Carver/Century Leadership Questioned; Principal Reacts
May 16, 2008
He’s given away hundreds of dollars in cash as an FCAT incentive to Carver/Century students. He’s literally burned a wooden “F” in a symbolic gesture. He’s walked in a prayer walk in a pouring rain, and, almost in tears, turned Carver/Century K-8 school over to God. He’s given up retirement to serve as principal for Century’s only school. All in an effort to improve what is, to be practical, about the worst school in the county.
But Carver/Century Principal Jeff Garthwaite said he would give it all up if he knew it would improve the school.
“If my leadership is a detriment to Carver/Century, I will be out of there tomorrow.” Garthwaite told NorthEscambia.com in an exclusive interview Thursday afternoon following an Escambia County School Board workshop that saw Superintendent Jim Paul call for Carver/Century’s closure. And it saw some question the school’s leadership.
“But I would love to have another year; we can make progress,” he said. “It’s very disheartening with all the things that are being said about the school.”
“Are we really a failing school?” he asked. “That’s a tough question.”
Garthwaite said that due to the low attendance numbers and the high number of ESE (Exceptional Student Education) students, the school’s average test scores are quickly brought down, painting an inadequate picture of what is really happening at Carver/Century.
At the school board workshop, the leadership of the “F” rated school was questioned several times.
“Who measures how the administration of the school is doing,” Century resident Jack Moran asked the school board, adding that the FCAT grades the students but there does not seem to be any system for grading a school’s administration.
“We have not exhausted all possibilities to change that school,” school board member Claudia Brown-Curry said. “Sometimes you have to change leadership.”
“I just don’t know. It’s really disheartening,” Garthwaite said.
Pictured above: Carver/Century Principal Jeff Garthwaite (right, yellow shirt), Century Mayor Freddie McCall (foreground left) and Council Member Sharon Scott (foreground right) listen to the Escambia County School Board Thursday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Paul Calls For Closure of Carver/Century K-8 School
May 16, 2008
Escambia School Superintendent Jim Paul recommended the closure of Carver/Century K-8 School at a Thursday school board workshop, a workshop attended by many supporters of the school.
Paul’s plan says that closing Carver/Century would save the district $680,439 in the first year and send 205 students to Bratt Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle and possibly Molino Park Elementary. The closure could be approved by the board as early as July, and could take effect for the 2008-2009 school year that begins in August.
“You cannot have a community that does not have a school,” New Life Baptist Church Pastor Irvin Stallworth (pictured left) told the board. “I am asking that you take this opportunity to look at the total picture.”
“The town of Century has been through a lot,” he added.
“We are ready to take a stand, and we are ready to stand up for our school,” Brenda Spencer said.
“Century does not ask a lot,” she said. “Is it logical to close our little school…have you considered the physiological effects this will have on our children?”
One board member, Claudia Brown-Curry (pictured left), repeatedly spoke out against the closure.
“When you are talking about closure, you have got to look at more than money,” Brown-Curry said.
She then asked numerous questions of Paul.
“Have you given up on the school,” she asked the superintendent.
“No m’am, I have not given up” he responded. “It has been frustrating for me.” He said that perhaps he had tried harder to improve Carver/Century during his tenure as superintendent than any other school in the district.
“They didn’t qualify for an assistant principal; I sent one up there anyway. They had a curriculum coordinator up there anyway,” Paul said. “I personally don’t know what else I can do in regards with that school.”
Brown-Curry questioned whether Carver/Century’s attendance zone could be redrawn, and if another North Escambia school could be closed. Paul said that would not be a possibility, because if the district forced for students to attend Carver/Century, those students would simply transfer back to their original school. Since Carver/Center is a state rated “F” school that does not make adequate yearly progress, students would be allowed under state law to request a district funded transfer to another higher performing school.
“We have not exhausted all possibilities to change that school,” Brown-Curry said. “Sometimes you have to change leadership.”
“You have got to look at the community. You are taking the life out of the community,” she said. She even suggested that perhaps the district had not done all it could do to improve Carver/Century.
But board member Patty Hightower said the district and many, many volunteers had attempted to improve the school over the past few decades. She said that her church, Trinity Presbyterian in Pensacola, had partnered with the school, providing volunteers and mentors, for the past 27 years.
“What has changed in those 27 years? Not much,” Hightower said. “We’ve tried different leaders…you cannot fault the Carver/Century faculty at all. I don’t know what the right answer is.”
She said perhaps improvement would come “If we put them in a place where there are more opportunities, in a larger school…That is what I am leaning toward.”
