By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Although one major component was scratched from the project, Escambia County Board of Education members were able to create during their June 29 meeting some forward movement on renovation of Escambia County High School’s (ECHS) athletic fieldhouse.
The board approved a $2,693,700 bid from Atmore-based Triptek Construction to give the venerable building, which has reportedly stood for more than 50 years, a complete makeover.
“There will still be an addition to the end of it, where the weight room will be,” Deputy Director of Operations Shawn Goolsby said. “We’ll bring everything up to (Americans With Disabilities Act)-accessible code, inside and outside. That’s the plumbing, drainage, everything.”
After District 4’s Cindy Jackson said, “that’s a lot of money,” and District 6’s Sherry Digmon pointed out, “it’s an old fieldhouse,” Jackson asked where the money for the project will come from.
“We were thinking this would come out of unreserved (funds), but it’s already pulled out,” said Superintendent Michele McClung. “It’s already in reserve, in our Capital Projects fund. It won’t affect our operating budget.”
Assistant Superintendent George Brown, who has recently been going to the current ECHS fieldhouse to work out when he ends his workday in Atmore, said the renovation is long overdue.
“Those kids deserve a lot better than that,” he said. “It hurts my heart to see what they have in comparison to what others have, not just in our county but in other places that really don’t have anything, either. There’s still no comparison. The kids and coaches we have now are all new, not the same people who contributed to the way it is now. They are itching for something better, and they deserve it.”
ECHS Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Vincent Harris said he’s just glad to see some movement on the project.
“This is a great day to be an Atmore Blue Devil,” said Harris, who is entering his second year at the ECHS helm. “I want to thank the board, the superintendent and Mr. Goolsby. They stayed on the project pretty good.”
McClung said after the meeting that escalating prices for building materials means that one component of the initial plan — construction of a covered practice area — will not be included.
That, along with the fact most of the renovation work will likely be done during the upcoming football season, are speed bumps, but Harris said the “new” facility would pay huge dividends in the near future, including an expected decrease in the number of local athletes who go elsewhere to compete.
“It’s a great day for the city of Atmore and the children, the fact these kids are going to get something new,” he said. “If the work is going on during football season, we have a plan in place, somewhere else to go. Even if they’ve got to do it during the season, we want to go ahead and get it done.
“The fieldhouse is not for me, it’s for the kids. It could be a game-changer for us, attracting more athletes to stay, letting them know there’s no need to leave home. It’s a big step forward. If they start now, they get it done before spring ball starts, and that’s another big incentive to get kids to play, so I’m not complaining.”
No timetable was announced for the progression of the project.
BOE members also voted, though with some concerns, to approve an agreement with Schneider Electric to identify antiquated lighting, air conditioning systems and other energy sources to make them more efficient.
Jackson again spoke up, pointing out that the agreement calls for the BOE to pay Schneider $90,619 if it decides to go no further once the initial energy audit is conducted.
Schneider’s Kyle Keith, who pointed out the school system is paying more than $1 million in utility bills each year, said school officials will be “taking money that is already being spent out of electric, water and gas, and reinvesting that back into the schools, into badly needed deferred maintenance” if they approve the deal.
After Keith told the board his company would have a preliminary plan ready for consideration by the end of the year, McClung revealed that there are “several anomalies” in the utility bills, including that gas bills at ECHS are higher than at other high schools and that Flomaton High’s water bill is twice as high as the county’s other high schools.
BOE President Danny Benjamin suggested that “once this part is complete, (the board) have a workshop before we agree on anything further.”
Another surprise came when Goolsby announced that the three portable classrooms and one portable restroom, previously unavailable for purchase, could now be bought from Fabricon Modular for a total of $418,607 instead of being leased for an estimated “$250,000 to $320,00.” The board had previously approved a $675,680 bid to put in the infrastructure (sidewalks, skirting, sewers, canopies, etc.) that would be required for the portables.
