By By SHERRY DIGMON
Advance Staff Writer
Though Escambia County (Fla.) Superintendent of Education Jim Paul postponed his plans to consolidate schools next year, he is considering staff consolidation.
Last week, Paul proposed consolidating administrations and support staff. He was scheduled to present specifics of that plan at Tuesday night's Board of Education meeting.
One proposal is to combine Byrneville Elementary, Century Elementary and Carver Middle schools under one administrative unit (sharing a principal and clerical support personnel) and to place a teacher-in-charge at Byrneville and at Carver.
Two principals would be reassigned – either two elementary school principals or one elementary and one middle school principal, and other personnel reassigned according to district staffing pattern and contract language.
Paul's proposal also outlines future plans: "Future plans include purchasing the property located between Century Elementary School and Carver Middle School, then adding on to the recent construction at Century Elementary School. The three schools – Byrneville, Century, and Carver – would be consolidated into a K through 8 school, which would increase curriculum offerings as well as be more cost effective. Allowing the schools to remain open until construction is complete has several advantages: (1) The district will not have the cost of moving and setting up relocatables while construction is in progress, (2) students may remain in their neighborhood schools while adjusting to the idea of consolidation, and (3) the time may be used by the three schools to facilitate a gradual rather than an abrupt change."
The projected cost savings for 2001-2002 is $342,595.
Paul's plan also called for combining Bratt Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle schools under one administrative unit (sharing a principal and clerical support personnel) and placing a teacher-in-charge at Bratt. One elementary school principal would be reassigned.
Future plans include renovating Ernest Ward Middle School, then consolidating with Bratt Elementary School to become a K through 8
school. Paul listed the same advantages as above for leaving the schools open until construction is complete
Projected cost savings for 2001-2002 is $194,000.
In addition to targeting schools, Paul's proposal eliminates the following positions: subject area specialist in applied technology, 2001-2001; director of alternative education will be eliminated at the conclusion of the 2001-2002 school year; subject area specialists (fine arts, social studies) at the end of the 2001-2002 school year; director of grants (to be replaced with a "percentage of grants" position) at the conclusion of the 2001-2002 school year.
Pauls proposal also addresses transportation, maintenance, the prescription drug program and the health benefits program.