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The Escambia County Board of Education held a special meeting on Thursday in Brewton.

During the meeting, board members approved an out-of-state trip for W.S. Neal High School’s wrestling team to attend a tournament in Vancleave, Miss., in December.

Action items on Thursday’s agenda included:

• approval of a 2024-25 renewal of ATBE General Liability/Errors and Omissions Liability Fund participation at a cost of $13,414;
• approval of a contract with Construction Managers for the demolition and build-out of interior partition walls at Escambia County Alternative School in the amount of $33,387.12 to be paid out of A&T funds;
• approval of repairs to the football press box at Escambia County High School at a cost of $17,000 to be paid from A&T funds;
• denied the request to accept a bid from Boostr Building Group LLC for video board at W.S. Neal High School at $159,999. Board members questioned the “need” for the board at such a high cost. After discussion, the board voted to deny the expenditure;
• approval of the extension of transportation fuel bid #2023-4 (diesel and gasoline) with Southern Energy Company for one year (FY 2025).

In other business, the board approved the following personnel recommendations:

Personnel Changes:

Resignations:

• Hope Moulton, 7-hour lunchroom worker at Escambia County Middle School effective Aug. 23;
• Tawana Jones, ELA Teacher at Escambia County Middle School, effective Aug. 30;
• Karen Cooker, instructional aide at Huxford Elementary, effective Sept. 20;
• Haley Hadley, 6-hour lunchroom worker at W.S. Neal Elementary, effective Sept. 5;
• Lauren Darden, gifted education with office of Special Education and Student Services, effective Sept. 19.

Employment:

• Stephanie Spicer, part time Math teacher at Escambia County High, effective Sept. 9;
• Courtney Mireles Fountain, special education aide at Escambia County Middle, effective Sept. 9;
• Guindolyn Cosey, special education aide at Flomaton High, effective Sept. 6, replacing Aundrea Beasley;
• Jennie Salgado, custodian at Huxford Elementary, effective Sept. 6, replacing Cierra Strehl;
• Brandy Lambeth, special education aide at Pollard-McCall Junior High, effective Sept. 16, replacing H.T. Fountain;
• Arieyona Collins, elementary teacher at W.S. Neal Elementary, effective Sept. 9, replacing Tracy McCurdy;
• Samantha Cash, office aide at W.S. Neal Elementary, effective Sept. 23, replacing Hillary Durden;
• Casey Minchew, special education aide at W.S. Neal Elementary, effective Sept. 9, replacing Jessica Godwin;
• Maci Roberts, elementary teacher at W.S. Neal Middle, effective Sept. 6, replacing Mitzi Flanders.

Employment Changes:

• Carol Coleman, from 6-hour to 7-hour lunchroom worker at Flomaton Elementary, effective Sept. 6, replacing Chrystal Purvis;
• Devony Bowden, from 7-hour lunchroom worker at Flomaton Elementary to lunchroom manager at Pollard-McCall Junior High, effective Sept. 6, replacing Jennifer Parker;
• Tammy Bonds from teacher at W.S. Neal Middle to pre-k teacher at Pollard-McCall Junior High, effective Sept. 23, replacing Cassady Lanier.

Transfer:

• Laila Warren, 7-hour lunchroom worker, from Rachel Patterson Elementary to Escambia County Middle, effective Sept. 6, replacing Hope Moulton.

Rehire:

• Aundrea Beasley as special education aide at Pollard-McCall Junior High, effective Sept. 10.