Escambia Students To Take 60 Fewer Tests This Year
September 16, 2015
Escambia County students will face over 60 fewer tests and assessments this school years under an assessment calendar approved by the Escambia County School Board.
“Tests cannot go away completely. They serve an important purpose by allowing teachers to track and understand what students have learned and what they still need to learn”, said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. All of the tests administered last year were reviewed and categorized as “Required” or “Optional,” and then examined to determine which could be eliminated.
The calendar presented to the school board includes a range of dates for schools to administer over 30 exams that are required by the state. These tests and exams include the Florida Standards Assessments (FSAs) for reading, math and writing in various grades and the FCAT exam for science for fifth and eighth grade students. It also includes the seventh grade civics exam required by the state for all seventh graders in Florida. The district also chose to continue some English/language arts and Math Discovery Education assessments for students in kindergarten through third grade.
We are also keeping some quarterly exams but they have been designated as “Optional.” Those exams cover quarterly assessments for fifth grade science and seventh grade civics, as well as two Discovery Education exams for third grade Math, added Thomas.
Students will have other tests, as they have always had, but they will be selected or created by their teachers.
“Mini-assessments that can be given at the end of a lesson or a chapter allow teachers to find out which facts, operations, or concepts need to be retaught and to know that information quickly, which allows them to use the results for lesson planning,” Thomas said. “The difference is those exams can be scheduled by the teacher and given in class. Schools do not have to completely reorganize their schedule for a quiz or a chapter test.”
The testing calendar has windows with ranges of dates assigned, which does not mean the test will be given every day in that window. Generally the test will be given in the first couple of days in the window with other days scheduled for make-up exams. Having windows of time allows for flexibility in scheduling, especially when the tests are computer based or if the weather causes a disruption in the school schedule.
The calendar also includes the registration deadlines and test dates for the ACT and SAT exams.
“All high school students are encouraged to take the ACT or SAT early so there will be time to take them again should the student wish to try to increase their score,” Thomas encouraged. “If students or their parents have any questions about these exams and their importance, they should schedule an appointment with their guidance counselors.”
The calendar can be downloaded from http://ese.escambia.k12.fl.us/eval/WebDocs/Testing_Calendar_(General).pdf.
Warmer With Slight Chance Of Rain Today
September 16, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Light northeast wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 5 to 15 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
FDOT State Line Landscaping Project Begins On Highway 97
September 16, 2015
Work is underway on a gateway landscaping project on Highway 97 at the Alabama/Florida state line. The $163,900 project includes state line landscaping on both Highway 97 and on Highway 90 by contractor Pine Grove Nursery and Landscaping. The landscaping is funded by the Florida Department of Transportation.
Pictured: A landscaping project got underway Tuesday morning at the Alabama/Florida state line on Highway 97. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sex Offender Gets 20 Years For Child Porn
September 16, 2015
A registered sex offender from Escambia County has been sentenced to federal prison.
Shawn P. Caldwell, 36, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for receipt of child pornography.
During an undercover operation, law enforcement officers discovered Caldwell was in possession of 76 child pornography files at his Pensacola residence. At his plea hearing on June 24, 2015, Caldwell admitted that, between April 2011 and April 2015, he received child pornography images and videos from the internet, which he downloaded from several peer-to-peer programs. A forensic review of Caldwell’s electronic devices revealed approximately 263 videos and more than 1,000 images of child pornography, including images of children under the age of 12.
The charges were the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pensacola Police Department.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
September 16, 2015
Ernest Ward Middle School has named students of the month for August. They are (L-R) Anna Adams, sixth grade; David Lamb, seventh grade; and Keaton Solmonson. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barry Holds Walnut Hill Town Hall Meeting
September 16, 2015
Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry held what was to be an open forum town hall meeting Tuesday evening in Walnut Hill.
But due to an error by the county, the public was not notified about the town hall until just a few hours before it started, As a result, attendance was limited to just a handful of people.
