Escambia Schools Focus On Student Athlete Transfer Policies
September 25, 2014
In order to improve e student athlete transfer process, the Escambia County School District is implementing plans to review procedures for high school student athlete transfer requests, and provide additional training opportunities for coaches and parents on Florida High School Athletic Association ) rules.
Malcolm Thomas, superintendent of Escambia County Schools, says that while these actions are a result of the recent events involving Escambia High School’s football program, they will benefit athletic programs across the county.
“When an event occurs that causes this much heartache and impacts so many students and faculty at one of our schools, it becomes our responsibility to take time to examine the situation to understand what can be learned, and make determinations to prevent reoccurrences in the future,” he said.
Several allegations have been made during and after the recent FHSAA investigation. Thomas pledged every complaint reported to a school or district official will be examined. If an investigation yields evidence of rule violations, self-reporting to the FHSAA will be required by the offending school.
“All reported incidents about student athletes who have transferred high schools are being thoroughly reviewed,” the superintendent said. “There will be consistency in enforcement of the FHSAA rules.”
“Training will be increased for athletic directors and coaches regarding FHSAA rules and procedures,” Thomas added. “The district will make a request for the FHSAA to utilize their expertise to facilitate training for all of our District coaches, whether they are new or veterans.”
Athletic directors from all area high schools provided input into the development of new Standard Operating Procedures for the reinstatement of a transfer student’s athletic eligibility. The new procedures began implementation in August 2014. An important change is the creation of a District Student Athlete Eligibility Review committee. The committee reviews requests and determines athletic eligibility for transferring student athletes. This increases consistency and removes the burden from individual schools, thereby reducing the amount of responsibility placed on athletic directors for transfer issues.
“By establishing this committee, students and parents will be able to submit a transfer review request form and receive a determination of whether the student athlete is eligible to play at their new school. Once that student’s eligibility has been reinstated by the committee, the student, parents and coaches will have the confidence that the transfer meets FHSAA requirements,” Thomas said.
A FHSAA information session will be offered for parents and guardians of student athletes to understand the rules, regulations, and procedures that could affect their student athletes’ eligibility. This information session will also be advertised to parents of middle school athletes, so they will know and understand the rules before they make high school commitments with, and for, their child.
Changes already underway include:
- Concerns about our current student athletes who have transferred high schools have been addressed, or are currently being reviewed.
- District athletic department leadership worked with athletic directors to create the Student Athlete Eligibility Review committee to review and reinstate a student’s athletic eligibility for any student athlete who transfers between schools at any time of the year.
- A Student Athlete Eligibility Review form has been made available online at http://ecsd.fl.schoolloop.com/SchoolChoice or at the Office of School Choice.
- Students, parents and athletic directors of transferring student athletes will be informed about the eligibility of a student athlete who has transferred.
The following steps will also be taken:
- FHSAA eligibility and compliance experts will be invited to Pensacola to provide training for all district athletic directors and coaches.
- While the FHSAA experts are in town, an information session will be offered in the evening to help parents of high school and middle school student athletes understand how to protect their students’ athletic eligibility.
- Parents of student athletes will also be directed to the FHSAA web site and the links for students and parents (www.fhsaa.org).
- Details (time/location) for the information session for families will be promoted via a call-out and through the local media.
Court Sets Hearing On Requiring Drug Tests For Welfare
September 25, 2014
A federal appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments November 20 in a long-running battle about Gov. Rick Scott’s attempt to require drug testing as a condition for people receiving public-assistance benefits.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week scheduled the arguments in an appeal filed by the Scott administration after a federal district judge blocked the program, according to an online docket.
The state is seeking to require drug testing for people who receive welfare benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
But it has faced a series of legal setbacks, with U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven in December issuing a 30-page ruling that concluded the urine tests would violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government and that “there is no set of circumstances under which the warrantless, suspicionless drug testing at issue in this case could be constitutionally applied.”
The Scott administration, however, argues in part that drug use can impede the ability of public-assistance beneficiaries to get jobs and also harms families.
