News Staff Report
Boards of education are required by state law to hold an election at the boards’ annual meeting each November to elect a president and vice-president. The election was on the agenda at the November 18 Escambia County Board of Education meeting, but the election ended in a tie, resulting in a special meeting later this month.
Danny Benjamin nominated Mike Edwards for the president’s position. Sherry Digmon nominated Coleman Wallace.
With board member Kevin Hoomes absent, the roll call vote was a tie.
Loumeek White, Benjamin and Edwards voted for Edwards.
Current president Cindy Jackson, Digmon and Wallace voted for Wallace.
According to an attorney with the Alabama Association of School Boards, in the case of a tie, the board could have chosen to keep the current officers for another year – Jackson as president, Edwards as vice-president – but the board chose to set a called meeting Monday, November 29, to elect a president and vice-president.
Also during the annual meeting, Alabama Code requires the board to “allow the public to address the board relating to the allotment of public funds or any other matter related to the administration of the public schools in your county.” No public comments were made.
Superintendent Michele McClung recognized Heather Kirkland, teacher, Pollard McCall Junior High School; and Megan Moye, teacher, W.S. Neal Elementary School, for fostering community outreach from the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic.
McClung introduced and honored the W.S. Neal Middle School football team for their undefeated 2021 season
McClung recognized David Blair, Kim Carroll, Spencer Williamson, School Resource Officer Mosley, Escambia County Sheriff’s Department, DW McMillan EMS, East Brewton Police Department, City of East Brewton, and Escambia County Commissioner Raymond Wiggins for their efforts to assist during the emergency medical crisis during W.S. Neal homecoming festivities.
In other business, the board
* approved the 2021-2022 Textbook Committee. Alabama Code §16-36-4 requires a local textbook committee to be appointed by the board of education. Also, §16-36-5 states that the local textbook committee will meet “for the purpose of selecting textbooks from the list of adoptions approved by the State Board of Education.”
* voted to name the W.S. Neal High School Livestock Facility the Philip M. Ellis Livestock Facility. This is to recognize Ellis for his many years of commitment to W.S. Neal High School, where he served 17 years as a teacher and 21 years as principal.
* approved the termination of the contract with John Knott regarding COVID-19 and pandemic issues and health and safety concerns effective November 18, 2021, with full payment for services pursuant to the terms of the contract.
* voted to enter into contract with the Flippen Group to provide the professional development Capturing Kids Hearts for teachers district-wide.
* voted to nominate Larry White to the Escambia County Board of Equalization. The Escambia County School System appoints a member to the Escambia County Board of Equalization for a four-year term. The appointee must have been a resident of Escambia County for the prior five years, must be a qualified voter in Escambia County, and must own taxable property in Escambia County.
* voted to carry over vacation days from calendar year 2021 for all 12-month employees due to extenuating circumstances including, superintendent transition,
COVID pandemic, and staff shortage. The carried over vacation days must be taken by June 30, 2022. Any carried over days not used by June 30, 2022, will be forfeited.
The following personnel recommendations by Superintendent McClung were approved by the board.
Employment
1. Devin Redditt, special education aide, Escambia County Middle School, effective November 29, 2021
2. Keyanna Wiggins, special education aide, Escambia County Middle School, effective November 19, 2021
3. Wendy Davidson, teacher, Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective December 2, 2021
4. Paula Ferguson, teacher, Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective December 2, 2021
5. Marissa White, aide, Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective December 2, 2021
6. Pamela Iutzi, aide, Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program, Flomaton Elementary School, effective December 2, 2021
7. Victoria Alanis, teacher aide, Flomaton High School, effective December 1, 2021 (replacing Melanie Rowland)
8. Whitney Parish, secretary / bookkeeper, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective December 1, 2021 (replacing Tammy Waguespack)
9. Misty Hawkes, special education aide, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective November 19, 2021 (replacing Chancey Frost)
10. Brian Stallworth, teacher, Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective December 2, 2021
11. April George, teacher, Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective December 2, 2021
12. Tonya Emmons, teacher, Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective December 2, 2021
13. Vonda Bynum, aide, Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective December 2, 2021
14. Doris Johnson, aide, Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective December 2, 2021
15. Hillary Bibeau, teacher, (STEM / robotics program), Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective December 2, 2021
16. Emily Dean, teacher, (STEM / robotics program), Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective December 2, 2021
17. Emma McCrory, special education teacher, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective November 19, 2021 (replacing Laurel Billy)
18. Andrew Mohling, bus driver, East Brewton Bus Shop, effective December 1, 2021 (replacing Cynthia Minchew)
19. Sherry Popwell, bus driver, East Brewton Bus Shop, effective December 1, 2021 (replacing Chassidy Nall)
20. James Hiers, bus driver, East Brewton Bus Shop, effective January 3, 2022 (replacing Nicole Watson)
Employment change
1. Wendy Stokes, Office Aide, Escambia County High School, to secretary / bookkeeper, Escambia County High School, effective November 19, 2021 (replacing Eva Rowland)
2. Eva Rowland, secretary / bookkeeper, Escambia County High School, to elementary teacher, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective November 15, 2021 (replacing Heather White)(amended date)
Rehire
1. Terri Smith, LPN / special education instructional aide, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective November 19, 2021 (replacing Terri Smith)