What Will New Board, Superintendent Mean For Carver/Century, Other North Escambia Schools?

November 5, 2008

whatforcentury.jpg [NorthEscambia.com Exclusive]

Carver/Century K-8 School may have won a temporary reprieve at the polls on Tuesday, and Tuesday’s vote could spell an increased voice for North Escambia on the county’s school board.

“The cloud over Carver/Century has been lifted,” newly elected District 5 school board member Bill Slayton told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday night. “We need to step back and look at what we are going to do there.”

Current Superintendent Jim Paul, who did not seek re-election after a drunk driving arrest, was expected for months to call for the closure of Carver/Century before next school year, but he did not. Any closure recommendation would now come from Malcolm Thomas who will take office as superintendent on November 18.

“We have to pause a minute on closing Carver/Century,” Thomas said. “It is not that I am in opposition to closing that school, but I don’t want to close it now to find out that we just have to reopen it next year.”

Project Green Leaf could the school’s saving grace. The electric car manufacturing  facility with up to 1,100 jobs proposed for Century could drastically change the future of Carver/Century.

“I want specific answers, not just the (Project Green Leaf) sales pitch before making a decision. I want the facts,” Thomas said. “That does not mean that it is over. It just means we are pressing the pause button on closing the school.”

But once the district has exercised “due diligence” and explored Carver/Century and Project Green Leaf’s future, the district will move forward. That may mean closing the school, Thomas said, and it may not. He said he is not opposed to closing and consolidating schools if warranted. In fact, he said a handful of smaller Pensacola area schools could be on the chopping block very soon.

As for the rest of the schools in North Escambia, Thomas had nothing but praise. From Molino Park Elementary to Bratt Elementary, North Escambia’s other elementary schools are in great shape, he said, noting the Bratt is the top school in the entire county according to numbers from the Florida Department of Education. He expects no changes at Ernest Ward Middle, an “A” school several years running, or at Northview High School, a “B” rated school with improving state test scores.

“The problem area that we must address is Carver/Century,” he said. The school improved to a “B” school this past year, up from an “F” the year before. It has also failed to make the state’s definition of  adequate yearly progress, leading to state-funded student transfers out of the school.

“There are great schools in the north end,” Slayton said. “I want to continue to make sure that they receive equal treatement in the educational  system, and that they are part of the plan in this county.”

Pictured above: Malcolm Thomas was elected as the new Escambia County School Superintendent. NorthEscambia.com graphic.

Comments

4 Responses to “What Will New Board, Superintendent Mean For Carver/Century, Other North Escambia Schools?”

  1. Lauren Freisinger on November 5th, 2008 9:13 pm

    Well, thats one of the smart things to come out of downtown from the School Board. Its a ignorant idea in the first place to close the school there. It would be one more loss of the towns identity. Also, I think its too far to bus those small children to Molino Park because thats the only place they can put them if those close it. There would be no way most parents or any volunteers could participate because most don’t have realiable transortation if any at all. Hey its what they would call in the city a poor innercity school and since Century is a town I guess they would qualify. My hope is that the school will continue to improve upon itself and have the staff who really wants to be there because it is a hard task to take on and not get worn out with all the extra effort that is required.

  2. Medicine Man on November 5th, 2008 9:10 pm

    What should take place is what was agreed upon 10 tears ago, close Earnest Ward, and redraw lines for Century and Molino to handle these students as originally designed, both schools have more than enough room to handle the kids from these areas, Mr. Thomas please research this info, you will find that the answers to this issue have already been addressed and should be followed thru.

  3. Yellarhammer on November 5th, 2008 2:20 pm

    I changed my voter resitration to vote out Jim Paul and was disaponted but I am glad I voted for Malcolm Thomas.

  4. Tracey on November 5th, 2008 11:25 am

    I’m glad Thomas has been elected. He has the best interest in mind for each child in the county. Location is not the issue…it is education, and education at its best! If schools close it will be the best for the students and if they stay open it will be best for the students. I am also glad that he is taking a step back, evaluating the situation and then making the best decisions for these children/schools. Obvisouly I supposrt Thomas:) Congrats Malcolm! I am looking forward to you implementing your plans for our school district.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Education, News