“We can work hard, but we’ve got to work smarter,” Brown-Curry said. “Just to give up on some children…I just can’t buy that.”
“The reality is we have too many schools,” board member Jeff Bergosh (pictured left) said. Bergosh has openly called for Carver/Century’s closure. “We have to make tough decisions in the face of this budget crunch.”
“When you throw dollars at a school over and over,” he said, “it does not guarantee success.
“We’ve got to motivate them,” District 5 board member Pete Gindl said. He suggested that perhaps taking the failing students from Carver/Century and putting them with higher performing students at another school would serve as that motivation. “But there’s nothing wrong with those children.”
Board member Gerald Boone, who sat quietly during most of the Carver/Century discussion, said that perhaps the closure could be delayed for a year to fully look at other options.
“But little by little, the hurt goes away,” Boone said. “That will happen in the event Carver/Century goes away.”
“It is not about the people that live in that town,” Bergosh said. “It is about that school.”
He said nearby Bratt Elementary is consistently an “A” rated school, while Carver/Century is consistently a failing school.
“Bratt is 10 to 14 miles away, but it is a world away in performance,” Bergosh said. “If you look at a student going from an ‘F’ school to an ‘A’ school, I don’t see that as a negative.”
Pictured top of page: Century Mayor Freddie McCall addresses the Escambia County School Board, asking that they save Carver/Century K-8 School. Pictured below: Many Century residents were among those in attendance at Thursday’s school board workshop. NorthEscambia.com photos.
Northview Holds Performing Arts Concert
May 16, 2008
Northview High School Performing Arts presented a “Farewell Concert” Thursday night. It featured both guitar and chorus students.
The show included some folk, some jazz, some blues, some country and lot of 90’s rock, under the direction of Scott Slay.
It was called a “Farewell Concert,” Slay said, as a farewell to the seniors and to school for the summer.
Click here for a photo gallery from the concert.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woodward Named PE Association Principal Of The Year
May 15, 2008
Molino Park Elementary School principal Alice Woodward was honored as the “Principal of the Year” last night by the Escambia Physical Education Association.
Woodward received her award at the EPEA’s 13th annual awards banquet last night at the University of West Florida. The event was held to show appreciation to all physical education teachers, worksite wellness coordinators, school nurses and other school personnel in Escambia county for their efforts in promoting physically active and healthy lifestyles during the 2007-2008 school year.
Northview NJROTC Students Take To The Seas
May 14, 2008
Northview High School’s NJROTC recently left the classroom and took to the waters around Pensacola on the USCGC Bonito.
Twenty four cadets were underway for two hours observing the operations of the 87′ Coast Guard coastal patrol boat from Pensacola NAS. They spent time on the bridge, in the engine room, in the ship’s galley and on deck.
The NHS students manned the helm and handled lines upon returning to port. They also participated in a simulated man overboard situation.
The Officer in Charge of the Bonito is BMCM Przybylski, and it has a crew of 10. The USCGC Bonito is capable of a number of missions, but its primary role on the Gulf Coast is search and rescue, combating smuggling and illegal immigration.
For a complete photo gallery, click here.
Pictured above: Northview NJRTOC students on the USCGC Bonito. Pictured below, kneeling (L-R): Deniece Jordan; Ashia Brown; Anna Baker; Thomas Walston; Tyler Garrrett; Dan Jordan; Zach Byers; Colton Kawamuara. Standing: Zach Lamb; John Waters; Willie Davis; Katie Mann; Josh Chavers; Aaron Hammond; Monica Mclain; Ryan Busbee; Charles Rolin; Will Conway; Tyler Hunter; Brantley Gardner; Jessica Bloodsworth; Miranda Scott; Clint Davis. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
EWMS and NHS Bands Hold Their Annual Spring Concert
May 13, 2008
Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High school bands held their annual Spring Concert Monday night at Northview.
The concert included performances by both the beginning and advanced band students from Ernest Ward. Musical arrangements included When the Saints Go Marching In, Monmouth Overture and Go Big Blue, the EWMS Fight Song.
The Northview High School third period chorus group entertained the audience in the NHS theater with their rendition of The Music of the Night by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Colors of the Wind.
The Northview High School Color Guard for 2007-2008 performed to Crazy In Love. The new Color Guard for 2008-2009 gave the audience a glimpse of what they have to look forward to when they take to the field in the fall with a performance that included songs from The Lord of the Rings; Jump, Jive and Wail and China Grove. The NHS Majorettes had fun performing to the Meet the Flintstones theme song.
