3rd Grade Math, Reading FCAT Scores Released : Bratt Declines, All Others Improve
May 21, 2009
Third grade reading and math FCAT scores were released Thursday morning by the Florida Department of Education, with every North Escambia school showing an increase in scores except for Bratt Elementary.
At Bratt Elementary, the number of third grade students scoring at grade level on the reading portion of the FCAT dropped from 83 percent last year to 78 percent this year. In math, Bratt also declined, from 86 percent at grade level last year to 81 percent this year.
Bryneville Elementary School third grade students improved from 83 percent at grade level in reading last year to 86 percent this year. The percentage of students at third grade level in math remained steady at 93 percent.
Carver/Century third graders improved on both the math and reading FCAT tests. The percent scoring a “3″, which is considered grade level, increased from 53 to 72 percent in reading and from 58 to 72 percent in math.
Molino Park Elementary third grade students also showed gains on the FCAT. The percent of grade level students in reading increased from 76 to 81 percent. The number of Molino Park third graders at grade level in math increased from 84 to 89 percent.
Jim Allen Elementary school in Cantonment showed increases as well. The percentage of third grade students at grade level in reading increased from 76 to 78 percent; in math the number went from 84 percent last year to 89 this year.
Overall, third grade students in Escambia County improved one percentage point from one year ago. The number at grade level in reading increased from 71 to 72 percent. In reading, the county score improved from 76 to 77 percent at grade level.
“We are, of course, pleased with this year’s results and the gains being made in our schools,” said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. “A lot of hard work was put forth by our teachers, principals and students to continue to increase scores at this level. This will give us some momentum heading into next year.”
Among the highlights from across the county:
● Navy Point increased 21% in math and 11% in reading
● Spencer Bibbs increased 15% in math and 16% in reading
● Longleaf increased 5% in math and 10% in reading
● NB Cook students scored 97% in math and 91% in reading
● Suter students scored 97% in math and 90% in reading
● 56 District students earned perfect scores in math
● 24 District students earned perfect scores in reading
● 4 District students earned perfect scores in both categories
Accused Bank Robber Jeter Captured In Florida After He Stabs Police Officer
May 21, 2009
(UPDATED 12:15 p.m.) The suspect in an Atmore bank robbery, Chad Floyd Jeter, 30, was taken into custody early this morning near Yankeetown Florida, after a stabbing an officer with a ninja star.
Authorities said Inglis Police Department officer Tim Swiggett approached Jeter as he slept in his truck at 4:19 EDT this morning. His truck was parked backed into a wooded area near a Yankeetown neighborhood, according to Lt. Scott Finnen with the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle was described as an older model GMC pickup with no tag.
“The officer approached the subject and initiated the investigation and it was determined that the subject was Chad Floyd Jeter from Atmore, Alabama,” Finnen said. The Swiggett determined Jeter’s identity and that he was wanted in connection with the Tuesday robbery of the First National Bank & Trust in Atmore.
“Jeter then assaulted the officer and managed to cut the officer in neck before running into the woods,” Finnen said. Jeter reportedly thew a ninja star at Swiggett, striking the officer in the neck near his ear. Swiggett was transported to Seven Rivers Hospital with minor injuries where he was treated and released.
Jeter than fled the scene. Jeter was arrested just after 6:00 EDT this morning after manhunt involving the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, Inglis Police Department, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, Cross City Correctional K-9 team and the US Coast Guard. He was found hiding in a marsh.
Jeter’s truck was towed from the scene to a police impound lot and not searched, according to Finnen. He said a search warrant will be obtained and the truck search later this afternoon or tomorrow morning.
Jeter was charged with attempted homicide on a police officer and booked into the Levy County Jail. He will face an extradition back to Escambia County, Alabama, to face federal bank robbery charges.
Yankeetown, Florida, is located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, southwest of Gainesville.
More details will be posted as they become available.
Pictured above: The Levy County (Fla.) Jail booking photo taken this morning of Chad Floyd Jeter. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Welcome To The Real World: NHS Students Juggle Work, School
May 21, 2009
During her senior year, Northview student Ashley Snow maintained her GPA, cheered on the varsity cheerleading squad and was involved in other extracurricular activities. She also worked as an office assistant five days a week. And she worked at the Atmore YMCA. And she worked at the Movie Gallery.
Ashley is one of 27 students enrolled in the Diversified Career Technology/Career Education Clubs of Florida class at Northview High School. It’s a program that is sometimes called OJT, or on the job training. Students like Ashley take three to six periods in school at Northview; then they earn classroom credit for working their jobs under the watchful eye of DCT instructor Tommy Weaver.
