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The Escambia County Board of Education Dec. 16 approved the purchase of a crisis management alert system countywide during its regularly-scheduled meeting at Escambia County Middle School.

The alert system is from Centegix, and allows school employees access to an alert button (badge) for medical services or other alerts, Superintendent Michele McClung said. McClung said the system alerts school officials. The badges are geofenced to each school as well so the alerts will be centered on the particular school. There will be lock down codes for codes on domes inside of the classroom.

“This gives a lot of teachers specific information on what is going on and what to do,” McClung said. “This will tie into our current intercom system we’re also looking to upgrade.”

McClung said the system will also alert law enforcement and first responder officials if needed.

The alert system is from Centegix is for a five-year contract in the amount of $541,700. The purchase is being done through ATF funding.

In other business, the board:

• approved the purchase of a broadcasting/TV studio for each school from StreamVu Ed for $129,449 through TIPS Contract #210301 through Title 1 funding. McClung said the studios will give all schools the opportunity to produce their own news daily instead of principal announcements through the intercom. She said this is for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

McClung said the broadcast system also gives the opportunity for schools ot have several channels to send out to parents, grandparents, and the capability to stream school events live, along with providing virtual learning options. She said this system will allow students to promote what’s going on at each of the schools;

• approved a virtual learning day for students on Jan. 4, 2022 in order for instructional staff to attend a professional development provided by the district;

• renewed the appointment of Board Attorney Broox Garrett for Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2022 with a $1,000 retainer fee;

• heard an update on district-wide projects, including pavement projects at Escambia County Middle School and Pollard McCall, installing new carpet at Rachel Patterson Elementary School during spring break and W.S. Neal’s baseball field is at 95 percent completion from the tornado damage;

• and approved the following personnel recommendations:

Resignation

• Maria Franks, six-hour lunchroom worker at ECMS, effective Nov. 5;

• Kenneth Ford, assistant band director at ECMS, effective Dec. 31;

• Tamara Banks, special education teacher at RPES, effective Jan. 4, 2022;

• James Hayles, seven-hour custodian at RPES, effective Jan. 1, 2022;

• Thomas Lambeth, general maintenance worker at Brewton Maintenance Department, effective Dec. 31;

Employment

• Stephanie Taylor, teacher, Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program at Escambia County High School, effective Jan. 4, 2022;

• Winter Sims, teacher, Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program at Escambia County High School, effective Jan. 3, 2022;

• Felicia Bishop, office aide at ECHS, effective Jan. 3, 2022 (replacing Wendy Stokes);

• Quentin Riley, teacher aide at ECMS, effective Jan. 3, 2022;

• Madelynn Holt, elementary teacher at ECMS, effective Jan. 3, 2022;

• Traci Ward, teacher, Academic Recovery Response After School Program at Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective Jan. 3, 2022;

• David Sorokowski, art teacher at W.S. Neal High and Middle Schools, effective Jan. 3, 2022;

Employment change

• Vanessa Mealer, six-hour lunchroom worker at WSNHS, to seven-hour lunchroom worker at WSNHS, effective Jan. 3, 2022; and,

Rehires

• Angelia McMullen, bus driver at Atmore Bus Shop, effective Dec. 3, 2021.

The board also met in executive session to discuss pending litigation and the pending employment status of an emmployee.

Before the executive session, Board Member Loumeek White asked to hold out on item E1, a temporary employment recommendation for Debbie Bolden, part time interim administrator at ECMS, effective Jan. 3, 2022 through May 31, 2022.

The board met for 52 minutes in executive session, and afterward approved the temporary employment recommendation with Board Member Sherry Digmon moving to accept. After a second was called on the motion, all board members except White approved the recommendation.

A special-called board meeting will be held on Jan. 6, 2022. The board will hold its next regularly-scheduled meeting on Jan. 27, 2022.