Also performing Monday night was the Percussion Ensemble with The Elmhurst Quintet; the Clarinet Ensemble to the music of Mozart’s Allegro and the Brass Ensemble playing Three Renaissance Dances by Susato.
The Northview High School “Tribal Beat” Band closed the evening with Devonshire Overture under the direction of Charles Tucker with Assistant Director Joe Wright.
Pictured above: Band Director Charles Tucker leads the Ernest Ward Middle School Beginning Band to start Monday night’s annual band concerts at Northview High School. Pictured below: Tucker takes a bow. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Attend Molino Park Carnival Saturday
May 11, 2008
Hundreds attended Molino Park Elementary School’s carnival Saturday.
Students, and many adults, enjoyed games like Plenko, skeeball, go fish, needle in the haystack and much more. There was also a cake walk, plant walk, stuffed animal walk, bingo and edible sugar sand art. Small baby bottles filled with drink were an especially popular item with the kids.
There was also plenty of food, music and basket auctions.
For a complete photo gallery, click here.
The Tribal Beat Band Holds First Ever Band Banquet
May 11, 2008
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Marching Band held its first ever NHS Band Banquet Saturday night with an emphasis on fun.
“I want to thank the students,” said Band Director Charles Tucker. “You’ve worked so very hard this year.”
“I’ve had a really good time, and I thank everybody for what you have done,” Drum Major Jeremy Halteman said.
The band’s first annual award, the Right Shoe Award, was presented to Tabitha Steege (pictured top of page). Numerous other awards and gifts were presented to students, parents, volunteers and band boosters during the banquet at the Walnut Hill Community Center.
The biggest highlight of the night for the band members were the “fun” awards. The students voted the following award winners:
- The Most Talented: Mallorie Okahashi; Jake Carlson; Jeremy Halteman
- The Cutest: Colton Sims; Caitlyn Brown
- The Shyest: Sarah Schachle; Haley Coleman; Seth Turner
- The Friendliest: Lanie Eubanks; Melissa Moretz
- Needs To Shave the Most: Marvin Lucas
- The Funniest: Briana Halteman; Lanie Eubanks; D. J. Robinson
- Most Like A Cartoon Character: Wayne Marshall; Devon Dries
- Most Likely To Have Musical Career: Jeremy Halteman, Briana Halteman
- Most Likely Not To Show Up: Brittany Peebles; Desere Bookout
- Doesn’t Know Left From Right When Marching: Devon Dries; Casey Townson; Tabitha Steege; Miranda Burkett
- Mocks Mr. Tucker The Most: Justin Purvis
- Best Baton Twirler: Caitlyn Brown
- Best Flag Twirler: Parish Kelley; Patricia Boughner
- Biggest Flirt: Marvin Lucas; Allison Spence
- Spit Valve Fills Quickest: Jeremy Halteman; Jake Carlson
- Most Likely To Break Their Instrument: Jake Carlson; Dixie Picheo
- Most Improved: Matthew Mencel; Devon Dries
- Best At Marching: Jeremy Halteman, Briana Halteman
- Most Photogenic: Dixie Picheo; Caitlyn Brown
- Looks Best With FSU Hair: Kolbi Cobb; D. J. Robinson
- Most Spirit: Lanie Eubanks; D. J. Robinson; Jeremy Halteman
- Most Fashionable: Wayne Marshall; Kolbi Cobb
- Most Unique Style: Parish Kelley; Mallorie Okahashi
- Ate The Most Animal Crackers: Alyssa MacKendree
- Mr. Wright’s Favorite: Dixie Picheo; Elizabeth Wright
- Most Dependable: Lanie Eubanks; Jeremy Halteman
- Best Attitude: Briana Halteman; Lanie Eubanks; Olivia Nolen
- Forgot Black Socks Most: Casey Townson; Devon Dries
- Mr. Tucker’s Favorite: Colton Sims; Jeremy Halteman
- Best All Around: Briana Halteman; Lanie Eubanks
- Senior That Will Be Missed The Most: Jeremy Halteman; Marvin Lucas
- 8th Grader Most Likely to Succeed in High School: Elizabeth Wright
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured below: The “Looks Best With FSU Hair” student awards went to Kolbi Cobb and D.J. Robinson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview High Holds 13th Annual FFA Banquet
May 10, 2008
It was an emotional night Friday at the 13th Annual Northview High School FFA Banquet.
For the FFA teacher sponsor and the FFA president, the night was a perhaps a little more emotional and special.
