Knott praises teachers, students and staff
Escambia County (Ala.) School Superintendent John Knott updated board members on current COVID cases across the county when the board of education held its meeting at the Escambia Career Readiness Center (ECRC) in Brewton last Thursday.
“Across the entire county, our current COVID-19 numbers for last week were one staff reported positive case, and close contacts were three students and two staff members,” said Knott. “We are really, really proud to see that these numbers have been down for the past several weeks,” said Knott.
Knott said he had an administrator meeting recently, and discussion was the importance of continuing protocols in schools set by the Alabama State Department of Education, such as hand wash and sanitize, distance as much as possible and to wear masks.
“As you all know, Gov. Kay Ivey will change the health order on April 9,” said Knott. “I expect the health department to change its guidance in an update. We will see what comes out of that and make adjustments, according to what that is.”
Pre-K registration
Last week, there were random drawings for students to receive a spot in the pre-K class at Flomaton,
Its been challenging what we did at Flomaton. He said Principal George Brown did the random drawing live on Facebook. There were 33 students who preregistered, but enough spots for 17, the only pre-K class at FES. Knott said plans in motion for more room at FES to put in one more pre-K class. Knott says he feels sure they can get another pre-K class, but currently they are looking for room and the school system will have to apply for that grant.
“Thats something that is definitely a major goal for us, to try to increase the number of students we have there to adequately serve the community there,” said Knott.
W.S. Neal Elementary School in Brewton had 40 students pre-registered. There is a waiting list for kids who didn't make the drawing at Rachel Patterson Elementary School, where 27 kids preregistred, so all 27 will be in their classes. RPES will take 32 kids, so a few more places are available.
Knott said Flomaton pre-K serves Pollard-McCall students, so some were pulled from there to attend pre-K.
“Its always exciting to see that happen,” said Knott.
ECRC Spotlight programs
School board members were introduced to students and staff involved when the Health Science Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Automotive and Industrial Maintenance Programs ECRC in Brewton were highlighted.
Principal Sabrina Wilson explained that COVID-19 devastated the program last year, but several students took advantage of the school's partnership with Westgate Village Nursing Home in Brewton and got CNA license through the program. This year, Wilson said even though the majority of students was sent home for quarantine, they have still managed to meet requirements for clinical skill tests.
Next month, those students will have a chance for hands-on patient care at WVN that allow them to take skills and written portion of CNA test in May.
Wilson said upon successful completion of those skills tests, the students will receive their CNA credential before they graduate high school.
New Automotive Instructor Thomas Fisher started At ECRC in January 2021 and has been a trained Ford Technician for seven years.
Fisher said he teaches according to National Automotive Technician Education Foundation (NATEF) standards. The school recently partnered with Peach Ford in Brewton which offered some needed components and online learning system. The school now has 2012 vehicles for students to work on in real time and use to learn to diagnose problems. Fisher emphasized the importance of working on live vehicles and checking off NATEF checklist in learning.
Jason Blackwell, who was awarded the 2019/2020 Skills Advisor of the Year and teaches the Industrial Maintenance program, recognized several students who have competed and won the silver chapter of distinction.
“In SkillsUSA in 2019, we won the gold,” said Blackwell. “In 2020, we won silver. These guys competed against 200 plus schools in the state of Alabama, and we were in the top three every year for last three years.”
Todd Williamson, director of career technical progams, said the state competition was cancelled, so the students did it virtually this year for district.
“Whenever our kids compete against kids from all part of the state, they know who Escambia County is,” said Williamson. “And I'm proud of that.”
Williamson said with dual enrollment through Coastal Alabama or Reid State, high school students can earn college credits while they are still in high school.
“We've also added an automotive program this year, said Williamson. “We started an industrial machining program, and companies are recruiting our kids, they've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars. The company Brown Precision in Atmore was a leading force behind the program, and that was part of the deal with them coming to this area.”
Financial statement
School System CFO Julie Madden said the current unreserved fund balance for February 2021 is $14 million plus. Madden said they are at 4.35 months operating reserve.
Madden showed that $2,139,394.28 was netted when the school system recently refinanced a bond issue.
“That money is sitting in our capital projects cash for this moment,” said Madden. “That's where the examiners wanted it. It may move over to our general fund cash, but for now it is in the capital projects cash.”
She said with that money being available, it really puts the school system as having over five months operating reserve.
In other business, the board:
-Approved of the 2021-2022 school calendar
-Approved of revised supplemental salary schedule of $1,212 for several positions that will not be filled but job responsibilities that are to be reallocated to others
The board then went into executive session to discuss pending litigation because of good name and character.
