Carver/Century 3rd Grade FCAT Results Skyrocket
May 22, 2008
Carver/Century Elementary school third graders improved the school’s scores on recent FCAT math test, with 58 percent of them scoring at grade level or above, while the school’s third grade jumped to 63 percent at or above grade level.
A score of 3.0 on both the reading and math FCAT is considered to be grade level.
Last year, 24 percent of the Carver/Century third grade students scored a 3.0 or more in math, and 38 percent were at 3.0 or more in reading.
There were
Of the 19 third grade students taking the math FCAT at Carver/Century, no student scored a 5 or higher. Twenty-one percent scored between 4 and 5, and 37 percent scored between 3 and 4. Thirty-seven percent of the students scored 2-3, and five percent scored a 1. Carver/Century scored equal to or greater than five other elementary schools on the math FCAT.
Of the 19 third grade students taking the reading FCAT at Carver/Century, five percent scored a 5 or higher. Eleven percent scored between 4 and 5, and 47 percent scored between 3 and 4. Sixteen percent of the students scored 2-3, and 21 percent scored a 1. Carver/Century scored a higher passing percentage than eight other schools in the county.
Distict 5 School Board Candidate Drops Out
May 22, 2008
Rick Lambert of Deerfoot Lane in Cantonment has dropped out of the race for Escambia County School Board District 5 seat held by Peter R. Gindl, Sr.Others in the District 5 school board race for incumbent Gindl’s seat are Tom Harrell, Bill Slayton and Robert Tegenkamp.
School board races are nonpartisan.
NWE Braves Beat River Cats; Panhandle Cafe Cooks Century
May 21, 2008
In recent NWE action, the Braves downed the River Cats 27-23.
Meanwhile, the NWE Major Boys “Panhandle Cafe” beat Century 10-1. Daulton Tullis pitch a great game with eight strikeouts. Justice Agerton was bought in as the relief pitcher in the 6th inning to seal the deal for Daulton and struck out the last two batters. Wade Jerigan hit two homeruns during the game with runners on bag each time. Brannon Freeman hit the fence twice and was 3-4 with a walk. Justice Agerton hit the fence once and was 3-4 with a walk. Murphy Bryan was 2-4.
For more photos from the Braves vs. River Cats, click here.
Ramona Preston photos Braves vs. Rivercats photos (above and below) for NorthEscambia.com. Click to enlarge. Panhandle Cafe story submitted by Kris Agerton.
North Escambia Residents Meet With County’s Top Officials To Discuss Budget
May 21, 2008
North Escambia residents had the chance to learn about county services and upcoming budget cuts and a public District 5 budget meeting held Tuesday night at Highland Baptist Church in Molino.
“We are here to find out what you think we should do with your tax dollars,” County Administrator Bob McLaughlin told those in attendance.
One by one, county department heads explained the services provided by their departments, and took questions.
Janice Kilgore, retiring public safety director, explained that her department is the “department that never sleeps”. Questions for Kilgore during the meeting turned to the upcoming hurricane season.
“How many hurricanes do you think there will be this year that we will have to worry about?”, ” a citizen asked.
“It only takes one,” Kilgore said. “If it comes here, that’s the one. Being prepared now is everyone’s job.”
McLaughlin said the county already has emergency contracts in place for post-hurricane needs like food and debris cleanup, and he said the county is prepared.
Joy Blackburn, county engineer, explained her department’s services. Roads, dirt roads in particular, were the big concern from the public. Dirt road paving is underway on a multi-year plan, she said, with the county getting a little more bang for its buck recently.
“Our prices and our bids are coming in nice,” she said. “We are getting more bang for our buck with the best prices we have had since before Ivan.”
Community Corrections Director Gordon Pike praised the savings his department provides for Escambia County, about $10 million a year.
The county currently spends about $75 a day to house inmates in the county jail, plus provides all of the medical care while they are there. But those that are in the county’s work release programs like the road prison, pay for their own housing and medical care.
One audience member suggesting putting prisoners in tents in a parking lot to save money, but Pike said that would be a legal liability and would likely lead to higher inmate medical bills.”
“You just can’t do that,” Pike said. “Have you ever heard of cruel and unusual punishment?”
As for the recent inmate escapes from the county’s road prison, Pike said “that person should not have been at the Road Prison. Somebody dropped the ball on that one.” He said the screening process for inmates headed to the road prison is the responsibility of the sheriff’s department, not community corrections.
“We know that there is a smarter way to work than what we are doing, and we are going to find it,” McLaughlin said of the county’s cost-cutting efforts.
Some potential ideas the administrator mentioned at the Molino meeting were a switch to cheaper software such as Linux rather than Windows, decreasing the number of county vehicles, outsourcing services such as human resources and more “practical business decisions”. In fact, he said, the county is considering sending 58 county vehicles to the auction block.