In other action during the meeting, BOE members:
*Announced that the next regular session will be Thursday, July 13, at 10 a.m., at the Central Office in Brewton.
*Congratulated Assistant Superintendent Michele Collier who recently earned her PhD from University of South Alabama.
*Approved a revised wellness policy that, as board protocol, was tabled during last month’s meeting.
*Learned from Chief Schools Financial Officer Rochelle Richardson that the system’s unreserved fund balance on May 31 was $12,725,207.72 and that local schools are still awaiting a $3.9 million reimbursement from the state for local funds spent on various projects and initiatives.
*Approved one-year extensions of bids from Borden Dairy, Trident Beverage and Osborn Brothers for milk, other beverages and supplemental food and supply items not currently available from the state bid list.
*Recognized and presented an award to Flomaton High School (FHS) sophomore Addison Green, who is credited with getting her family safely out of their home and to their designated meeting place when a fire broke out recently. Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton and Mayor Jim Johnson were among those honoring the heroic student.
*Learned that Amber Dunaway, who was principal for the Alabama First Class Pre-K program at A.C. Moore last year, will take over administrative responsibility for the county’s entire rapidly growing pre-kindergarten program, which will double in size (from three classes, to six) during the upcoming school term.
Personnel
Personnel recommendations by Superintendent McClung were approved by the Board.
The following abbreviations are used:
Escambia County Board of Education – ECBOE
A.C. Moore Pre-K School – ACMPS
Huxford Elementary School – HES
Rachel Patterson Elementary School – RPES
Escambia County Middle School – ECMS
Escambia County High School – ECHS
Flomaton Elementary School – FES
Flomaton High School – FHS
Pollard McCall Junior High School – PMJHS
W.S. Neal Elementary School – WSNES
W.S. Neal Middle School – WSNMS
W.S. Neal High School – WSNHS
Escambia County Alternative School – ECAS
Atmore Central Office – ACO
Brewton Central Office – BCO
Atmore Maintenance Department – AMD
Brewton Maintenance Department – BMD
Retirement
1. Teresa Armstrong, payroll supervisor, BCO, effective July 1, 2023
2. Edward Woods, custodian, WSNHS, effective February 28, 2023
Resignation
1. Summer Ard, special education teacher, HES, effective May 26, 2023
2. Anna Redditt, elementary teacher, HES, effective May 26, 2023
3. John Russell Smith, physical education teacher, HES, effective May 26, 2023
4. Mary Hubert, 6-hour lunchroom worker, RPES, effective May 25, 2023
5. Jennifer Smith, elementary teacher, WSNES, effective May 26, 2023
Employment
1. Racheal Wagner, health scient teacher / CTE, ECHS, effective July 25, 2023 amended, replacing Suzanne Helton
2. Mia Calle, math teacher, ECHS, effective August 2, 2023, replacing David Belanger
3. Antonio Brooks, social studies teacher, ECHS, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Canon Borst
4. Jason Blackwell, construction technology – CTE, ECHS, effective August 2, 2023
5. Tawana Jones, secondary teacher, ECMS, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Russell Robinson
6. Leah White, elementary teacher, ECMS, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Madelynn Holt
7. Trena Conner, elementary teacher, ECMS, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Kathleen Camp
8. Kelly Anderson, physical education teacher, ECMS, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Madison Carpenter
9. Joy Daniels, ELA teacher, FHS, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Shelbi Himes
10. Rafael Adams, CTE pre-engineering teacher, FHS, effective July 25, 2023, replacing Brittany Linam
11. Tammy Waguespack, secretary / bookkeeper, HES, effective July 19, 2023, replacing Karan Lassiter
12. Michael Sullivan, physical education teacher, HES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing John Russell Smith
13. Amanda Dees, elementary teacher, HES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Tiffany Hammac
14. Cassidy Lanier, pre-K program teacher, PMJHS, effective August 2, 2023
