Focus is on math and reading proficiency
By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher
The Escambia County Board of Education continues to purchase programs and materials and provide professional development to assist teachers and to raise student proficiency, especially in math and reading. Funding is available through the ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) Fund, which provides State Education Agencies and their local educational agencies (LEAs), with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had – and continues to have – on elementary and secondary schools across the country.
The following agenda items were approved by the Board.
1. Salary adjustment for the superintendent based on state’s 4 percent raise and salary matrix based on years of service, effective October 1, 2022
2. Purchase of Proven Practices Professional Development from PowerSchool Group, LLC, in the amount of $227,500. (paid for with ESSER III and grant)
3. Purchase of math intervention program and professional development from BBB Educational Enterprises Inc. and Heinemann to increase math proficiency in grades 1 through 5 in the amount of $300,596.75 for materials and $85,761.00 for professional development (paid for with ESSER III funding)
4. Purchase of guided reading series and classroom library sets for grades K-5 from Heinemann and Next Level Libraries, LLC in the amounts of $473,836.50 (paid for with ESSER III funding). Flomaton Elementary Principal Courtney McBride said having these books will be a game changer for students. Huxford Elementary Principal Leah Fuqua agreed this is very much needed.
5. Purchase of property at 1201 Forrest Avenue, East Brewton (Legal Description: 30-15-08-34-3-001-008.000) in the amount of $170,000 utilizing local funds. This property is adjacent to W.W. Neal High School. The property was appraised by Alan Associates LLC with a value of $175,000. The Board is responsible for the property’s appraisal fee of $400. The Board will not assume any debt with the purchase of this property.
6. Approval of revised salary schedule which included pay increases for a number of employees, effective September 1. The 4 percent state-mandated increase begins October 1.
The Board approved the following personnel recommendations by Superintendent McClung.
Resignation
1. Emily Harrison, office aide, Escambia County High School effective August 12, 2022
2. Winter Sims, special education teacher, Escambia County High School, effective August 4, 2022
3. Rebecca Green, elementary teacher, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective August 10, 2022
4. Sabrina Dailey, 6-hour lunchroom worker, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective July 21, 2022
5. Kimberly Price, custodian, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective August 19, 2022
6. Stephen Knowlton, science teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective August 1, 2022
7. Wyatt Oliver, HVAC / electrician, Atmore Maintenance Department, effective August 1, 2022
Employment
1. Michele Collier, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning, Assessment, and PD, Escambia County Board of Education, effective August 12, 2022
2. Avia Hill, Pre-K Program teacher aide, A.C. Moore Elementary School, effective August 12, 2022
3. Trajan Hollinger, custodian, Escambia County High School, effective August 12, 2022
4. Melvin Jones, math teacher, Escambia County High School, effective August 12, 2022 (replacing Stephanie Spicer)
5. Amanda Hunter, teacher aide, Escambia County High School, effective August 12, 2022 (replacing Yvette Watkins)
6. Tovjivanese Wilkerson, secondary intervention teacher, Escambia County High School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Lashonda Marshall)
7. Teresa McMaster, special education teacher, Escambia County High School, effective August 2, 2022 (replacing Winter Sims)
8. Vernametres McCracklin, social studies teacher, Escambia County High School, effective August 8, 2022 (replacing Stephanie Taylor)
9. Vallerese Preyer, secretary / bookkeeper, Escambia County High School, effective August 8, 2022 (replacing Wendy Stokes)
10. Nicole Jones, counselor, Escambia County Middle School, effective September 12, 2022 (replacing Collin Lashley)
11. Sydnie High, elementary teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 8, 2022 (replacing Megan Moye)
12. Kelly Moulton, 6-hour lunchroom worker, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 12, 2022 (replacing Kendria Jackson)
13. Shelbi Himes, elementary teacher, Flomaton Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Wendy Davidson)
14. Teresa Jordan, academic interventionist, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Lora Matheny)
15. Carolyn Galbraith, special education aide, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Emily Barlow)
16. Selena Ramos, teacher aide, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective August 12, 2022 (replacing Dalton Shell)
17. Sonya Higdon, custodian, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective August 12, 2022 (replacing Amber Carpenter)
18. Susan Anthony, kindergarten teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Christi Marks)
19. Kelly Mitchell, counselor, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective August 15, 2022 (replacing Levon Wright)
20. Makayla Lucas, special education aide, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective August 12, 2022 (replacing Jennings Hobbs)
21. Gail Peace, part-time Academic Interventionist, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective August 12, 2022
22. Tehron Stallworth, social studies teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective August 8, 2022 (replacing Gavin Walker)
23. Johnnie Ward, utility / groundskeeper, Brewton Maintenance Department, effective September 1, 2022 (replacing Earnest Cassity)
24. Haden Horton, Speech Language Pathologist, Office of Special Education and Student Services, effective August 8, 2022 (replacing Jacob Middleton)
25. Alvin West, gifted education teacher, Office of Special Education and Student Services, effective August 8, 2022 (replacing Elizabeth Hurley)
Employment change
1. JoLynn Godwin, Interim Administrator, A.C. Moore Elementary School, to Academic Interventionist, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective August 12, 2022 (replacing Traci Ward)
2. Wendy Stokes, secretary / bookkeeper, Escambia County High School, to teacher aide, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 12, 2022 (replacing Taylor Rolin)
3. Taylor Rolin, instructional / office aide, Escambia County Middle School, to teacher aide, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 1, 2022 (amended)
4. Amber Dunaway, ARI Reading Specialist, Pollard McCall Junior High School, to Interim Administrator, A.C. Moore Elementary School, effective August 12, 2022 (replacing JoLynn Godwin)
5. Traci Ward, Academic Interventionist, Pollard McCall Junior High School, to ARI Reading Specialist, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective August 12, 2022 (replacing Amber Dunaway)
6. Gavin Walker, social studies teacher, W.S. Neal High School, to science teacher, W.S. Neal High School, effective August 1, 2022 (replacing Stephen Knowlton)
7. Brittney Van Winkle, teacher aide, W.S. Neal High School, to elementary teacher, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective August 12, 2022 (replacing Kelsey Thompson)
Rehire
1. Keyon Thompson, math teacher, Escambia County High School, effective August 12, 2022 (replacing Keyon Thompson)
2. Tyler Boatwright, math teacher, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective August 15, 2022 (replacing Gregory Brock)
This article is written in my capacity as Atmore News publisher, not as a BOE member, and I am not speaking for the board. SD