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The Escambia County Schools Board of Education approved the hire of the system’s new chief school financial officer tonight during a special-called meeting at Flomaton High School.

The board approved the hire of Rochelle Richardson, who is an accountant with the Mobile County School System.

School board members decided to approve the hire by voice vote.

Danny Benjamin of District 2; Mike Edwards of District 3; Loumeek White of District 5; Sherry Digmon of District 6; and Board President Coleman Wallace of District 7 voted for Richardson.

Cindy Jackson of District 4 and Kevin Hoomes of District 1 were absent.

The approval needed a majority vote of three votes to pass.

Leading up to the special-called meeting, the board interviewed four candidates for the position.

Richardson replaces Julie Madden, effective June 15, 2022.

Superintendent Michele McClung; Wallace; and the board attorney will negotiate the contract of the new CSFO.

The board will be holding another special-called meeting on June 6, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. at the FHS library.