“We call it the ‘world of work’,” Weaver said of his class. “It’s a welcome to the real world.”
At one point during the year, Ashley was juggling school and a 40-45 hour work week under the DCT program.
“I didn’t have a social life. I didn’t have time to sleep,” she said. She’s since quit her job at the YMCA, but continues to work at the Movie Gallery. She also will continue her job as a paid student aide in the Northview office until the end of the school year.
For senior Amie Sutton (pictured left), the DCT program has allowed her to advance in her job. She started as a cashier at the Piggly Wiggly in Century, and now her duties include working as an office clerk, managing cash, checks, money orders and more. She’s learned that advancing in a career has its perks.
“I can tell people what to do,” Sutton said. “But I hate when a customer is rude.”
“Yeah, sometimes when they have late fees they don’t want to pay, people can be so rude,” Ashley said. It’s that “welcome to the real world” that Weaver mentioned.
“It can get real hectic at times,” Jessica Mothershed said of her job as a paid aide in the Northview office. “Sometimes you can lose track because so many people want you to do so many different things.”
Jessica said she is glad she had the opportunity to get the Northview office job through the DCT program. “It’s been a great chance to get real experience, and the people I work with are just wonderful.”
Summer Sanders said it was necessary for her to work while attending school and that she was thankful for the opportunities presented by the DCT class.
“They are a great group of students who have work extremely hard to maintain jobs as well as attend school,” Summer said, thanking Weaver for helping her find her first job at David’s Catfish and her current job at Century Care Center.
I Enjoy working at the Care Center,” she said. “The staff is really nice and caring, and the residents just have a way of brightening my day when I’m having a bad day. It is a great environment to work in.”
Tiffany Chance found her job, well, by accident. An accident landed her at the chiropractor. She found chiropractic work interesting, and now she works at Newlin Chiropractic in Pensacola through the Northview DCT program.
“I just fell in love with the people at the chiropractic office after my accident, and they offered me a job,” she said. “I love having a job where I can help people. There’s nothing bad about it; it is all positive.”
But without the ability to take part in the NHS DCT program, Tiffany said it would be unlikely that she would have the job that she believes will prepare her for life after high school.
“It has taught me to accomplish tasks for myself,” Tiffany said. “It has definitely prepared me for the real world.”
Classroom time in the DCT program does work to prepare students for the real world.
Students learn how to write a resume, conduct an interview and even file their taxes.
Students receive both a classroom grade and a grade from their work supervisors. Good performance is important to maintaining or improving a GPA; students can earn up to five A’s per nine weeks in the DCT program. It is possible for a senior to take DCT, English and Government/Economics during the first three periods of the school day, then leave for work. Their employers are required to provide them with one hour of work for each period they are out of school.
But Weaver encourages the students to not be all work and no play; they are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities and to return to campus for school events like pep rallies.
“They are a great group of kids,” Weaver said.
Amanda Barrow, manager of the Atmore Movie Gallery where Ashley works, agrees.
“I couldn’t ask for a better employee. She accepts responsibility. Everyone would wish for an employee as work oriented as Ashley,” Barrow said. “I think it (DCT) is a great program. It gives students the hands-on training they need before they are pursuing their careers.”
Ashley worked as a night nursery attendant during her time at the Atmore YMCA and found out that the DCT program can even provide life lessons.
“I don’t want kids anymore,” she said.
Members of the Northview 2008-2009 DCT program are listed below with their employer:
- Michelle Bellamy, Century Care Center, Century
- Joshua Black, Ernest Ward Middle School, Walnut Hill
- Gretchen Boughner, Whataburger, Century
- Andrew Bowlan, Whataburger, Cantonment
- Richard Braun, Northview High School, Bratt
- Brittany Brown, Country Charms, Atmore
- Tiffany Chance, Newlin Chiropractic, Pensacola
- Matthew Coffee, Winn-Dixie, Cantonment
- Stephanie Doucette, Grocery Advantage, Cantonment
- Whitney Flurnoy, Buster’s Restaurant, Atmore
- Melissa Garrett, Grocery Advantage, Cantonment
- Jasey Gibson, Whataburger, Cantonment
- Jesse Grimes, Piggly Wiggly, Davisville
- Denise Hart, Northview High School, Bratt
- Blaine Jeter, Pee Wee Construction, Atmore
- Dalton Justice, Right Lead Ranch, Walnut Hill
- Ryan Lamber, Smith Tractor, Atmore
- Adam Martin, Pee Wee Construction, Atmore
- Steven Meadows, Chuck E. Cheese, Pensacola
- Jessica Mothershed, Northview High School, Bratt
- Dustin Odom, Subway, Atmore
- Caitlin Roley, Northview High School, Bratt
- Summer Sanders, Century Care Century, Century
- Haley Smith, Northview High School, Bratt
- Ashley Snow, Movie Gallery, Atmore
- Amie Sutton, Piggly Wiggly, Century
- Kayla Wheeler, Winn Dixie, Cantonment
For more on the DCT program at Northview, click here.
