By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
As the current school year rapidly approaches its end, Escambia County education officials are continuing to prepare for next year.
During the March 20 meeting of the Escambia County Board of Education, members approved the expenditure of more than a half-million dollars for textbooks that will be used systemwide during the next school term (see details in “other business”).
They also approved more than $69,000 for new flooring at A.C. Moore Primary School (ACMPS), where all first graders in the local “feeder pattern” will be schooled when the next term begins. That will put Atmore students in the county school system’s three earliest grades — pre-K, kindergarten and 1st grade — under one roof.
The board approved a contract with Sun Flooring for installation of new vinyl plank flooring for seven A.C. Moore classrooms ($53,000) and its cafeteria ($16,333). The renovations will be paid for with Advancement & Technology (A&T) funds.
The move will fill vacant classroom space at ACMP and free up badly needed classroom space at Rachel Patterson Elementary School (RPES), where nearly 600 students in grades 1-4 are currently enrolled.
The board formally recognized the Escambia County Middle School (ECMS) football team, which went undefeated during the most recent season under the guidance of coaches Joel Gonzalez and James Smith. Smith, ECMS Principal Layton Knight and 17 Eagles players attended the meeting.
Another action that affects Atmore-area schools came from the non-renewal — based upon a recommendation from Superintendent of Education Dr. Michele Collier — of the principal contract for Toya McMillian. A former principal at RPES and assistant principal at ECMS, McMillian was selected over last summer as principal of the school district’s K-5 Alternative School.
McMillian’s tenure as the school’s top administrator will end on June 30. McMillian has reportedly been offered a position as an assistant principal but has rejected the offer.
The most funds directed to an individual school during the meeting ($99,303) went to Flomaton High (FHS). Board members approved the installation, also by Sun Flooring, of vinyl plank flooring in the FHS library ($31,303) and gave the green light to demolition and debris removal by Creamer Dozier Service Inc. of visitor-side bleachers at the school’s football field ($32,000). Those projects will be funded through A&T funds.
The board also approved contracts with TH Educational Services, LLC and with Hammond & Hammond, LLC for ACT/ACAP education coaching services at FHS. The separate contracts — each for $18,000 — will be funded through the federal Title I program. District 2’s Greg Dawkins abstained from voting on the TH Educational services contract because a relative of his works for the company.
At the end of the meeting, ECHS Principal LaTonya Gill announced the hiring of Tommie Lee Lewis Jr. as the school’s head football coach and athletic director. (See separate story, this edition.)
In other business conducted during last Thursday’s session, BOE members:
*Approved an out-of-state trip for ECHS Choir students to attend an April 17 performance of “Hamilton” in New Orleans.
*Approved the expulsions for up to one year of three students — one from Escambia County Middle School, one from W.S. Neal Middle School, and one from W.S. Neal High School for violations of the Student Code of Conduct. Each student will be allowed to continue his or her education through Escambia County Virtual School.
*Approved the purchase from Publishing Warehouse — at a cost of $218,902.50 — of Science textbooks for students in grades K-5. The books are to be paid for with FY2025 Textbook Funds.
*Approved the purchase from Publishing Warehouse of Science textbooks for grades 6-8 ($130,821.60) and grades 9-12 ($207,577.80). The books for the younger grades will be paid for with leftover Fiscal Year 2024 Textbook funds; the books for upper grades will be paid for with Fiscal Year 2025 Textbook funds.
*Approved the purchase of Career Technical Education textbooks in the amount of $6,966.90. The books will be paid for with FY25 funds from The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, commonly known as Perkins V, a federal program that provides roughly $1.4 billion per year to states for improving secondary and postsecondary career tech programs.
*Accepted a $500 check from Jason Pilger Chevrolet that is earmarked for ECHS athletic programs.
*Learned from CSFO Avery Ford that the system had a fund balance of $21,902,190.84, the equivalent of more than five months of operations, on January 31.
*Approved adoption of suggested Science textbooks and CTE textbooks.
*Approved the purchase of extended career exploration pack from RealityWorks Inc. The $13,918.57 cost will be covered by a Middle School Innovation Grant.
*Approved a contract with The Core Project, Inc. for per-hour behavioral services — not to exceed $15,000 — for students in Individualized Education Programs.
*Approved payment of a $5,000 retainer fee to Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole, & Black, P.C. Firm shareholder Alicia Bennett, whose specialties include education law and labor law, serves as the county BOE’s general counsel.
*Renewed the appointment of attorneys Broox Garrett and Kirk Garrett as the board’s local legal representative for Calendar Year 2025 and approved payment of a $1,000 retainer.
*Tabled final approval of the 2025-2026 Code of Conduct for 30 days, as is board protocol.
*Announced that the board’s next regular meeting will be conducted at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, at the Brewton Central Office. A 3:30 p.m. workshop will precede the meeting.
Personnel
The following abbreviations are used:
Escambia County Board of Education – ECBOE
Huxford Elementary School – HES
Rachel Patterson Elementary School – RPES
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
Escambia Career Readiness Center – ECRC
Atmore Bus Shop – ABS
Brewton Bus Shop – BBS
Resignation
1. Doug Vickery, Jr., teacher, FHS, effective March 31, 2025
2. Jennie Salgado, custodian, HES, effective March 18, 2025
3. Patrice Fountain, special education teacher, RPES, effective March 7, 2025
Employment
1. Cindy Wilson, assistant superintendent, ECBOE, effective April 21, 2025, replacing George Brown
2. Tommie Lewis, physical education teacher, ECHS, effective March 11, 2025, replacing Clarence Brooks
3. Melanie Renfroe, 7-hour lunchroom worker, HES, effective March 21, 2025, replacing Emma Johnson
4. Jeffrey Scurlock, bus driver, BBS, effective March 21, 2025, replacing James David Hiers
Employment change
1. Amy Bell from kindergarten teacher, PMJHS, to academic interventionist, PMJHS, effective August 1, 2025, replacing Traci Ward
Contract renewal
1. Leah Fuqua, principal, HES, effective dates July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028
2. Perry Updike, principal, WSNMS, effective dates July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028
3. Sabrina Wilson, principal, ECRC, effective dates July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028