School employees won’t get mandated pay increases until Oct.
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
In a major change from previous years, Escambia County Board of Education members voted unanimously last Thursday, June 30, during their regular meeting, to wait until October 1 to implement state-mandated pay raises for all personnel.
For the past several years, when the state has issued mandatory salary-increase schedules, county education officials have put the raises into effect on July 1, effectively giving teachers a three-month “bonus.”
That won’t be the case this year. School board members and system administrators agreed Thursday that the extra three months would not only give them more time to formulate a new salary schedule but would obviously save the system money.
Chief Schools Financial Officer Julie Madden said the state has mandated a 4-percent raise for all school employees, plus a 1-percent per year increase for teachers and all employees “on the teacher matrix.”
Madden, who was attending her last board meeting as CSFO, and her successor, Rochelle Richardson, arrived at the meeting together and explained the complexities of computing new salaries for teachers and other employees, based on their time of service.
“I suggest you have a workshop and go over that (the proposed salary schedule),” Madden said. “If you approve the schedule, Rochelle will also be able to calculate a good estimate of what that raise will cost if it starts in July. You’ve got to have a salary schedule in the system in order to do payroll. To calculate the raises, she’ll need a salary schedule.”
District 2 BOE rep Danny Benjamin suggested that the board allow Richardson time to compute the raises and board members time to study the new salary schedule.
“How much trouble would it be to table this whole process so we can better understand it and what we’re doing?” he asked.
District 2’s Mike Edwards then formally suggested that the board not look to the past, when such salary adjustments were implemented at the beginning of the contract year, but to the future.
“Just because we’ve done it before doesn’t mean we can’t take advantage of …” Edwards said before stopping momentarily. “We’ll save money; we’ll be changing everything. If we go ahead and accept October as the state’s mandated time, would that not give us more time? Then we wouldn’t have to be so rushed. I think that would be a good move.”
BOE President Coleman Wallace agreed.
“In order to be fiscally responsible, I think we really need to take the second recommendation,” he said before the board voted in unison to hold the raises until October.
Madden worked with the county school system for 23 years. Both Benjamin and Wallace publicly thanked her for her service and wished her well.
In her final report, she noted that the system had a fund balance on May 21 of $21.4 million dollars, representing nearly seven months of operating expenses.
“Thank you very much for your dedication and service over the years,” Wallace said. “I’m happy that you were able to accomplish your goals and to leave us as well as you have.”
As Madden prepared to leave, Benjamin stopped her.
“I didn’t want you to slip out without telling you how thankful we are to have had you all these years, and for you to have served us in an excellent way in the CSFO position,” he said. “Your name rings out across the state as one of the best. I want to take this time to say, ‘thank you,’ Godspeed and have a great, great retirement. We’re going to miss you.”
Madden said as she was leaving that her immediate retirement plans centered around spending time with husband Mark and their three grandchildren.
In other action, the board:
- Approved the salary for a new English Language Arts and Math Specialist for elementary and secondary schools. The remainder of a proposed salary schedule was tabled until the state-mandated raises could be computed.
- Entered into an owner-architect agreement with Latham Associates for mechanical upgrades at Escambia County Middle School. The upgrades, expected to cost “about $1.2 million,” will be paid for with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) money.
- Entered into an owner-architect agreement with PH&J Architects for new restrooms-concession stand buildings on the visitors’ side at Escambia County High School’s Herbert Barnes Field, and at W.S. Neal’s baseball-softball field. Madden said the projects should cost “no more than $250,000 for both of them.”
- Approved purchase from Blocksi for virtual classroom, classroom management, student safety and analytics software. The three-year program will cost $74,538 and will be paid for with Title I carryover funds.
- Approved one-year extensions of contracts with Trident Beverage, for non-dairy beverages in school cafeterias, and with Borden Dairy, for milk and milk products.
- Approved a contract with Osborn Brothers for supplemental food and supplies not readily available elsewhere, for school cafeterias.
- Agreed to purchase forms and document retention software from Harris School Systems for $48,597, which will be paid for with ESSER funds. Technology Coordinator Jamie Burkett said the price includes the initial install and configuration, that the annual rate for just the software is “around $8,000.”
- Entered into a formal agreement with Deputy Director of Operations Shawn Goolsby on a $500-per-month lease for a Williams Street house owned by the school board.