Pictured top: Jessica Mothershed (left) and Tiffany Chance are two of 27 students in the DCT program at Northview High School. Pictured inset: Amie Sutton works at Century’s Piggly Wiggly in the DCT program. Pictured below: Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas visits with DCT student Ashley Snow, who works as an office aide at NHS. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Friends And Neighbors Show Support For FNB&T After Armed Bank Robbery
May 21, 2009
Friends and neighbors have reached out to the First National Bank & Trust following the Tuesday afternoon armed robbery of the Atmore bank.
Rene Godwin, FNB&T vice president, said that all day Wednesday, customers and friends took the time to offer words of encouragement following the frighting events of Tuesday afternoon when a man armed with a rifle robbed the bank.
United Bank, whose main office is located just across the street from the FNB&T, even sent a gift basket filled with “goodies” to the FNB&T.
“The FNB&Trust team would like to send a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to our customers and the citizens of the Atmore area for the concern shown us during the recent robbery,” Godwin said. “A special thank you to the United Bank employees for their generosity and well wishes.”
Shep Marsh, president of FNB&T, offered his praises to local law enforcement and his staff following the holdup.
“The quick and professional actions of our well trained staff, excellent security technology, and very competent local law enforcement officers resulted in an identification of the individual within two hours,” Marsh said.
Pictured above: A gift basket from United Bank to the FNB&T following their Tuesday robbery. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lucky Store? Davisville Store Sells Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket, Again
May 21, 2009
A ticket purchased at the State Line Gift Shop in Davisville has the winning number in Tuesday’s Fantasy 5 drawing, and that ticket is now worth $208,169.03 as the only winning ticket in the state.
The winning FANTASY 5 numbers were: 07 – 19 – 28 – 29 – 30. The winning ticket was a “Quick Pick”.
Two tickets sold at the State Line Gift Shop on Highway 97 at the Alabama/Florida state line won two different Fantasy 5 drawings with over a quarter million dollars in payouts.
The State Line Gift Shop, one of the top lottery retailers in Florida, has received $500 for each of the the winning tickets as a bonus from the Florida Lottery.
Consolidation Opinion: ‘Model Government’ Jacksonville Raising Water & Sewer Rates 44%
May 21, 2009
Guest Column By Dale Perkins
The political action committee Escambia All for One has highlighted the City of Jacksonville as the model government in its efforts to move Escambia County away from constitutional government to consolidated government.
A presentation at New World Landing using Jacksonville officials would leave us to believe that Jacksonville is a panacea. The truth is that Jacksonville has horrible, financial, crime, inefficiency and ethical problems. The most recent of these is Jacksonville’s decision to raise water/sewer rates by 44%. (Florida Times Union, 5/19/09) That’s right, 44%, not 4 point 4%.
As a member of the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, I (as well as my fellow Board Members) have worked diligently to keep rates as low as possible. At the same time we have made major and myriad environmental and infrastructure improvements. Among these is the permitting and construction of a new 330 million dollar wastewater treatment plant. This massive project is under budget, ahead of schedule and without scandal. Compare that to the attempted building of the Jacksonville Courthouse.
A major concern is that a consolidated form of government will utilize the citizen’s utility bills as just another way to get into our pockets. It has already been proposed in the form of an economic development utility surcharge.
Please, get on your computer, google information on the City of Jacksonville or go to the Florida Times Union Website. Once you do, you will see for yourself that we are once again being misled by a well financed and professionally coordinated campaign effort.
Dale Perkins is an elected Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Board Member, and holds a Masters degree in Applied Politics from the University of West Florida.
Swine Flu Case In Santa Rosa County
May 21, 2009
The area has its first case of H1N1 (swine flu), according to health officials.
A sample from an adult female in Santa Rosa County was confirmed positive by testing at the Florida Department of Health Pensacola Branch Laboratory.
At the advice of her physician, the woman has been self-isolating at home for the past two days while taking Tamiflu, an antiviral medication that has shown to be effective in treating the virus, the Santa Rosa County Health Department said. The woman will remain at home until after her antiviral treatment is completed. In addition, there are three other adult family members living in her home, yet none of them are exhibiting influenza-like illness symptoms at this time.
