The Escambia Board of Education heard updates on the Atmore City 5 mil property tax outcome and approved various items on its agenda at its Thursday, Nov. 21 meeting.
The City of Atmore tax of 5 mil property tax that benefits Rachel Patterson Elementary, Escambia County Middle and Escambia County High (ECHS) schools was recently up for renewal and passed by a vote of 116 to 12.
“Mr. Murray Johnson worked with us and the city council in really making sure they get this vote out and get a positive result from this vote,” said Escambia County (Ala.) School Superintendent John Knott. “This really effects our schools and provides the resource that will helps them along the way.
Knott also thanked the city government, Mayor Staff, city staff, the council members, United Bank and everyone who gave support to their schools to have this tax pass.”
Logo contest winner
Knott told board members that Escambia County Middle School eighth grader Ava Penner had won the Alabama Association for Gifted Children (AAGC) logo contest. Her design will be used for the 2019 AAGC Conference, the mobile app, the AAGC website, the conference T-shirt and the AAGC conference printed materials.
“It is a truly big, big, big deal,” said Knott. “It's a big accomplishment. She was that winner, and that is wonderful representation for ECMS and for our school system.”
New sport at W.S. Neal High School
W.S. Neal High School in Brewton added wrestling to its athletic program this year.
“There is an air of excitement that is tremendous about a new sport starting in a school,” said Knott.
Knott said on Saturday, Nov. 16 was the first wrestling tournament and two wrestlers won in their weight class, and nine received medals, and they took second place in their first competition in a tournament. He said that past Tuesday, Nov. 19, they won the first home game wrestling match. Knott said he did not know that the sport was co-ed and was amazed how many students, especially girls, are interested in pursuing wrestling.
“We're wrestling against programs that are established,” said Knott.
Financial statement
School system CEO Julie Madden reported the unreserved balance of $10.2 million, which equates to a 3.45 months operating reserve. That balance should begin to increase with ad valorem taxes due by Dec. 31, she said. October 2019 is actually the first month of the Fiscal Year 2020.
“Every project that we had for 2019 that we closed out for 2019 is paid for,” said Madden. “We have actually already started paying for the projects on the 2020 capital plan and issuing purchase orders. We've done a lot in one month already, but it's good to see that fund balance go back up a little bit.”
In other business, the board approved:
-Board member Willie J. Grissett as president of the board for the 2019-2020 school year.
-Board member Cindy Jackson as vice president of the board for the 2019-2020 school year.
-2019-2020 textbook committee to be appointed to meet for the purpose of selecting textbooks from the list of adoptions approved by the State Board of Education.
The board went into executive session to discuss legal updates concerning the W.S. Neal High School Building Project involving the confirmation and approval of and execution by Knott, Superintendent, on behalf of the Escambia County Board of Education of the Takeover Agreement between Hartford Fire insurance Company and the Escambia County Board of Education dated February 24, 2016.
The next school board meeting will be at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 19, at Brewton Central Office.