- Entered into an agreement with Jefferson County Regional Purchasing Coop — for the remainder of this fiscal year, plus FY 2023 — with the option to renew the “bid partnership” for a minimum of five years — for items not readily available elsewhere due to the pandemic. The annual cost is $530.05, with the remainder of this year to be pro-rated.
*Agreed to hold the salary workshop immediately prior to the next BOE meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, July 18, at 4:30 p.m.
The following personnel recommendations by Superintendent McClung were approved by the board.
Resignation
1. Kristal Wardrop, accounting specialist, Brewton Central Office, effective July 29, 2022
2. Kevin Everett, assistant principal, Escambia County High School, effective June 30, 2022
3. Lashonda Marshall, secondary intervention teacher, Escambia County High School, effective June 30, 2022
4. Barry Coleman, social studies teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective June 29, 2022
5. Quinin Leroy Steele, social studies teacher, Flomaton High School, effective May 26, 2022
6. Megan Donald, elementary teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective May 26, 2022
7. Emma McCrory, special education teacher, WS Neal Elementary School, effective May 26, 2022
8. Allison Nall, special education aide, WS Neal Middle School, effective June 23, 2022
9. Joseph Burleson, social studies teacher, WS Neal High School, effective May 26, 2022
Retirement
1. Doris Johnson, teacher aide, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective June 1, 2022
Transfer
1. Farrah McGill, social studies teacher, Escambia County Alternative School, to social studies teacher, Flomaton High School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Quinin Steele)
2. Jennifer Stephens, special education teacher, Flomaton High School, to special education teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Hillary Bibeau)
3. Kimberly Nevels, science teacher, Flomaton High School, to science teacher, WS Neal High School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Jesse Rowlen)
4. Terries Lett, assistant principal, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, to assistant principal, Escambia County High School, effective July 20, 2022 (Replacing Kevin Everett)
5. Malorie Johnson, Elementary Teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, to elementary teacher, WS Neal Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Marilyn Peters)
6. Brittany Revel, elementary teacher, WS Neal Elementary School, to elementary teacher, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Meghan Mayo)
7. Virginia Paige Steadham, Elementary Teacher, WS Neal Elementary School, to elementary teacher, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Amanda Brown)
8. Sandra Floyd, custodian, Escambia Career Readiness Center, to custodian, WS Neal High School, effective August 1, 2022
Employment
1. Raquel Davis, secondary reading and English/language arts specialist, Escambia County Board of Education, effective July 20, 2022
2. April Brantley, LPN / special education instructional aide, Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Program, Escambia County Board of Education, effective May 30, 2022
3. Kimberly Burris, pre-k auxiliary teacher aide, A.C. Moore Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022
4. Kasey Atkins, pre-k auxiliary teacher aide, AC Moore Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022
5. April Brantley, pre-k auxiliary teacher aide, AC Moore Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022
6. Kay Woodyard, pre-k program teacher, AC Moore Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022
7. David Belanger, math teacher, Escambia County High School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Anna Wheeler)
8. Callie Simon, special education aide, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Lasonja George)
9. Taylor Rolin, instructional / office aide, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Kendria Jackson)
10. Rachel Wood, art teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 1, 2022
11. Jennifer Blanton, LPN / Special education instructional aide, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Cassie Chavers)
12. Tracey Padgett, teacher aide, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Courtney Dixon)
13. Brittany Mattox, kindergarten teacher, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Heather Qualls)
14. Jennifer Strawbridge, special education aide, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Whitney Kelley)
15. Brook Hawsey, teacher aide, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Tori Chavers)
16. Kelli Sellers, special education teacher, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Toni Jones)
17. Summer Ard, special education teacher, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Tiffany Hammac)
18. Kaci Morris, custodian, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Courtney Cook)
19. Noelle Morris, elementary teacher, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Traci Ward)
20. Natashcia Kidd, teacher, Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective May 30, 2022
21. Natashcia Kidd, teacher (sub), Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Program, Escambia County Middle School, effective May 30, 2022
22. Patricia Bradley, kindergarten teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Krista Ealum)
23. Maurice Bradley, physical education teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Tammy Smith)
24. Karen Hubert-Frye, physical education teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Jolynn Godwin)
25. Terry Kirby-Colbert, teacher aide, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022
26. Justin Weaver, Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Program, summer maintenance custodian, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective July 5, 2022