Basic prevention steps that are effective in preventing the seasonal flu, according to the health department, are:
- If you feel sick, stay home from work or school
- Wash your hands frequently
- Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or appear ill
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or into your upper sleeve, not your hands
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- If you experience cough, fever, and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, contact your health care provider
More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/, or by calling the Florida Department of Health’s toll free information line for swine flu at 1-800-775-8039.
Hurricane Season Soon; Alabama Practices For Florida Evacuees
May 21, 2009
If the Florida Panhandle evacuates for a hurricane this year, travel into Alabama should be easier due to the opening of a four-laned Highway 113 and something called “contraflow”.
A $22.7 million project, which included funds from the state of Alabama, Flomaton and both Escambia County, Alabama, and Escambia County, Florida, provides 13.5 miles of new four-lane divided highway from Highway 29/31 in Flomaton to Exit 69 on I-65. The project opened in November of last year.
On Wednesday, Alabama officials practiced their contraflow procedures. The term “contraflow” describes the condition when an interstate highway’s lanes carry traffic in the opposite direction for an evacuation (for instance, when I-65’s southbound lanes carry northbound traffic).
During Wednesday’s practice, around 200 Alabama Department of Transportation workers and a contingency of state troopers were positioned along I-65 between Baldwin County and Montgomery to simulate the activity associated with reversing I-65 traffic.
The plan for reversing I-65 traffic consists of 110 steps and requires 200 Department of Transportation employees, about 100 state troopers, and additional personnel from state and local emergency management and local law enforcement agencies.
The rehearsal simulated the lane reversal activities that may occur during a real hurricane. It provided an opportunity for Alabama officials to practice the dozens of steps required, and to fine tune the process. Personnel involved in the rehearsal pre-positioned themselves and their equipment, just as they would during their response to a real hurricane. There are 29 assigned checkpoints and 22 interchanges along I-65 that are involved in the lane reversal plan.
The event was only a practice; traffic was not really reverse or detoured.
Pictured above: Alabama Department of Transportation personnel and Alabama State Troopers positioned at I-65 and Jack Springs Road north of Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Blog: Century-CAN, Century Can Go Wireless
May 21, 2009
There’s been much written the past few days about plans submitted to the Century Town Council Monday night for a “Century Community Access Network”, a wireless broadband Internet service to be operated by the Town of Century if the plan is approved. The entire system, according to the consultant pitching the project, would be funded with federal dollars at no cost to Century.
Consultant Rodney Thomas of Resources Building Tomorrow, LLC. of Richmond, Virginia, told the council that residents would be able to obtain the broadband Internet service for $34 per month each, plus some setup fees. He told the council that the service could be used for Internet access, streaming video and even tele-medicine.
Thomas told the council that any cordless phone on the system would work anywhere in town. While his presentation did not, the proposal presented to the council says that Internet telephone service would be another $14 per month. Truthfully, a regular cordless phone would only work a short distance from its base, just as it does now. An IP based cordless phone, one that connects directly to the Internet, would have the around town capability. Such phones typically sell for $75-$100 and up.
There are math problems in the proposal. For instance, financial numbers are based upon 1,721 households in Century. The Census Bureau says there are about 2,200 households in the entire 32535 Century zip code that, in reality, stretches halfway across the county to Highway 97. Estimates put the number of households at 650. If 25 percent of those households signed up for service, the city would receive about $1,600 in revenue with their $10 share of the total $34 fee. Fixed expenses in the proposal are $1,200 per month with a few options that might cause them to increase. In an ideal situation, 25 percent of households (about 163) using the service would net the town $400 per month. But we all know that in the business world, ideal situations rarely happen.
There are a few other money making opportunities in the proposal for the town. A couple of bucks per household that signs up for VOIP telephone (a telephone service that works over the Internet) at $14 per month, and selling advertising on a community portal. A points there: A Magicjack IP phone service is $20 total (not per month) for VOIP. Other services are cheap or free.
And, by the way, with 163 households on the service, Thomas, the consultant, would pocket $326 per month, each and every month. Really not that much, compared to the bad-math proposal that would have him making $1,721 to $3,442 per month.
Another big problem with the proposal is that persons in Century that want broadband Internet service have four or more options for service now.
The speed of the Century-CAN service will reportedly be 768Kbps to 1Mbps for $34 per month. In Century, AT&T offers 768Kbps Internet, their slowest option, for $19.95 per month with or without phone service. A 1.5 Mbps service, faster than that proposed by Century-CAN, is $32.95 per month with phone or $37.95 without a dialtone. Other packages are offered up to 6 Mbps. Bright House cable company also offers Internet service in Century at speeds up to 15 Mbps, but most of their packages are more expensive without cable TV service. There are other Internet options available to anyone in Century — satellite service from companies like Wildblue and cellular connections from companies like Alltel and AT&T.