Those attendees were able to have face-to-face time with Barry, County Administrator Jack Brown and other top county staffers.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Goes Gold For Childhood Cancer Awareness
September 16, 2015
Flomaton Elementary School went gold Tuesday for childhood cancer awareness. The students released 400 yellow balloons from the high school’s football stadium.
The faculty, staff and school administration, along with the Flomaton fire and police departments, have also gone gold for Bryant Cooper and all of the many other children and adolescents that are fighting cancer.
For an earlier NorthEscambia.com story and more information about Bryant Cooper and childhood cancer awareness, click here.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bill Would Shift Burden Of Proof In ‘Stand Your Ground’ Cases
September 16, 2015
A key supporter of Florida’s controversial “stand your ground” law filed a bill Tuesday that would shift a burden of proof to the state in cases in which people argue they used force in self-defense.
The bill (HB 169), filed by Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, came about two months after the Florida Supreme Court ruled that people who use “stand your ground” defenses have the burden of showing they should be shielded from prosecution. In such cases, pre-trial evidentiary hearings are held to determine whether defendants are immune from prosecution under the law.
But Baxley’s bill, which will be considered during the 2016 legislative session, would place the burden of proof on prosecutors in the evidentiary hearings.
The bill said it is “intended to correct misinterpretations of legislative intent made by the courts” and would apply retroactively to pending cases. “The Legislature finds that imposing the burden of proof on a person who uses or threatens to use defensive force as permitted by general law at a pretrial evidentiary hearing substantially curtails the benefit of the immunity from trial provided by this section (of law),” the bill says. “The Legislature intends to make it explicit that the state shall bear the burden of proof in establishing beyond a reasonable doubt whether a defendant is entitled to immunity at a pretrial evidentiary hearing in order to disprove a prima facie claim of self-defense immunity. The Legislature has never intended that a person who acts in defense of self, others, or property be denied immunity and subjected to trial when that person would be entitled to acquittal at trial.”
by The News Service of Florida
Central Tops Northview; Washington Over Tate
September 16, 2015
Central defeated Northview 3-0 in varsity action Tuesday at Central, 25-8, 25-22, 25-19. Junior varsity results were not available. Northview will host Laurel Hill High School on Thursday. For more photos, click here.
Washington High School defeated Tate 3,0 Tuesday at Tate, 25-23, 25-23, 25-17. Tate will travel to West Florida School on Wednesday.
Pictured: Northview at Central. NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
Chad Harvey Phillips
September 16, 2015
Mr. Chad Harvey Phillips, age 39, passed away September 14, 2015, from an apparent massive heart attack.
Chad, a native of Atmore, worked for Southland Instrument Services for several years. He was an outstanding athlete and alumni of the Class of 1995 at Escambia Academy. An avid fisherman, Chad loved sports of all kinds, especially Alabama football. Always with a smile on his face, Chad was full of life and a joy to be around. He always had a story to tell, and kept his family and friends entertained with his wit and that unforgettable smile. He enjoyed every day as if it were to be his last.
Chad was preceded in death by his father, Willian Harvey (Bill) Phillips; grandparents, Harvey L. and Mildred Phillips, and Odell Donaldson.
Chad is survived by the love of his life, Rebecca (Becky) Harper; mother, Peggy D. Phillips; two brothers, Sheldon (Casey) Phillips and Brandon (Marsha) Phillips; one sister, Chaselyn K. Phillips; grandmother, Joan S. Donaldson; mother-in-law, Mary Ann (Anthony) Black; father-in-law, Rod (Mary) Harper; brothers-in-law, Rocky (Kim) Harper, Matt (Jordan) Barnett, Kevin Barnett, Ben (Courtney) Black; sister-in-law, Celeste (Dennis) McCall; nephews, Brodie and Brayden Phillips, Garrett Harper, Landon and Luke Barnett; nieces, Zoie Phillips, Kendall Harper, Rachel and Emmalyn Black and Grayson McCall; along with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 17, 2015, at 3:30 pm from Johnson Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Phillip Chance and Rev. Diane Everette officiating.
Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Johnson Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.