The case stems from a 2011 law, which was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Luis Lebron, a Navy veteran and single father.
by The News Service of Florida
Lonnie Lee Rackard
September 25, 2014
Lonnie Lee Rackard, 65 of Atmore, passed away Tuesday, September 23, 2014, in Pensacola. He was a retired superintendent of Atlantic Marine Ship Yard of Mobile. He was born in Escambia County, Al. on February 20, 1949, to the Late Edgar and Ruthie Mae McGhee.
Mr. Lonnie was a member of the United Pentecostal Church of Atmore, a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and was on the Board of Directors of Muskogee Inn.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Carolyn Rackard of Atmore; two sons, Jason (Mary) Rackard of Poarch and Jeremy (Jasmine) Rackard of Deatsville, AL; five grandchildren, Kinzie, Destiny, Dallon, Khalia, and Jackson; one brother, Eugene (Karen) Rackard of Chipley; five sisters, Hazel (Ardis) Rolin of Atmore, Ruby (Jerry) Hawkins of Poarch; Dorothy (Joe Frank) McGhee of Atmore, Mary (Gary) Cordes of Jasper and Glenda Carlton of Poarch; and numerous extended family and friends.
Services were held Thursday, September 25, 2014, from the United Pentecostal Church of Atmore with Pastor Mary S. Gibbs and Rev. Coleman Pylant officiating.
Interment was in New Home Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Poarch Creek Fire Department.
Honorary pallbearers will be Poarch Creek Tribal Council.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home,INC in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Al.
Brenda Lois Godwin
September 25, 2014
Brenda Lois Godwin 65, of Davisville, passed away Wednesday, September 24, 2014, in Pensacola. She was the owner and operator of The Looking Good Hair Salon. She was born in Flomaton on November 14, 1948, to the late Thomas Guy and Marie Porter Nicholas. Ms. Brenda was a loving wife, mother and a great friend who touched the lives of many.
She is preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters.
Survivors include her husband, Freddie Godwin of Davisville; three daughters, Sonia (Quint) Wilson of Bratt, Tonia (Tom) Presley of Byrneville, and Brandy Ramer of Davisville; one brother, Ralph “Bill” Scott; two sisters, Pearline Torelli and Jackie Grantham and seven grandchildren, Patrick (Elizabeth), Wilson, Tabitha Presley, Danielle Wilson, Tiffany Presley, Talisa Presley, Raven Ramer and River Ramer; and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Services will be Saturday, September 27, 2014, at 11 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ted Bridges officiating.
Interment will follow in Godwin Cemetery.
Active Pallbearers are Timmy Ramer, Bobbie McCall, Bernard Owens, Buddy Scott, Louie Thrower, and Michael Johnson.
Family will receive friends Saturday ,September 27, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, is in charge of all arrangements
Poll Shows Florida Governor’s Race Too Close To Call
September 25, 2014
Less than two months before Election Day, Florida voters are split between their top two choices for governor, but they agree on one thing — neither candidate is a perfect fit.
That’s according to a poll by Quinnipiac University released Wednesday. The survey found that Republican Gov. Rick Scott has a slight edge over Democrat Charlie Crist but, because that two-point lead falls within the margin of error, the contest is too close to call.
“The race is likely to be won by the candidate who’s able to convince voters that he is the least objectionable,” Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, told reporters.
The poll found that 44 percent of likely voters support Scott, while 42 percent back Crist and 8 percent support Libertarian Adrian Wyllie.
The poll also found that 17 percent of voters might change their minds, further proof that the race is a toss-up just a week before absentee ballots go in the mail and a month before early voting begins.
With the support of 83 percent of Democrats queried in the survey, Crist — the one-time Republican governor who left the GOP in 2010 in a failed bid for the U.S. Senate as an independent — appears to have solidified support from his new party. Similarly, 80 percent of Republicans favored Scott.
The key to the November election rests with independent voters and Wyllie supporters, Brown said. The level of support in the poll for the relatively unknown Wyllie, whose campaign finances are eclipsed by the war chests amassed by Scott and Crist, might not pan out at the ballot box, according to Brown.