Why would someone choose to pay $34 for a service that can be obtained from AT&T for $20 a month, even without having their phone service? The proposal mentions video streaming. Yep, at 768 Kbps you can stream a blurry Youtube video. But that speed won’t stream quality video from most popular television and movie sites without a degredation in quality. As for the tele-medicine in the proposal…well, can we have a volunteer? Do you want a doctor diagnosing your condition, or operating on you, over a connect speed that can’t stream a Netflix movie at full quality?
It’s not worth arguing quality of service, speed of service or method of delivery. Like there are Ford people and Chevy people, there are those that are in favor of getting their Internet service via Wi-fi, cellular, DSL or cable. There are points to be made for these and other delivery methods.
The bottom line of this proposal, which the council has not discussed or acted upon, should serve as a idea.
Wi-fi networks over an area like Century are not rocket science. There are many do-it-yourself web sites that would take a semi-techie person an hour or two to digest. Maybe Century should not look to build a network and sell service. Maybe Century needs to build the network and offer the service for FREE or very reduced cost.
Pensacola recently installed free wi-fi downtown along Palafox to help promote their Palafox market. Montgomery and many other cities offer free wi-fi in business districts. It draws people.
If there is grant money available to build this project, as the consultant said Monday night, let Century apply for the grant with its own grants writer. Once Century gets the grant, let Workforce EsaRosa or one of the many other such services, train people to run the system. Other than climbing a water tower from time to time, it’s not that difficult with just a little training. (I know several Northview students out for the summer that could put this network together in just days.)
Then order your equipment. It’s all available online and can be here in a week. The proposal presented to the council had lots of fancy technical words, but these are ordinary commercial grade pieces of equipment you would find in any professional office (except, perhaps, for the antennas themselves). Many manufacturing facilities, for instance, are running facility-wide wi-fi networks.
Throw in a few dollars for security; there seems to be no mention of security in the proposal presented to the council. We are sure it’s just an oversight, as no one wants the contents of their computer open for public viewing or destruction.
Order your main connection to the Internet. (Hint: It might be cheaper in Alabama; it is wireless and would jump the tracks just fine.)
Now offer free, or very reduced Internet to your citizens. Offer free one-day passes to anyone passing through town.
Now our federal grant dollars are providing the opportunities to the people in Century without charging them $34 a month, and without pumping dollars out of state.
There’s great potential here. The idea of the Town of Century providing a wireless network is a good thing. But Century can do this for itself, pumping the dollars and benefits right back into the town.
We’ve been asked what NorthEscambia.com’s reason for becoming involved in this is and where we would benefit. It just happens to be a subject interesting to us (computer geeks, you know). We are also in a unique situation with a tidbit of information not available to anyone else in this equation. We have a pretty good idea how many people in Century have what type (DSL, cable, dialup) Internet. Since NorthEscambia.com is popular in Century, our server logs reflect the type usage in the town.
Being straightforward, we might perhaps benefit from the free Internet service because we might gain a few new readers. But in the overall scheme of our thousands of daily users, a few hundred more in Century or any other town would be of no real benefit to us. So there’s no personal interest here, no attempt at personal gain. We would rather see Century gain with the opportunities that the Internet for all can unlock.
Century can do a Century-CAN network. Century can do it on its own, benefiting its citizens.
Chief Deputy Will Hold Century Town Hall Meeting Tonight
May 21, 2009
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan will not be able to attend a town hall meeting in Century Thursday evening, but the event will go on with the county’s chief deputy.
Morgan had a scheduling conflict between the Century meeting and a previously scheduled speech to the Pensacola Military Officers Association, according to Sena Maddison, public affairs coordinator with the ESCO.
Morgan’s town hall meeting in Century had been scheduled for May 7, but he rescheduled that meeting due to an orientation scheduled for the same night at Ernest Ward Middle School. Maddison said that due to an error with the sheriff’s calendar, the Century meeting was inadvertently rescheduled for May 21, the same night as his Pensacola speech. The Pensacola commitment was made prior to the Century event date being planned, she said.
Morgan said he deeply regrets the scheduling error.
The event will still take place at 6:00 Thursday evening at the Southern Panhandle Restaurant in Century. Chief Deputy Bill Chavers will conduct the meeting in Morgan’s place, and he will relay citizen’s concerns back to the sheriff. Chavers will also be able to answer questions about the department and the department’s role in the Century area.