By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher
The Escambia County Board of Education met in special session Thursday, June 27, with one of the agenda items being the approval of the 2019-2020 salary schedule. While the salary schedule is usually a routine item, this year it included a 4 percent increase in public school employees’ pay.
In fact, this year’s state education budget is the largest in history with salary increases and more funds for pre-K and lower grades.
According to one report, the increase is possible because more money is going into the Education Trust Fund, mostly through state income taxes in an economy with record-high employment levels.
[Atmore News will have more on the increased budget’s impact on the Escambia County School System in next week’s edition.]
During this time of year, the Board is filling teaching and support positions, often necessitating a special meeting. Following are the personnel recommendations by Superintendent John Knott approved by the Board of Education at last week’s meeting.
Resignation
1. James Jennings, special education teacher, Escambia County High School, effective June 25, 2019
2. Brenda Samuel, 7-hour custodian, Flomaton High School, effective June 13, 2019
3. Holly Young, elementary teacher, Huxford Elementary School, effective June 13, 2019
4. Jennifer Newman, special education teacher, Huxford Elementary School, effective June 26, 2019
5. Rebecca Jones, 7-hour lunchroom worker, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective June 28, 2019
6. Donna Siegle, special education teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective June 14, 2019
7. Bethany Stinson, 6-hour lunchroom worker, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective June 25, 2019
8. Brenda Pendergrass, science teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective June 26, 2019
9. Eloise Copeland, part-time bus driver, Atmore bus shop, effective June 18, 2019
Retirement
1. Janet Benjamin, Secretary, Brewton Central Office, effective August 1, 2019
2. Patricia Harris, 6-hour lunchroom worker, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2019
3. Donna Morris, bus driver, Brewton bus shop, effective July 1, 2019
Transfer
1. Andrea Chance, social studies teacher, Escambia County High School, to social studies teacher, Flomaton High School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Angela Wright)
2. Schwayn Bradley, Title I music / choral teacher, W.S. Neal Elementary and Middle School, to Title I music / choral teacher, W.S. Neal Middle and High School, effective August 5, 2019
3. Darryl Phillips, physical education teacher, W.S. Neal Middle School, to physical education teacher, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing James Hurley)
4. Michael Salter, physical education teacher, W.S. Neal High School, to physical education teacher, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Darryl Phillips)
5. Jennifer C. Fox, elementary teacher, W.S. Neal Elementary School, to elementary teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Micah Brown)
Employment
1. Kristopher Beauchamp, math teacher, Escambia County High School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Jarvis Ripley)
2. Alexander Alvarez, elementary teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Tanisha Henderson)
3. Paula Spicer, special education instructional aide, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 5, 2019
4. Dustin Kennedy, instructional teacher aide, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Cynthia Clack)
5. Tamara Banks, special education teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Sarah Bendall)
6. Kathleen Kilpatrick, elementary teacher, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Holly Young)
7. Laila Warren, 7-hour lunchroom worker, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Ouida Wall)
8. Marvin Hollingsworth, 7-hour custodian, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2019 (replacing Terry Baldwin)
9. James Hayles, 7-hour custodian, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2019 (replacing Lorri Tolbert)
10. Larissa Goodrich, special education teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Donna Siegle)
11. Sophia Yarber, math teacher, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Ashley Salter)
12. Sharon Lambeth, elementary teacher, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Holly Bell)
13. Stephen Landrum, social studies teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Andrew Luker)
14. Sierra Stiles, teacher / director, Turtle Point Science Center, effective July 1, 2019 (replacing Jacquelyn Word)
15. Jaye Jaye Hagan, community educator, Summer Program Science Camp, Flomaton High School, effective June 17, 2019 (to be paid with Sustainability Funds)
16. Laketha Bradley, counselor, W.S. Neal High School, to work up to an additional 20 days, effective June 17, 2019 through July 31, 2019 (to be paid at her daily rate) (Local School and/or Title I Funds)
Employment change
1. Dena Strength, kindergarten teacher, W.S. Neal Elementary School, to pre-K program teacher, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019 (replacing Sally Denton)