In a special called meeting Thursday, board members with the Escambia County Board of Education made several personnel decisions in preparation for the upcoming school year, which begins in less than 10 days.

Escambia County High School history teacher and volleyball coach Sarah Watkins was hired as an assistant principal to serve under Zickeyous Byrd at ECHS. Jason Petro was hired to replace Ella Buford as assistant principal at Escambia County Middle School.

Also of note, former Northview High School social studies teacher and coach Lorenzo Jones was hired to replace Forrest Dale Jones who left the middle school to serve as an assistant principal at ECHS.

Other personnel actions approved include:

• Resignations, Mark Rodgers, six-hour lunchroom worker, Escambia County Middle School, effective July 21 and Kyle Davis, teacher, Escambia County Alternative School, effective July 29.

• Transfers, Tammy Weeks, teacher, Escambia County High School, to counselor, Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 4 (replacing Tonya Grant) and Jonathan Barnes, secretary, Escambia County Middle School, to office aide, Escambia County High School, effective Aug. 4 (replacing Stephanie Buitron).

• Employments, Lorenzo Jones, social studies teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 4 (replacing Forrest Dale Jones); Tracy Linam, 6th Grade Teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 4 (replacing Christy Finch); Jason Petro, assistant principal, Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 2 (replacing Ella Buford); Krista Godwin, 7th and 8th grade math teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 4 (replacing Eddie Reed); Deneise Larkin, special education teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 4 (replacing Bobbi Evans); Lee Smith, social studies teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 4 (replacing Timothy Moorer); Mary Cannon, six-hour lunchroom worker, Flomaton High School, effective Aug. 4 (replacing Shane Spence); Clint Curtis, history teacher, Escambia County High School, effective Aug. 4 (replacing Robert Wilkerson) and Brenna Langham, teacher, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective Aug. 4 (replacing Jenny Engle).

• Employment change, Sarah Watkins, teacher, Escambia County High School, to assistant principal, Escambia County High School, effective Aug. 2 (replacing Linda Shuford).

• Temporary employment, Michelle Tolbert, summer maintenance custodian, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective July 21 (replacing Mary Zimmerman).

• Rehires, Teresa Parker, science teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 4 (replacing Yolanda Walters); Bobbi Evans, 6th grade math teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 4 (replacing Teresa Parker) and Candice Barnes, LEA/ARRA Reading Achievement Specialist, Escambia County High School, effective Aug. 2.

The board also scheduled the next school board meeting for 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 at the central office in Brewton. They also set the following month’s meeting for Sept. 9 to hold two budget hearings for the FYE 2010-11 budget, which is due Sept. 15.