By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
The Escambia County Board of Education, sitting one member short, approved more than $1.3 million in spending during the board’s Monday, January 27 meeting. More than $1 million of that was for building and renovation projects, and most of that was for projects at Atmore-area schools.
Escambia County High School (ECHS) was the biggest recipient of the spending package, although the financial commitment to ECHS included a lower estimate for a project that was approved by the board late last year.
Deputy Director of Operations Shaun Goolsby explained that the original contractor, who was to build a new concession stand and restrooms on the home side of ECHS’s Herbert Barnes Field for $637,500, failed to show up. A new contractor agreed to do the job for $590,000, a decrease of $48,500. Goolsby also said additional savings of up to 10 percent could arise from the state’s approval to use “value engineering” on the project.
The board also approved the purchase for $163,938.46 of new bleachers for the ECHS gym. The bleachers will hold the same number of people and will be the same length as the old ones but will have handrails, center aisles and handicapped seating space.
Both projects will be paid for with Fiscal Year 2024 Alabama Advancement and Technology (A&T) funds.
Two contracts — totaling $48,484 — were approved for work at A.C. Moore Primary. The first was with Phoenix Restoration Services Inc. for the removal and disposal of 42 windows and the installation of plywood. The other, with Dave’s Construction & Remodeling, was for installing new windows, siding and drywall. The removal will cost $19,134; the new work will cost $29,350. Both sums will be paid from FY24 A&T funds.
BOE members also approved the payment of $48,812.40 to Construction Managers LLC for soffit and eave repairs at Rachel Patterson Elementary. The work was completed over the Christmas break, Goolsby said.
Flomaton High’s (FHS’s) campus, which includes Flomaton Middle, got the remainder of the school-specific spending. The board approved (a) the purchase for $127,370 from The Park Catalog for visitors-side bleachers at FHS Stadium, (b) a $33,305 contract with KAM Technologies for rewiring the network at the schools, and (c) a $54,260 contract with Construction Managers LLC for the purchase and installation of a drop ceiling for the area beneath the roof repairs recently completed.
In other business conducted Monday, the board:
*Approved an overnight trip for Escambia Career Readiness Center students to attend SkillsUSA State Competition in Mobile on April 21-23.
*Approved an amendment to the FY 25 Salary Schedule that covers nurses who are required to ride buses with special needs students.
*Approved the purchase of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) units and supplies from GoRescue in the amount of $22,354.00. (Paid from AEDs in Schools fund.)
*Approved a contract with Frontline Education for Absence and Substitute Management in the amount of $33,867.78 for the period February 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
*Approved the purchase of a JAG 5-station portable restroom trailer from Boyett’s Portable Restrooms for $42,000. (Paid out of FY24 A&T funds.)
*Approved an owner / architect agreement with Ward Scott Morris Architecture, Inc. for W.S. Neal High’s concession stand and press box for the school’s softball field.
*Approved a contract with Spero Behavioral Coaching and Supports, LLC for 150 hours at $150 per hour to provide classroom behavioral management training support and professional development. (Paid from Title II funds.)
*Approved the addition of Central Office bookkeeper position and the addition of the position to the FY2025 salary schedule to be paid on the classified CNB01 pay scale.
*Approved the purchase of 60 Viewsonic Interactive Boards (installation included) from Howard Computers for $194,974.50. (Paid out of Lt. Governor’s Grant funds.)
*Met in executive session for about an hour to discuss numerous legal matters.
*Voted to release all scholarship funds currently held by the board and/or Escambia County High School to the Randell Gordon Nichols Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The following personnel recommendations by Escambia County School Superintendent Dr. Michele Collier were approved by the Board.