“The big question is, will those who tell us today that they’re going to vote for Mr. Wyllie actually vote for Mr. Wyllie? And if they don’t vote for Mr. Wyllie, will they stay at home, or will they vote for one of the two major party candidates? That’s the $64,000 question,” he said.
Third-party candidates’ popularity tends to fade closer to the election, Brown said.
“Eight percent isn’t chopped liver, but at this point it doesn’t look like Mr. Wyllie’s competitive to win. But his voters could make the winner,” he said.
The survey comes after months of mudslinging on the air by Scott’s campaign and his backers, who have spent more than $30 million on television ads, mostly bashing Crist. Crist and his supporters have spent at least another $10 million, including ads attacking his opponent.
The negative campaigning appears to have paid off for Scott, at least in part. Crist’s popularity has dropped since the ads started airing, according to earlier Quinnipiac polls. But Brown cautioned against comparing Wednesday’s results with previous surveys because the most-recent poll was conducted of likely voters, while the earlier polls were conducted of registered voters, an important distinction.
Voters gave both Scott and Crist low marks on character. By a 49-37 percent margin, voters said Crist is not honest and trustworthy. Fifty-one percent of respondents said that Scott is not honest and trustworthy. Voters were split 46-45 percent on whether Crist cares about their needs and problems, while only 42 percent said they think Scott has those cares.
“Mr. Scott and Mr. Crist are both looked at, meehhhh, by voters in a less than complimentary way,” Brown said, shrugging. “Fewer than four in ten voters think either man is honest and trustworthy. That’s not unheard of, but it is unusual.”
Quinnipiac, which frequently conducts polls in Florida and other states, surveyed 1 likely Florida voters from Sept. 17 to Sept. 22. The poll has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac results mirror other recent polls that showed Scott closing a gap in the race or taking a narrow lead. But Democratic pollster Steven Vancore said the Quinnipiac University survey is flawed.
Thirty-two percent of the voters who participated in the poll identified themselves as Republican, 30 percent as Democrats, and 31 percent as belonging to neither major party.
But those party affiliations don’t reflect actual turnout in the last two gubernatorial elections, Vancore said. In 2010, 46 percent of voters who cast ballots were Republicans, 38 percent were Democrats and 16 percent belonged to either minor parties or no party at all.
Republican voters are expected to edge out Democrats in November by at least four percentage points, while independents are predicted to comprise — at most — about 22 percent of the total turnout, Vancore said.
“They slightly under-sampled Republicans and they dramatically over-sampled (no-party affiliation) voters,” Vancore said.
by Dara Kim and Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Caitlan Irene Bonds
September 25, 2014
Caitlan Irene Bonds, age 32, passed away Sunday, September 21, 2014. She was a resident of Jay since 1986. She graduated Jay High School and Reid State College.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Marvin and Lillian Cain and Harley and Kate Bonds; aunt, Melba Wolfe; uncle, Charles Bonds and; aunt, Nellie Bonds; uncle, Marvin Cain and several cousins.
Caitlan is survived by her son, Tucker James Bonds; sister, Jennifer (Mike) Evans; niece, Devin Evans; nephew, Daniel Evans; parents, Harrington and Mary Bonds; and Tucker’s half brothers, Trenton and Tyler; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, September 25, 2014, at Jay Funeral Home with Brother Don Neese officiating.
Burial was at at Jay City Cemetery.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
John Wesley Brisch
September 25, 2014
On September 20, 2014, John Wesley Brisch, left this earthly place and began to live in his new eternal home with the Lord Jesus.
His name was John, Dad, Daddy, Papaw and Sugar. He was a good husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather to his family as well as a good friend to all.
