By By MaryClaire Foster
This week’s proration declaration was fresh on the minds of members of the Escambia County Board of Education at Thursday’s meeting in Brewton.
Chief Financial Officer Julie Madden addressed the board with a review of the monthly financial statement.
Madden informed the Board that the figures did not include the 25 percent November allocation from the state that totals approximately $566,000, but added they had received a letter from the state saying it should arrive Dec. 19.
Superintendent Billy Hines then addressed the Board about the proration, reminding them that because of money from the rainy day fund it had dropped from 12.5 percent to 9 percent.
Hines expressed his own displeasure with the money loss, but recognized the Board’s efforts to save as much money as possible.
Hines added he plans to make a list of cost cutting measures to present to the Board in January, but that it would not be possible to eliminate enough costs to wipe out the loss.
Hines said what changes can be made to cut costs will be made, but if things remain the same then next year there will be a minimum $2.1 million loss to the general fund.
Next on the agenda was Dr. Neil Hyche from the State Board’s presentation on the PEPE evaluation of Hines.
Hyche said the evaluation is an evaluation of management skills and there are eight steps to the process, including administration evaluations and board evaluations. Hyche said there is no real timeline for the evaluation to be completed, but that it will be next year.
In other business, the board:
Approved the renewal of appointment of Board Attorney Broox Garrett, for Jan. 1, 2009 through June 30, 2009, with a $500 retainer fee.
Agreed to re-advertise the position of Assistant Principal at Escambia County Middle School to state that it is an interim position for the 2008-09 school year.
Ok’d the following personnel changes:
Resignation for Helen Knotts, 4-Hour Custodian, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective Nov.21; Elise McCreary, Special Education Teacher Aide, Escambia County Middle School, effective Dec. 5 and Diane Smith, Assistant Principal, Escambia County Middle School, effective Dec. 16.
Employment Patrick Kyles, 4-Hour Custodian, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective Jan. 6, 2009 (Replacing Helen Knotts); Lori Brown, Community Educator, Children First Grant, Flomaton Elementary School, effective Dec. 3; Sherry Ellison, Community Educator, Children First Grant, Flomaton Elementary School, effective Dec. 3; Douglas Gatwood, Community Educator, Learn &Serve Grant, Pollard-McCall Junior High School, effective Jan. 6; Tammy Waguespack, Community Educator, Learn &Serve Grant, Pollard-McCall Junior High School, effective Jan. 6; Scotty Skaggs, Teacher, Learn &Serve Grant, Pollard-McCall Junior High School, effective Jan. 6; Shelia Johnson Williams, Secretary, Escambia County High School, effective Jan. 5 (Replacing Jackie Carlee); Jerry Blackburn, Bus Driver, Atmore Bus Shop, effective Jan. 5 (Replacing Veecher Thames) and Detrie Russell, Special Education Aide, Escambia County Middle School, effective Jan. 5 (Replacing Elise McCreary).
Leave of Absence for Peggy Hobbs, Secretary, Escambia County High School, leave of absence, effective Jan. 5 through Jan. 31
The next meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 22 at Escambia County High School.