Northview Splits Road Games With Central
June 18, 2015
Summer ball continued Wednesday for the Northview Chiefs as they split wins on the road with Central. Photo by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FCAT Science, EOC Exam Scores Released
June 18, 2015
The Florida Department of Education has released results for FCAT science for grades five and eight and end-of-course exams in biology, U.S. history and civics.
Results for Escambia County Schools are below, ranked by the highest scores. The listed number represents the percentage of students at the school which scored a proficient level three or above.
Spring 2015 FCAT Grade 5 Science
- Pensacola Beach Charter School — 92
- A. K. Suter Elementary School — 82
- Molino Park Elementary — 81
- N. B. Cook Elementary School — 81
- Cordova Park Elementary School — 80
- Blue Angels Elementary School — 72
- Hellen Caro Elementary School — 68
- Jim Allen Elementary School — 68
- Scenic Heights Elementary School — 65
- Beulah Elementary School — 65
- R. C. Lipscomb Elementary School — 63
- Ferry Pass Elementary School — 61
- Pine Meadow Elementary School — 59
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School — 59
- Bellview Elementary School — 58
- Global Learning Academy — 58
- Bratt Elementary School — 57
- L. D. Mcarthur Elementary School — 57
- West Pensacola Elementary School — 54
- Longleaf Elementary School — 54
- Byrneville Elementary School Inc. — 48
- Warrington Elementary School — 45
- Myrtle Grove Elementary School — 44
- Sherwood Elementary School — 43
- Holm Elementary School — 43
- Brentwood Elementary School — 42
- Navy Point Elementary School — 39
- Oakcrest Elementary School — 35
- Ensley Elementary School — 32
- Montclair Elementary School — 30
- Five Flags Academy — 29
- O. J. Semmes Elementary School — 24
- C. A. Weis Elementary School — 23
- Jackie Harris Preparatory Academy — 13
Spring 2015 FCAT Grade 8 Science
- Brown Barge Middle School – 71
- Ernest Ward Middle School – 63
- Ransom Middle School – 57
- Jim C. Bailey Middle School – 51
- Ferry Pass Middle School – 43
- Workman Middle School – 43
- Beulah Academy of Science – 42
- Bellview Middle School – 37
- Newpoint Academy – 31
- Escambia Virtual Academy Franchise – 30
- Woodham Middle School – 28
- Warrington Middle School – 27
- Camelot Academy of Escambia County – 12
Spring 2015 U.S. History EOC
- West Florida High School –82
- Tate High School — 74
- Northview High School — 73
- Escambia High School — 63
- Washington High School — 55
- Pine Forest High School — 53
- Pensacola High School — 39
Spring 2015 Biology EOC
- West Florida High School — 76
- Tate High School — 63
- Washington High School — 61
- Pensacola High School — 54
- Escambia High School — 50
- Pine Forest High School — 50
- Northview High School — 43
Spring 2015 Civics EOC
- Brown Barge Middle School — 79
- Beulah Academy of Science — 76
- Ransom Middle School — 65
- Bailey Middle School — 60
- Ferry Pass Middle School — 58
- Ernest Ward Middle School — 57
- Workman Middle School — 47
- Bellview Middle School — 41
- Woodham Middle School — 37
- Warrington Middle School — 29
Financial Assistance Available For Florida Agriculture Producers — june 19
June 17, 2015
Farmers and ranchers in the Escambia River, Blackwater River and Middle Suwannee River watersheds can apply for financial assistance until June 19 to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Gulf of Mexico Initiative for fiscal year 2015. And this year the initiative has included new focus areas in those watersheds where agricultural producers can apply for assistance.
Parts of Suwannee, Madison and Lafayette counties are included in the Middle Suwannee River watershed, and five new focus areas have been added to where landowners can apply for financial assistance. Parts of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are included in the Escambia and Blackwater river watersheds, where eight new focus areas have been added to where producers can apply for assistance.
Landowners can view maps to see if their property lies within one of the designated areas. Financial assistance is available through Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
New Middle School In Beulah; New Elementary For Cantonment, West Florida High To Move
June 17, 2015
The Escambia County School Board voted Tuesday evening to purchase 32 acres of land for a new middle school in Beulah, part of a plan that includes the construction of a new elementary school next to Ransom Middle School in Cantonment.
The Nine Mile Road land will cost just under $2 million for property in the 6000 block of West Nine Mile Road, at the current Coastal Airport. Plans call for the construction of a middle school for $45 to $48 million that will have a capacity of 1,100 to 1300 students. Students will be relocated to the new school from Woodham Midde, while hundreds will be rezoned from the overcrowded Ransom Middle.