The following abbreviations are used:
Escambia County Board of Education – ECBOE
A.C. Moore Primary 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
Atmore Bus Shop – ABS
Brewton Bus Shop – BBS
Retirement
1. George Brown, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, ECBOE, effective April 1, 2025
2. Theresa White, bookkeeper, ECMS, effective March 1, 2025
3. Jacquelin Hammond, teacher, FHS, effective June 6, 2025
4. Stella Hudson, 7-hour custodian, WSNMS, effective June 6, 2025
Resignation
1. Kim Yarber, JAG Career Specialist, ECBOE, effective Jan. 31, 2025
2. Tabatha Grah, teacher aide, ACMPS, effective Jan.10, 2025
3. Patricia Bradley, kindergarten teacher, ACMPS, effective Jan. 22, 2025
4. Tawana Jones, ELA teacher, ECHS, effective Jan. 6, 2025
5. Jude Sanford, teacher, ECMS, effective Jan. 3, 2025
6. Amanda Shiver, bus driver, ABS, effective Jan. 17, 2025
7. Amie Kramer, secretary / receptionist, ACO, effective Feb. 28, 2025
Employment
1. Betchie Rose Harrison, 7-hour lunchroom worker, ACMPS, effective Jan. 28, 2025, replacing Lisa Robbins
2. Latoya Watson, English / language arts teacher, ECMS, effective Jan. 28, 2025, replacing Tawana Jones
3. Akia Tarver, instructional / office aide, ECMS, effective Jan. 28, 2025, replacing Helen Thomas
4. Emma Johnson, 7-hour lunchroom worker, HES, effective Jan. 28, 2025, replacing Kimberly Ward
5. Kimberly Dean, special needs bus aide, BBS, effective Jan. 28, 2025, replacing Katie Clay
6. James Smith, bus driver, ABS, effective Jan. 6, 2025, replacing Victoria Herring (amended)
Employment change
1. Brittney Campbell, from pre-k auxiliary teacher to kindergarten teacher, ACMPS, effective Jan. 28, 2025, replacing Patricia Bradley
2, Clarence Brooks, from physical education teacher to math teacher, ECHS, effective Jan. 6, 2025
3, Heather Lavana, from special education aide to elementary teacher, RPES, effective Jan. 28, 2025, replacing Shykelia Collins
Contract
1. Hugh Kenneth Jones, TEAMS math, ECHS, effective Jan. 6, 2025
2. Paige Joyner, TEAMS math, WSNMS, effective Jan. 6, 2025
After School Employment
(All After School Program)
1. Yolonda Walters, teacher, ECMS, effective Jan. 27, 2025
2. Leah White, teacher, ECMS, effective Jan. 27, 2025
3. Marcia Adams, teacher, ECMS, effective Jan. 27, 2025
4. Stephanie Alaniz, nurse, FES, effective Aug. 6, 2024
5. Heather Kirkland, teacher, PMJHS, effective Jan. 28, 2025
6. Leketha Bradley, teacher, PMJHS, effective Jan. 28, 2025
7. Tammy Bonds, teacher, PMJHS, effective Jan. 28, 2025
8. Sarah Anne Fountain, teacher, PMJHS, effective Jan. 28, 2025
9. Rhecy Currie, teacher, RPES, effective Feb. 3, 2025
10. April George, teacher, RPES, effective Feb. 3, 2025
11. Deborah Salyers, teacher, RPES, effective Feb. 3, 2025
12. Sandra Davis, teacher, RPES, effective Feb. 3, 2025
13. Paula Ferguson, teacher, RPES, effective Feb. 3, 2025
14. Rebekah Dyess, teacher, WSNES, effective Dec. 12, 2024 (amended)
Leave of absence
1. Patricia Bradley, teacher, ACMPS, FMLA, effective Sept. 25, 2024 through Jan. 8, 2025
2. Odie Berry, custodian, ECHS, FMLA, effective Nov. 8, 2024 through Jan. 24,2025
3. Bailey Johnson, teacher, WSNMS, FMLA, effective Nov. 14, 2024 through Jan. 6, 2025
Transfer
1. Victoria Herring, bus driver, from ABS to BBS, effective Jan. 5, 2025, replacing Larry Zangus