One major change McLaughlin said he sees in the next five years in the consolidation of the City of Pensacola and Escambia County goverments into one entity to save funds. The county and city are currently holding joint meetings every two months to discuss that possiblity.
District 5 Commissioner Kevin White was on hand for the meeting, often praising the job done by the department heads in an effort to spend the county’s money wisely.
Pictured above: County Administrator Bob McLaughlin at a county budget meeting Tuesday night in Molino at Highland Baptist Church. The easel boards show the various county departments. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Editor’s note: The “kids” in the background is on a sign for the church’s “kids klub” and was not part of the county’s presentation.
There’s Still A Plan To Turn Old Molino School Into Community Hub
May 21, 2008
A top priority of Escambia County is the acquisition of the old Molino Elementary School from the county’ school board, but the plan has run into a few snags.
Plans call for the school to become a community hub, possibly including a 5,000 square foot library, a museum highlighting Molino history, a small health clinic, a business incubator, renovation of the gym and one additional building for community events and private party rental along with other uses.
County Administrator Bob McLaughlin told a crowd at a budget meeting in Molino Tuesday night that funding was an issue.
“Right now, that is a number one priority for Commissioner (Kevin) White,” McLaughlin said. “But there are a few issues that have come up.”
County and school board appraisals of the property have varied by about $200,000. An in-depth inspection reveal termite damage, dry rot and structural damage that was not previously known. The damage appears to be old and not from the Molino tornado earlier this year, McLaughlin said.
“It will take $4 million to bring it up to code,” the county administrator said. That is in addition to the school board’s $400,000 asking price for the property.
A plan had been floated where the school would transfer ownership from the Escambia County School District to the Board of County Commissioners and allow the school district to use the Pensacola Civic Center ( a county facility) rent-free for 10 years for high school graduations. The school district currently pays $40,000 a year for use of the civic center. But McLaughlin said that plan was not accepted by the school district.
To make matters worse, the county has lost a grant that would have been used to turn a portion of the building into a library.
But the county is still pursing the property, he said, looking for possible private and foundation funding sources.
The school closed in 2003 when the new Molino Park Elementary School consolidated Molino Elementary and Barrineau Park Elementary.
The school, which sits on nine acres along County Road 95A, first opened in 1939.
Pictured below: A 2006 aerial view of the old Molino Elementary School.
Century Turns Out At School Board Meeting To Support Carver/Century
May 21, 2008
Many Century residents, parents and teachers packed into the Tuesday night meeting of the Escambia County School Board to show their support for keeping Carver/Century K-8 School open.
“Help us to live,” Council Member Gary Riley told the school board. “Keep the plug in so we can revitalize ourselves.”
Superintendent Jim Paul’s budget cutting plans include closing the school, possibly as early as the next school year to save the district $680,000 of $16 million in needed savings. Paul has also said several times that he is concerned that the school continues to be ranked an “F” school by the Florida Department of Education.
But those Carver/Century supporters that made the drive from Century to the Pensacola school board meeting begged the board to keep the school’s doors open for both the children and the community.
“As you see, you have strong representation here tonight in favor of keeping Carver Century open,” Riley said. “We may be on a respirator now, but it seems like now you want to pull the plug on the respirator. Century is trying to live; Century is trying to grow. Anytime you pull the plug on the respirator it means that you have given up. Century has not given up on Century.”
“If you close that school, not only the community but an entire city would be in danger,” Riley said. “All of those surround communities would be affected by the closing of that school.”
Rev. Irvin Stallworth told the school board that a blue ribbon committee had been formed to look at ways to reform the school. That committee was named at Monday night’s Century Town Council meeting. (Read that story by clicking here.)
“Closing any school in the community is not the answer,” Julie Booth Moran, owner of Century Pharmacy said. “Helping that school revitalize itself, as our community is trying to do, is the answer.”
“The foundation starts in the community of which these children live,” she said.
“Give us the time,” Moran said. “Help us to keep our school open. I think the community support today shows we are involved.”
Paul has not yet made an official recommendation to close Carver/Century, but that recommendation could come as early as the June 17 board meeting. That closure would most likely see Carver/Century students bused to Bratt Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle School.
One of the school’s 205 students, fifth grader Olivia Richmond, had a sign at the meeting that said “Be fair to our school. Don’t close our school.”
Century Care Center Wraps Up Week-Long Open House
May 21, 2008
The Century Care Center held a week-long open house last week.
Some of the week’s events included a pizza party, ice cream, an arts and crafts program, a field day, a special performance by Canticle (pictured above) and a clown (pictured below).
The non-profit Canticle performed with two harps, an oboe, and lady “with the voice of an angel,” Century Care Activities Director Mae Hildreth said.
