $116,580 to furnish and install new mechanical ducts and exhaust fans to match existing at W.S. Neal High School – Auditorium building.
4. Awarded bid to Conrad Watson in the amount of $69,435 to furnish and install new HVAC rooftop units, related controls and wiring to these units to match existing at W.S. Neal High School – Auditorium building.
5. Approved a Change Order in the range of $45,000 to remove the AC units from the roof of the auditorium and removal all AC equipment and duct work from the interior of the male athletic building at W.S. Neal High School.
Also discussed in closed session was the suspension of an employee. Knott had recommended a five-day suspension but the board rejected that recommendation and approved a three-day suspension.
Personnel
The following personnel recommendations were made by Knott and approved by the board:
Resignation:
1. Andrea Salter, teacher, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective October 30, 2017
Employment:
1. Anna Nelson, teacher, Title I After School Program, W.S. Neal High School, effective November 20, 2017
2. Stephanie Spicer, teacher, Title I After School Program, Escambia County High School, effective November 27, 2017
3. Thomas E. McCall, bus driver, Brewton Bus Shop, effective November 17, 2017 (replacing Richard Robinson)
4. Tracy Linam, teacher, Title I After School Program, Escambia County High School, effective November 27, 2017
5. Ashley Trawick, teacher, Title I After School Program, Escambia County High School, effective November 27, 2017