A new $25 million, 800 student elementary school will be constructed adjacent to Ransom Middle School on property already owned by the district. It will help alleviate overcrowding at Beulah and Pine Meadow elementary schools. The Ransom property currently being used by Tate High School for agriculture and by the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center will not be affected.
Both schools will be funded with Local Option Sales Tax dollars and should be ready for classed by the 2018-2019 school year.
The current Woodham Middle facility will be renovated for $3 to $5 million to house West Florida High School, providing the school with improved athletic facilities including a stadium and field house. Brown Barge Middle School and PATS Center students will be relocated to the current West Florida High campus adjacent to Pine Forest High School.
The schools are planned in response to population growth in area, much of it spurred by Navy Federal Credit Union.
Escambia Man Sentenced For Aggravated Assault With Firearm
June 17, 2015
Gajuan Keangelo Turner was sentenced by Circuit Judge Terry Terrell to 20 years in state prison for aggravated assault with a firearm that was discharged and 33 months state prison for two counts of shooting into a building, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
The sentence for aggravated assault with a firearm that was discharged during the offense, was imposed under Florida’s 10-20-Life Statute, which means the Turner will serve the entire 20 years day for day with no parole. Turner had previously pled no contest to the offenses on April 21.
The charges stemmed from a shooting that occurred on March 31, 2014, at Oakwood Terrace Apartments, formerly known as Truman Arms Apartments. Turner and two other men confronted a male resident that they believed had a romantic involvement with the girlfriend of one of the other men who was with Turner. Turner and one of the men were armed with concealed handguns.
When one of the shooters grabbed for his gun, the victim turned and ran to an upstairs apartment. Turner and the other shooter fired multiple shots at the male victim as he ran upstairs to his apartment. The bullets struck the windows of the downstairs and upstairs apartments and entered the apartments, where there were other adult victims and children present. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office found 9mm and .380 shell casings at the scene. Their investigation led to the arrest of the defendant and the other two men.
One of the other men involved, Quamain Williams, who was unarmed during the offenses, was previously found guilty by an Escambia County Jury of principal to aggravated assault and two counts of principal to shooting into a building. Circuit Judge Terry Terrell sentenced him to five years in state prison for aiding and abetting the other men who actually did the shooting.
New Administrators Named For Several Escambia Schools
June 17, 2015
A dozen new school administrators were appointed Tuesday evening by the Escambia County School Board, including new principals for West Florida and Pine Forest high schools and new assistant principals for Bratt and Molino Park elementary schools.
Appointments included:
- Jessica Canales from literacy coach Escambia High to high school assistant principal at Pensacola High
- Laura Carroll from instructional coach district itinerants elementary school assistant principal at Bratt Elementary
- Nathan Espy from teacher at Washington High to assistant high school principal at Washington High
- S. Quinn Evans from curriculum coordinator at Molino Park Elementary to Elementary School assistant principal at Molino Park Elementary
- Angela Harris from teacher in charge at Brentwood Elementary to assistant principal at Warrington Elementary
- Crystal Marr from consulting teacher at START Professional Learning to middle school assistant principal at Bailey Middle
- Melanie McElhaney from teacher at Washington High to high school assistant principal at Escambia High
- Shenna Payne from high school assistant principal at West Florida High at high school principal at West Florida High
- Janet Penrose from middle school assistant principal at Bellview Middle to middle school principal at Bailey Middle
- Dr. Kimberly Thomas from TSA Instructional Training START Professional Learning to elementary assistant principal at Suter Elementary
- Jeremy Tompkins from high school assistant principal at Washington High to Court Liaison – Superintendent – General
- Laura Touchstone from high school assistant principal at Pensacola High to high school principal at Pine Forest High
Pictured top: Quinn Evans was named the new assistant principal at Molino Park Elementary Tuesday evening by the Escambia County School Board. Pictured below: Shenna Payne was named the new principal at West Florida High School. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Budget Clock Set For 5:37 P.M. Friday Vote
June 17, 2015
After months of sparring and a nearly three-week special session, lawmakers will be able to vote early Friday evening on a $78.7 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget was sent to lawmakers and other state officials at 5:37 p.m. Tuesday, starting a 72-hour review period before the House and Senate can vote on it.
Negotiators finished working out details of the 438-page spending plan late Monday night, but it still needed to be compiled Tuesday.
A vote Friday would come one day before the scheduled end of a special session that started June 1. The budget then will go to Gov. Rick Scott, who can use his line-item veto power to delete spending proposals.
The state fiscal year starts July 1.
by The News Service of Florida
Scott Signs Tax Cuts On Cell Phone Bills, TV, Gun Clubs, School Supplies
June 17, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed into law a wide-ranging tax cut package that will reduce costs on cell-phone bills, satellite and cable TV bills, gun club memberships, college textbooks and luxury boat repairs.
