County teachers will get an early raise

School board also extends Knott's contract a month while superintendent search kicks off

The Escambia County (Ala.) School Board voted to begin giving teachers and other personnel a state-mandated raise beginning July 1 instead of Oct. 1 which is when the new state raises go into effect.

Chief Financial Officer Julie Madden told the board during a Tuesday workshop that giving the raises early will cost the school system about $95,000.

Madden told the board it would be a good gesture for the employees and also said it would eliminate some book and record keeping work. She noted new teacher contracts go into effect July 1. If the board decided to wait until Oct. 1 to give the raises...