27. Justin Weaver, custodian, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Beverly James)
28. Donna Avery, 6-hour lunchroom worker, WS Neal Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Haley Black)
29. Damien Jackson, special education teacher, WS Neal Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Emma McCrory)
30. Kimberly Price, custodian, WS Neal Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Samuel Wright)
31. Ashley Sawyer, elementary teacher, WS Neal Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Megan Moye)
32. Heather Lindsey, elementary teacher, WS Neal Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Virginia Paige Steadham)
33. Jennifer Smith, elementary teacher, WS Neal Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Brittney Revel)
34. Reyna Vega, science teacher, WS Neal Middle School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing James Rogers)
35. Courtney Peavy, English / language arts teacher, WS Neal High School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Tawana Jones)
36. Stephen Van Winkle, band director, WS Neal High School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Kimberly Waller)
37. Brittney Van Winkle, teacher aide, WS Neal High School, effective August 1, 2022
38. Jawara White, social studies teacher, WS Neal High School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Tyler Reeves)
39. Vanessa Mealer, summer maintenance custodian, Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Program, WS Neal High School, effective July 5, 2022
40. Sandra Floyd, summer maintenance custodian, Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Program, WS Neal High School, effective July 5, 2022
41. Betty Lindsey, bus driver, Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Program, Brewton Bus Shop, effective May 30, 2022 (amended)
42. Marty Long, welding instructor, Escambia Career Readiness Center, effective July 20, 2022 (replacing Jason Beasley)
43. Carol Woodcock, Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Program, summer maintenance custodian, Escambia Career Readiness Center, effective July 5, 2022
Employment change
1. George Brown, Principal, Flomaton High School, to assistant superintendent of student services, Escambia County Board of Education, effective July 1, 2022
2. Sandra Reid, administrator, A.C. Moore Elementary School, to principal, WS Neal Elementary School, effective July 1, 2022 (replacing Eric Andrews)
3. Yolonda Walters, assistant principal, Escambia County Middle School, to science teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Ronda Hoffman)
4. Wendy Stafford, part-time (retired) speech / language pathologist, Escambia County Middle School, to speech language pathologist, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Emily Dean)
5. Brittany Linam, technology education teacher, Escambia County Middle School, to CTE pre-engineering teacher, Flomaton High School, effective July 20, 2022 (replacing Richard Aaron)
6. Heather Qualls, kindergarten teacher, Flomaton Elementary School, to academic interventionist, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022
7. Whitney Kelley, Special Education Aide, Flomaton Elementary School, to elementary teacher, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Meghan Mayo)
8. Tiffany Hammac, Special Education Teacher, Huxford Elementary School, to elementary teacher, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Karie Richburg)
9. Lora Matheny, elementary teacher, Huxford Elementary School, to academic interventionist, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022
10. Traci Ward, Elementary Teacher, Pollard McCall Junior High School, to academic interventionist, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective August 1, 2022
11. Amber Dunaway, Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Literacy Camp, teacher, Pollard McCall Junior High School, to Academic Recovery Response Plan Summer Literacy Camp, lead teacher, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective May 31, 2022
12. Brian Stallworth, Elementary Teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, to academic interventionist, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022
13. Brenda Samuel, 6-hour Lunchroom Worker, WS Neal Elementary School, to special education aide, Office of Special Education and Student Services, effective August 1, 2022
(replacing Sheila Fountain)
Rehires
1. Amanda Brown, special education teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Paula Stone)
2. Virginia Parker, part-time academic interventionist, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Marilyn Bradley)
3. Sandra Forbes, elementary teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022
4. Marilyn Bradley, academic interventionist, WS Neal Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022
Contracts
1. Approval of employment contract made by and between the Escambia County Board of Education and Rochelle Richardson, CSFO.
2. Approval of employment contract made by and between the Escambia County Board of Education and Kike Pettaway, Escambia County High School.
3. Approval of employment contract made by and between the Escambia County Board of Education and Forrest Jones, Escambia County Middle School.
4. Approval of employment contract made by and between the Escambia County Board of Education and Leah Fuqua, Huxford Elementary School.
5. Approval of employment contract made by and between the Escambia County Board of Education and Toya McMillan, Rachel Patterson Elementary School.
6. Approval of employment contract made by and between the Escambia County Board of Education and Perry Updike, WS Neal Middle School.
7. Approval of employment contract made by and between the Escambia County Board of Education and Sabrina Wilson, Escambia Career Readiness Center.