“It was so beautiful it actually moved me to tears,” Hildreth said. “The residents were so impressed, they asked for autographs.”
The clown is named “Lady Butterfly” and is the daughter of a former Century Care Center resident. She entertained with balloon animals, face painting and just plain silliness.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward FFA Students Attend Auburn “BEEF U” Program
May 21, 2008
Three FFA members from Ernest Ward Middle School joined about 140 other youth from Alabama and Florida at first Beef Excellence Education for You (B.E.E.F. U) program recently.
EWMS students Seth Picheo, Devin Bell, Justin Hall participated in the program that taught kids ages eight to 18 lessons on beef cattle. Auburn University’s Animal Sciences department hosted B.E.E.F. U on campus.
At the Stanley Wilson Beef Teaching Unit and Auburn Bull Test Station, participants rotated through multiple sessions regarding live animals and carcasses. Live cattle terminology was covered as a briefing tool before partipants evaluated live cattle. The cattle were used to demonstrate beef conformation, feeder calf basics, and fed cattle evaluation.
In the Lambert-Powell Meats Laboratory, participants evaluated beef carcasses. The carcasses helped participants learn about and practice determining USDA yield grades and quality grades. A unique workshop taught participants how to make kielbasa, a beef and pork sausage. Participants learned which ingredients to use when making the sausage, how to prepare the meat and ingredients, and then had the opportunity to put the sausage meat into a casing.
Dr. Wayne Greene, Auburn Animal Sciences department head, said, “The B.E.E.F. U program was a success. These students had a preview of things they will learn if they become students in the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University.” He said B.E.E.F. U was a great training program for those that will become the leaders in the beef cattle industry.
The program was sponsored by the Alabama Cattleman’s Association 50 cent State Beef Check-Off program, Extension, and the Auburn College of Agriculture Animal Sciences department.
County Leaders Discuss Unified Fire Department With Volunteer Firefighters
May 20, 2008
The effort to consolidate the volunteer fire departments in Escambia County into one unified department is continuing, with many area volunteer firefighters left with questions about their futures in the consolidated department. The Escambia County Commission wants the unified department with a single command structure to bring the county’s paid and volunteer firefighters under one command by October 1.
Recently, Ferry Pass Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robbie Whitfield was hired by the county as its Volunteer Coordinator. Whitfield and Escambia Fire Rescue Chief Kenny Perkins were charged by the commission with coming up with unification plan.
Monday night, Whitfield told the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department that he is on the side of the volunteers.
“I appreciate what you do; it takes a lot,” Whitfield said.
Whitfield was joined by Century Volunteer Fire Department Chief Regi Burkett, representing the Volunteer Firefighter’s Association and District 5 County Commissioner Kevin White.
“I feel like some of the commissioners would throw the volunteers out tomorrow,” Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Stewart said “and we are just trying to keep the volunteers afloat.”
“Not Kevin,” Whitfield said. “He has gone to bat more than any other commissioner for the volunteers.”
As for the commission’s October 1 target date for the fire department consolidation, Whitfield said progress is being made.
“October 1 is just a target,” he told the volunteer firefighters. “As long as we are making progress, we are OK.”
“My only agenda in this is to make sure the volunteers are treated fairly,” Whitfield said.
“Robbie is not going to forget that he was a volunteer once,” White said.
“But the biggest change up here (in a north end volunteer department) is nothing,” Whitfield told the Walnut Hill volunteers.
Members of the WHVFD expressed several concerns, including concerns over a command structure in the new unified department.
Many volunteers, not just those in Walnut Hill’s Station 15, have expressed concerns about paid career firefighters not respecting the volunteer’s command.
Under the plan last discussed with the commission, the highest ranking officer, whether they be paid or volunteer, would be in command at a scene, except when an “incident command” has been established.
“The volunteer chief is in charge, even when the paid firefighters show up on a scene, except with when you have established an incident command,” Whitfield said.
One of the first firefighters on the scene of a major incident will establish an “incident command” over the scene.
“When an incident command is setup when you get their first,” Whitfield said, “that is the commanding officer. Even if it is the lowest ranking member of the department that sets up the incident command, that person is in charge of the incident. The incident commander is ultimately in charge.”
Concern was expressed by the volunteers about individual station identities…each volunteer department in the county currently as its own identity, logo and sometimes mascot.
“We will be Escambia Fire Rescue,” Whitfield said. “But you’ll still have Walnut Hill, Cantonment, Century, Molino and McDavid volunteer fire departments.” He added that each department will keep funds they may raise, such as the money raised each year by the Walnut Hill VFD with their annual fish fry.
And none of the departments should expect to lose their equipment either.
Don’t worry about someone walking into your station and saying ‘I am taking this engine or that piece of equipment’,” Whitfield said. “There’s enough equipment in this county; we don’t have to move any around.”
