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Approval was made after school suffered lightning strike during recent storm

The Escambia County Board of Education approved the purchase of replacement technology equipment and a fire alarm system at Escambia County Middle School during its regular meeting on Aug. 22.

The technology equipment was from KAM Technologies for ECMS in the amount of $92,621.88, to be paid out of insurance funds; and for a contract with Audio Plus Solutions Inc. for the replacement of the fire alarm system at ECMS in the amount of $21,325, to be paid out of insurance funds.

Superintendent Dr. Michele Collier said lightning recently struck the school during a storm, and impacted several pieces of tech.

In other business, the board:

• reviewed its financial statement for July 2024. The board has 2.73 months in operating reserve, and a $12,536,475.06 end funding balance;
• approved an addendum to contract of employment for Chief School Financial Officer Avery Ford. The amendment is to move his start day from Sept. 9 to Sept. 3;
• approved an amended salary schedule for athletic supplements. Collier said the system increased supplements for coaches;
• approved board policy revision Section V. Personnel-5.20 Teacher Bill of Rights;
• approved board policy revision Section VI. Students-6.15.1 Distribution of Explicit Images;
• approved the 2024-25 renewal of ATBE Automobile Fund Participation in the amount of $63,426.09;
• approved MOA between Escambia County Schools and Southwest Alabama Behavioral Health Care Systems to facilitate a collaboration of mental health treatment services for students in the district;
• approved the purchase of Read 180 and Math 180 intervention and academic acceleration programs from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for $101,915, to be paid out of school improvement funds;
• approved to enter into a contract with IXL Learning for educational technology for elementary school services in the amount of $33,300, to be paid out of ESSER funds;
• approved to purchase online math curriculum resources from EBSCO Industries Inc. for $50,800, to be paid out of textbook funds; and,
• approved to purchase ACAP ELA and Math resource materials for grades 6-8 from American Book Co. for $23,546.88, to be paid out of school improvement funds.