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The Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education approved the reconfiguration of grades in three of its schools during regular meeting on Feb. 16 at Flomaton High School.

The reconfiguration includes FHS, Rachel Patterson Elementary School and Escambia County Middle School.

Grades will change to sixth grade through 12th grade at FHS; kindergarten through fourth grade at RPES; and fifth grade through eighth grade at ECMS.

Superintendent Michele McClung said the reconfiguration at FHS will help assure extra funding, and sixth graders will be able to stay in their current building.

She added that fourth graders at RPES will be staying one more year.

The K4 students will be moved to A.C. Moore Elementary School. Some four classes with approximately 18-20 kids in each will move to A.C. Moore.

In other business, the board:

• approved the 2023-24 school calendar;

• tabled the revised CTE Handbook to provide an opportunity for input and consideration for changes;

• approved a non-judicial settlement of agreement of trust between the Escambia County BOE and First National Bank and Trust of Atmore. FNBT served as a trustee for a trust for Escambia County High School. By dissolving the trust, the funds will then be distributed for use directly by the high school for the use of the trust’s purposes, Board Attorney Kirk Garrett said;

• approved to enter and execute a termination of lease agreements with the town of Flomaton for the lease dated on or about Aug. 27, 1985, and the amendment to lease agreement dated on or about Oct. 29, 2019, and to authorize and direct the board chairman and superintendent to execute and attest, respectively, for and on behalf of the ECBOE, said termination of lease agreements; and to purchase and accept from the town of Flomaton via quit claim deed a parcel of real property, which is known as a portion of the Alger Railroad, but being described as that portion of Escambia County Tax Parcel 30-24-08-33-2-001.002 which lies south of the north line of Escambia County Tax Parcel 30-24-08-33-2-001-007.001, and to authorize the superintendent to accept and record said quit claim deed. Garrett said the termination of the lease agreement gives the board control of the FHS baseball field in order to make improvements. The quick claim deed was done to gain control of the parcel of the property (concession stand), Garrett said;

• approved to renew a subscription of the SchoolStatus program for data analytics and communication in the amount of $47,850 with ESSER funds. This is a one-year renewal;

• approved to renew a subscription of Schools PLP Online for virtual and credit recovery curriculum in the amount of $92,100 with ESSER funds. This is a one-year renewal;

• approved the purchase of Proven Practices Professional Development from PowerSchool Group LLC in the amount of $30,000 for 100 remote hours and $208,000 for 65 onsite days totaling $238,000 with ESSER funds;

• approved the 2023-24 CTE Textbook Committee;

• approved to adopt a new mission statement of the ECBOE, which says: The mission of Escambia County Schools is to provide a safe, rigorous and engaging learning environment that promotes healthy, respectful, resourceful and responsible lifelong learners who will collaborate, lead by example, set goals to strive for excellence and graduate as college or career ready;

• went into executive session for 14 minutes to discuss legal updates pending litigation; and approved the following personnel recommendations:

Resignation

• Keyanna Wiggins, special education aide at ECMS, effective Jan. 13, 2023. Board Chairman Danny Benjamin accepted this item with exception with reasons stated in a letter;

• Yolanda King, as elementary school teacher at RPES, effective Jan. 30;

• Charish Watson, as a six-hour lunchroom worker at RPES, effective Jan. 27;

• Carol Hughes, as elementary school teacher at RPES, effective Jan. 31;

• Megan Svoboda, as teacher aide at W.S. Neal High School, effective Feb. 24;

• Jeremy Padgett, as utility/groundskeeper at Atmore Maintenance Department, effective Feb. 15;

Employment

• Ann Stephens, as part time academic math interventionist at ECMS, effective Feb. 22 (replacing Robert Hammond);Ann Stephens, as part time academic math interventionist at ECMS, effective Feb. 22 (replacing Robert Hammond);

• Rhecy Currie, as teacher at After School Program at ECMS, effective Feb. 22;

• Kelly McNeill, as teacher at After School Program at ECMS, effective Feb. 22;

• Berna Milton, as teacher at After School Program at ECMS, effective Feb. 22;

• Madelynn Holt, as teacher at After School Program at ECMS, effective Feb. 22;

• Jeana Barrow, as custodian at FHS, effective Feb. 17 (replacing Brandi Graham);

• Shannon Martin, as site coordinator/lead teacher at After School Program at RPEs, effective Feb. 23;

• Brian Stallworth, as teacher at After School Program at RPES, effective Jan. 17;

• Jessica Lockett, as teacher at After School Program at RPES, effective Feb. 24;

• DeMarcous Moton, as elementary teacher at RPES, effective Feb. 22 (replacing King);

• Mary Hubert, as six-hour lunchroom worker at RPES, effective March 1 (replacing Charish Watson);

• Erin Stephens, as teacher at After School Program at W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective Jan. 17;

• Margo Nordmeyer-Adams, as teacher at After School Program at WSNES, effective Jan. 17;

• Kaylee Gunn, as instructional aide at WSNES, effective Feb. 17;

• Heather Peters, as teacher aide at WSNHS, effective Feb. 27 (replacing Svoboda);

• Joshua Black, as utility/groundskeeper at Atmore Maintenance Department, effective March 1 (replacing Padgett);

• Jessica Douglas, as special needs bus aide at Brewton Bus Shop, effective Feb. 17; and,

Termination

• Tehron Stallworth, as social studies teacher at WSNHS, effective Feb. 9.