The signing came a day after the measure (HB 33A) was overwhelmingly approved by the House and Senate.
For many Floridians, the biggest checkbook item may be a reduction in the communications-services tax on cell-phone and satellite and cable-TV bills. The savings are projected at $20 a year for people paying $100 a month for the services.
“Giving Floridians back more of the money they earn in tax cuts is the best thing we can do to keep Florida’s economy growing,” Scott said in a prepared statement.
The package, which also includes a 10-day tax “holiday” in August for back-to-school shoppers, is projected by state economists to cut revenue by $372.4 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The savings are expected to reach $428.9 million, as the package includes two years of tax credits for housing opportunities for people with special needs and will allow businesses within soon-to-be eliminated enterprise zones to continue receiving available tax breaks if they have already entered into contracts.
House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, a West Palm Beach Democrat who was the lone opponent of the measure in the House, said the money would do more if spent for education, health care or other needs.
“That was a vote that I really felt was bad timing,” Pafford said after the House vote Monday. “We’re in special session because we have major budget issues.”
Only two Democrats in the Senate joined Pafford in opposing the tax-cut package.
Cuts to taxes and fees, with a focus on reducing the communications-services tax, were one of Scott’s priorities for the regular legislative session.
Scott, who campaigned in 2014 on reducing taxes by $1 billion over the next two years, had asked lawmakers to reduce taxes and fees this spring by $673 million, with a request for the communication-services tax to go down by 3.6 percentage points. Under that proposal, the savings on a $100-a-month cable TV bill was projected at $40 a year.
The proposed cuts were included as part of an ad campaign run in the spring by “Let’s Get to Work,” a political committee backing Scott.
“Now, working with your legislators, we plan to cut taxes by half a billion dollars. We believe you can spend your money better than government can,” Scott said in the 30-second statewide ad titled “On the Move.”
However, the House, before abruptly ending its regular session, was unable to get the Senate to approve a $690 million tax-cut proposal that included the larger cut to cell-phone and cable-TV bills.
With lawmakers having to look for money to meet increased health care costs, the overall tax cuts were reduced during the special legislative session, which started June 1 and is expected to end Friday.
Through the changes, the permanent reduction in the communications-services tax was set at 1.73 percentage points.
The package provides tax exemptions on certain agricultural uses, large boat repairs, gun-club memberships, school extracurricular fundraisers, aviation fuel for certain flight-training academies, and on motor vehicles purchased overseas by internationally deployed service members from Florida.
There are tax credits for businesses involved in Brownfields cleanup and a one-year extension of the Community Contribution Tax Credit Program, setting aside $19 million for projects that offer housing opportunities for special-needs individuals and low-income households.
The measure also will eliminate sales taxes on college textbooks for a year and establish a 10-day sales-tax holiday starting Aug. 7 on clothing under $100, school supplies that cost $15 or less and the first $750 of personal computers purchased for non-commercial use.
by Jim Turmer, The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Softball State Champion Tate Lady Aggies Honored By School Board
June 17, 2015
The 2015 Class 7A state softball champion Tate Lady Aggies were honored Tuesday evening by the Escambia County School Board. To read the entire proclamation, click the proclamation image below to enlarge. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Signs Human Trafficking Law, Vetoes Three Bills
June 17, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott vetoed three bills Tuesday, while signing 17 others into law.
Among the new laws is part of a continuing effort to crack down on human trafficking (HB 369). Starting next year, human-trafficking awareness signs will have to be posted in hospital emergency rooms, strip clubs and other adult entertainment establishments and massage businesses not owned by health-care professionals. The Department of Transportation will also have to put up the signs at rest areas, turnpike service plazas, weigh stations, rail stations, airports and welcome centers.
Among the measures vetoed by Scott was a proposal (HB 105) that dealt with the taxing authority of municipal service taxing units to help fund pensions for firefighters. In his veto letter, Scott contended the proposal would create “a costly precedent where unincorporated areas of the county could be allowed to levy new taxes that the law does not currently authorize.” Rep. John Tobia, R-Melbourne Beach, was the only lawmaker who voted against the bill.
Another vetoed bill (HB 435) offered a number of changes to the state’s Administrative Procedures Act, including a new way to challenge state agency rules. Scott expressed concern in a veto letter that the changes could hinder an agency’s ability to make and enforce rules. Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and Sen. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, were the only lawmakers who opposed the measure during this spring’s regular session.
The third vetoed bill (HB 997) was unanimously approved by the House and Senate and would have created a public-records exemption. However, as Scott noted in his veto letter, the proposal was tied to a separate measure (HB 995) involving the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. That bill died in a Senate committee.