“I’ve been trying for years to get two more substations,” Stewart said. “Some of my people are not covered in any way or form. That’s a concern on their ISO.”
The ISO rating system is used to rank fire service protection and determine insurance rates. For a great deal of the Walnut Hill district, the ISO is a “5″ on a 10 point scale. But for some far away from the department’s main station in Walnut Hill or its substation in Bratt, that rating jumps higher and costs residents much more in insurance premiums.
Walnut Hill’s Station 15 has the largest geographic fire district in the county at 197 square miles. That compares to Whitfield’s Ferry Pass district at 17.67 square miles.
“From us sitting here in this station tonight, it is 20 minutes to the other side of this district,” Stewart said.
“You do one heck of a job up here,” Whitfield told Stewart. “I appreciate what you do very much.”
Right now, volunteers in the county need to focus on training, and members of the general public need to focus on contacting their commissioners in support of the volunteers, Whitfield said.
“Write a handwritten, signed letter to your commissioners explaining what kind of fire service is up here (in North Escambia),” Burkett said. “Community involvement is not going to hurt you one bit.”
Whitefield, White and Burkett agreed to a suggestion by Stewart that a community forum be held to allow the public the chance to have their say about the new unified county fire department. The date and time for the meeting will be announced here on NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured above: District 5 Commissioner Kevin White (left) and Escambia Fire Rescue Volunteer Coordinator Robbie Whitfield listen to volunteer firefighter concerns Monday night in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo.
Blue Ribbon Committee Against Closing Carver/Century School
May 20, 2008
A blue ribbon committee was formed at Monday night’s Century city council meeting in an effort to make sure the school board knows that the Town of Century does not want its only remaining school.
“All of us are aware of what’s about to take place with our school”, said Mayor Freddie McCall at the packed meeting. “I would like to see our town participate in a blue ribbon committee to come up with plans to present to the school board to keep our school open. The school is close and dear to our hearts, and I don’t want to see it closed down. It is important to economic growth. It is hard to get industry without a school”.
Carver/Century K-8 School is in danger of being closed as early as the upcming 2008-2009 school year as part of budget cutbacks proposed by Escambia County School District Superintendent Jim Paul.
The blue ribbon committee was formed Monday night includes McCall; Principal Jeff Garthwaite, Paula Jernigan, Rev. Wiillie Carter, Laura Nelson, Brenda Spencer, Henry Hawkins; Mrs. Reginald McCants, Marilyn Robinson and Rev. Irwin Stallworth. “We want everyone’s input and these will be our spokespeople to get this off the ground and to the table”, said McCall.
Many residents of Century turned out Monday night to have their voices heard in support of keeping Carver/Century K-8 School open.
“Several (school) board members are ready to scratch us off”, said council member Gary Riley. “We need to show up in numbers with plans. They want to pull the plug on our life support while we still have life. Numbers make a difference; voices make a difference”.
Council woman Sharon Scott said, “I have a granddaughter I plan to see in Century, not Byrneville, Bratt or Molino”.
“Anyone who knows me knows I love the Century school and I don’t want to loose it. I would do anything for Century school,” said council woman Nadine McCaw.
The Rev. Carter said the town must be serious about supporting the school, but should not be lead by emotions. “Let’s not get carried away with our emotions”. Carter said he has been involved with the Century school for over 50 years. He spoke of former Century school students who have gone on to become doctors, professors and lawyers.
“I’ve seen students who were deprived become successful and those who had everything fail. Can one test determine whether a student suceeds or fails?” said Carter in reference to the FCAT test. Carver/Century had the lowest writing+ FCAT scores in the county. “I’m all for computers and calculators, but students used to have to use their minds. We don’t want to take away what God gave our kids and that’s a good set of brains,” he said.
Stallworth said that children will learn what they want to learn, but the community has to help. “Some children need help to read, and I’ll help them read,” Stallworth said as he made it known he would be glad to assist children in learning to read.
Diedre Harris plead with those in the room who have kids at other area schools to bring their children back to Century to get an education. “Let us be a house united,” she said, “let’s do what we have to do as a community to get what we need”. She urged people to bombard District Five School Board Member Pete Gindl with phone calls telling him “to vote no to closing our school”.
“It would be a joy to see my kids come back home to go to school”, said Rex McCants. “If Bryneville can do it, Century can do it”.
Alfonzie Cottrell reminded everyone that “there is an entire community at stake…not just the kids, but an entire community”.
Century residents are encouraged to show their support of keeping Century/Carver school open by attending tonight’s school board meeting at the Hall Center in Pensacola at 5:30.
Pictured above: Rev. Willie Carter addresses the Century Town Council Monday night in support of Carve/Century school. NorthEscambia.com photo.