15. Rhonda Jarju, elementary teacher, RPES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Vasaroy Johnson
16. Susanna Miles, special education teacher, RPES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Jennifer Stephens
17. Gala Nobles, elementary teacher, RPES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Demarcous Moton
18. Ashley Johnson, elementary teacher, RPES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Raven Ates
19. Regina Adams, elementary teacher, RPES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Sydnie High
20. Brianna Fortner, speech language pathologist, RPES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Wendy Stafford
21. Kelli Kirkland, elementary teacher, WSNES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Anna Marie Lyles
22. Kaylee Gann, pre-K program teacher, WSNES, effective August 2, 2023
23. Mariah Crutchfield, pre-K auxiliary teacher, WSNES, effective August 2, 2023
24. Hannah Bumpers, elementary teacher, WSNES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Tina Hunt
25. Justin Dubose, utility / groundskeeper, Atmore maintenance department, effective July 10, 2023, replacing Brandon Stophel
Employment change
1. Alexander Alvarez, from elementary teacher, ECMS, to gifted education teacher, Office of Special Education & Student Services, amended location, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Alvin West
2. Amber Dunaway, from interim administrator, ACMS, to principal, ACMPS, effective July 3, 2023
3. Vanessa Mealer, from 7-hour lunchroom worker, WSNHS, to custodian, WSNHS, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Edward Woods
4. Shannon Lambeth, from elementary teacher, FES, to pre-K program teacher, FES, effective August 2, 2023
5. Brook Hawsey, from teacher aide, FES, to pre-K auxiliary teacher, FES, effective August 2, 2023
6. Nathan Kemp, from CTE agri-science teacher, FHS, to social studies teacher, WSNMS, effective August 2, 2023, replacing April Blackwell
7. Daniel Killam, from history teacher, FHS, to CTE agriscience teacher, FHS, effective July 25, 2023
8. Teresa Jordan, from academic interventionist, HES, to special education teacher, HES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Summer Ard
9. Traci Ward, from ARI reading specialist, PMJHS, to academic interventionist, PMJHS, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Jolynn Godwin
10. Laura Kirn, from elementary teacher, RPES, to ELA teacher, WSNHS, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Courtney Peavy
11. Lauren Beasley, from elementary teacher, RPES, to academic interventionist, RPES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Melissa Nichols
Transfer
1. Pamela Iutzi, special education aide, from FES to FHS, effective August 2, 2023
2. Sydnie High, elementary teacher, from RPES to WSNES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Susan Wiggins
Rehire
1. Kristan Wasdin, elementary teacher, HES, effective August 2, 2023, replacing Lynn Winters
Summer employment
1. Amanda Brown, ARRP summer school, teacher, ECHS, effective June 6, 2023
2. Jackson Haney, ARRP summer school, instructional student worker, FHS, effective June 6, 2023
3. Erin Davidson, ARRP summer school, groundskeeper / maintenance student worker, BMD, effective June 14, 2023
4. Jamarcus Hunter, ARRP summer school, groundskeeper / maintenance student worker, AMD, effective June 14, 2023
5. Quanteria Rostchild, ARRP summer school, groundskeeper / maintenance student worker, AMD, effective June 14, 2023
6. Dylan Newsome, ARRP summer school, groundskeeper / maintenance student worker, BMD, effective June 14, 2023
7. Justin Dubose, ARRP summer school, groundskeeper / maintenance student worker, BMD, effective June 14, 2023
8. Brody Stewart, ARRP summer school, groundskeeper / maintenance student worker, BMD, effective June 14, 2023
9. Omar Thomas, ARRP summer school, groundskeeper / maintenance student worker, BMD, effective June 14, 2023
Summer employment (off contract days)
1. Greg Brock, counselor, ECHS, effective June 8, 2023, 10 days
2. Pamela Robinson, counselor, ECHS, effective June 27, 2023, 10 days
3. Nicole Jones, counselor, ECMS, effective July 3, 2023, 10 days
4. Jennifer Strawbridge, counselor, HES, effective June 1, 2023