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Students at W.S. Neal, Flomaton and Escambia County High Schools will have a new way to enjoy alternate meals at the school in the near future.

The Escambia County Board of Education approved a bid of $14,475 per unit to Vendication during Thursday’s meeting. The bid approval will allow for the installation of the units to provide an alternate meal for students in the high schools.

The board also approved a bid to Ward International to have 64 buses in the county’s fleet to be fitted with AC and UV purification. The cost for the work would be $17,321 per unit with work to begin in late summer. The work would provide air conditioning on each of the system’s 102 buses.

BBB Educational was awarded a $250,000 contract to provide a six-year program for K5 students to help provide instruction for the purpose of improving literacy among the county’s students.

The State of Alabama has adopted a literacy program to have students reach better literacy benchmarks. Under the plan, students who are not reading on a third grade level by third grade will be retained until that benchmark is reached.

“This is an outstanding investment for us to make some gains so that our students will meet criteria,” Superintendent Michele McClung told the board following approval. “This program will help all our reading teachers to be efficient reading teachers and help our students meet criteria.”

Brian Rhodes with BBB Educational said the program will provide special assistance throughout the life of the program.

“We have put together resources that teachers can anchor to in order to be able to grow knowledge and practice,” Rhodes said. “We have seen gains in systems we’ve touched and we will support our teachers to do that work.”

In other business, the board approved partnering with the Alabama Association of School Boards with assistance in a search for a CFSO for the county. The fee for work by the AASB is $5,000 plus expenses. This action was taken due to the announcement for retirement by current CSFO/Director of Financial Operations Julie Madden.

Personnel changes approved, were:

Leave of absence: Sabrina Dialey, 6-hour Lunchroom Worker, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, medical leave of absence, effective February 8, 2022, through May 25, 2022; Teresa Lucas, Temporary Part-Time JAG Career Specialist, Escambia County School System, effective June 8, 2022; Denise Respress, 6-Hour Lunchroom Worker, Escambia County Middle School, effective March 8, 2022; Lasonja George, Special Education Aide, Escambia County Middle School effective March 11, 2022; Charlotte Lucas, English/Language Arts Teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective May 26, 2022; D’Atra Howard, Elementary Teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective March 11, 2022; Cassie Chavers, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Aide, Flomaton Elementary School, effective March 11, 2022; Marilyn Bradley, Part-Time Academic Interventionist, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective January 17, 2022; Krista Ealum, Elementary Teacher, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective March 8, 2022; Tiffany Gideons, 6-Hour Lunchroom Worker, WS Neal Middle School, effective March 27, 2022; Shannon Boutwell, Maintenance Supervisor, Brewton Maintenance Shop, effective March 31, 2022; Janice McDougle, Bus Driver, Atmore Bus Shop, effective March 16, 2022; Pamela Tomlinson, Bus Driver, Atmore Bus Shop, effective February 28, 2022;

Retirements: Julie Madden, CSFO/ Director of Financial Operations, Escambia County Board of Education, effective June 30, 2022; Amy Cabaniss, Principal, Escambia County High School, effective July 1, 2022;

Employment: Amber Dunaway, Teacher, Academic Recovery Response Plan After School Program, Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective March 3, 2022; Ashley Mobley, Special Education Aide, Escambia County Middle School, effective March 28, 2022 (Replacing Lasonja George); Madison Carpenter, Elementary Teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective March 28, 2022 (Replacing D’Atra Howard); Mary Caupp, Counselor, WS Neal High School, effective February 28, 2022 (Replacing Tonya Ragan)(Amended date); Jennings Hobbs, Instructional Aide, WS Neal Elementary School, effective March 18, 2022; Armisha Cooks, Bus Driver, Atmore Bus Shop, effective March 18, 2022 (Replacing Larine;

Principal contracts: Approval for renewal of Principal Contract for Leah Fuqua, Huxford Elementary School, for a 3-Year period, effective July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025; Approval for renewal of Principal Contract for Toya McMillian, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, for a 3-Year period, effective July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025; Approval for renewal of Principal Contract for Perry Updike, W. S. Neal Middle School, for a 3-Year period, effective July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025; Approval for renewal of Principal Contract for Sabrina Wilson, Escambia Career Readiness Center for a 3-Year period, effective July, 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025.