He was born on March 10, 1921, to Fredrich and Leola Brisch, in Wildwood, MO. Dad is survived by his wife, Eunice Spear, of 69 years whom he married on September 26, 1945. Additionally, he is survived by his children, Linda Brisch Reynolds (Aubrey), Mark Brisch, and Karen Brisch Saucier; six grandchildren, John Reynolds (Lisa), Brian Reynolds (Jennifer), Amanda Reynolds Arganbright (Bryon), Kindra Brisch Hagan, Steven Brisch, and Stephanie Saucier Hirst (Stephen); and eight great-grandchildren, Kaylee Hagan, Kyle Hagan, Dalon Reynolds, Alyssia Brisch, Olivia Brisch, Krystin Hagan, Braylen Saucier and Bronwen Hirst and numerous nephews and nieces.
Preceeded in death by his parents; siblings, Dorothy Brisch Grillos, Lee Brisch, Anna Brisch Barkley; and grandson, Jason Andrew Saucier.
In September 1944, he completed Officer Candidate School, attending schools in Memphis, Indiana, Georgia, Kentucky, and Pensacola. Dad was an Instrument Flight Instructor and trained pilots during and after WWII at Naval Air Stations at Whiting Field, Milton; Chamblee at Marietta, GA; Corpus Christi, TX; Memphis, TN and Jacksonville, FL.
In 1948.; our parents were living in St. Louis, MO., when they learned about Civil Service Instructor openings back in Pensacola. Dad entered the NARF (Naval Air Rework Facility) apprentice program, returning to work in the field of aviation, his first love, completing the program in ‘63, becoming an Aircraft Inspector. Dad was employed at NARF during the 50’s and 60’s. During that time, he served in the United States Naval Reserves as a Weekend Warrior achieving the rank of Lieutenant. In 1976, Dad retired from NARF.
In 1959, Dad remodeled the garage of our home on New Warrington Road to make into a place for Mom to run their business: the area’s first bridal shop (as it was first known), Brisch’s “House of Bride’s”. By 1972, it was necessary to relocate to Brent Lane. The Brisch’s were in business a total of 44 years until Mom retired and “Brisch’s” closed the business in May 2004.
Most important to Dad was his love for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He led his family to become Charter members of Westwood Christian Church and was honored in 2007 as Elder Emeritus by the congregation. He was a prayer warrior and served in many capacities at Westwood over the years.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Dejong, Dr. Dmytrenko, Dr. Tarnosky, the staff of Life Care Center of Pensacola and Covenant Hospice for their loving care of Dad during his lengthy illness as well as the thoughts and prayers of family and countless numbers of friends.
Active pallbearers will be John Reynolds, Brian Reynolds, Steven Brisch, Kyle Hagan, Dalon Reynolds and Stephen Hirst.
Visitation will take place Friday, September 26, 2014, at Faith Chapel North from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. with funeral services immediately following at 10 a.m. with Pastor Rick Malugani.
Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Westwood Christian Church, 1111 N. 57th Ave. Pensacola, 32506 or your favorite charity.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, FL is in charge of arrangements.
Numerous Families Homeless After Multi-Unit Apartment Fire
September 24, 2014
The American Red Cross is assisting several families after a multi-unit apartment fire that broke out late Wednesday morning at the Briarwood Condominiums on East Olive Road.
Twenty units in one building were impacted by the flames or smoke and water damage. Red Cross Disaster responders are providing canteen services from their Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) and will be working one-on-one with those affected to help meet their disaster-caused needs tonight and in the days to come.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s office. There were no injuries reported.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Of Students Gather To Pray At The Pole (With Photo Gallery)
September 24, 2014
Hundreds of students gathered to pray at their schools in across the area Wednesday morning during the annual See You at the Pole event.
Students gathered as school began to pray in the non-denominational event. See You at the Pole is a student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event. Students prayed for their school, friends, teachers, government and the nation.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top and inset: See You at the Pole Wednesday morning at Northview High School. Pictured below: Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Garbage Truck
September 24, 2014
Fire damaged a garbage truck in Walnut Hill Wednesday morning. The fire was mostly contained to the air cleaner of the commercial truck operated by Creek Waste & Recycling.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue quickly extinguished the blaze, which was reported about 8:35 a.m. on Arthur Brown Road at Kansas Road. There were no injuries.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