“She’s been going to these (FFA) banquets for 18 years,” Northview FFA sponsor Perry Byars said of this year’s FFA President Andrea Byars (pictured left), his daughter. Andrea, a graduating senior, spent four years in Northview’s FFA under her father’s leadership.
The annual banquet includes a somber ceremony for graduating seniors…they slowly remove their signature blue FFA jackets and hang them up for the last time on a coat rack.
One at a time, the three graduating FFA seniors participated in the ceremony. Secretary Travis Vickery, Vice President Jacob Shiver and finally President Andrea Byers removed their jackets one by one, placing them on the coat rack. After hanging up her FFA jacket the last time, Andrea walked over and hugged her father.
Perry Byars then stood aside as Andrea took the podium.
“Mr. Byars, or as I call him ‘daddy’,” she said fighting back tears, “I want to thank you for the best four years of my life.” Sniffles and quiet sobs could be heard throughout the Northview theater.
She then presented Perry Byars and the “FFA Mom” Kay Byars with tokens of the FFA Club’s appreciation. Kay Byars is Andrea’s mom.
The night also included many awards for Northview and Ernest Ward Middle school FFA members and supporters.
Among those honored during the night were community members Libbie Johnson, Jamie Hall and James Riggs for their support of the FFA program. The three were named honorary members of the NHS FFA. Abbie Rolph and Jack Livingston were also honored as adult supporters of the FFA.
The coveted NHS FFA High Points Award went to Andrea Byars. The Blue and Gold Awards went to Sandie Sanders and Jennifer Lowe.
The new NHS FFA officers named for the 2008-2009 school year were: Micah Byars, president; Allie Vidak, vice president; Desere Bookout, second vice president; Aimee Clark, secretary; Jennifer Lowe, treasurer; Wes Chancery, parliamentarian; Lydia Weaver, reporter; Brittany Thompson, historian; Stephanie Solari, sentinel and Candice Greenwell, chaplain.
Dozens of the over 120 students in Northview’s FFA received various awards during the night.
The night also included honors and awards for Ernest Ward Middle School’s 87 FFA members presented by chapter sponsor Cynthia Wilson. Lydia Weaver and Bessie Hollingsworth were presented with EWMS FFA Leadership Awards.
For a photo gallery from the Northview FFA Banquet, click here.
Pictured above: FFA President Andrea Byars and her father, FFA sponsor Perry Byars, share a tearful hug. Picture below: Just one of the many awards presented during the 13th Annual Northview High School FFA Banquet Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FCAT Writing Scores Are Out: Bratt, Ernest Ward & Northview Among Best; Carver/Century At Bottom
May 9, 2008
Three North Escambia schools were near the top in the county in FCAT Writing+ scores released Thursday, while one area school had the lowest scores in the county.
Bratt Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High had some of the county’s top FCAT Writing+ scores in results released Thursday. Carver/Century K-8 School students scored the lowest scores in the county at both the elementary and middle school levels.
On the Writing+ FCAT exam, a score of 3.5 is considered to be at grade level.
The percent of students scoring a 3.5 or greater on the fourth grade FCAT at Bratt Elementary was 85 percent. That was higher than the score at 35 of the county’s other elementary schools. Only three other schools scored higher, with two of those coming in at 86 percent.
Bratt Elementary Principal Sheryl Pomeroy told NorthEscambia.com that the students and teachers were both to be commended for their hard work to prepare for the FCAT.
The fourth graders at Carver/Center were at the opposite end of the scale, with only 20 percent of them scoring 3.5 or higher on the FCAT Writing+ exam. That was the lowest score in the county, with 39 other schools scoring better.
“Statistically, it is not a valid report, ” Carver/Century Principal Jeff Garthwaite told NorthEscambia.com. As an example, he indicated that about one third of 15 students in the school’s fourth graders taking the test are special education students who are likely to make low scores, bringing down the school’s average. “One or two will sway the average a lot,” he added.
“But on the surface, I am very disappointed,” he said. “But there are some students I know came up, and I am proud of them.”
At Molino Park Elementary, 75 percent of fourth graders made a 3.5 or greater on the Writing+ test. At the charter Byrneville Elementary School, 71 percent of fourth graders scored 3.5 or more.
Of 89 students taking the eighth grade Writing+ FCAT at Ernest Ward, 91 percent scored 3.5 or higher, the third best in Escambia County.
Northview High had 86 percent of their tenth graders taking the Writing+ FCAT to score a 3.5 or more. Only students at West Florida and Tate did better, with Tate coming in with 87 percent at grade level.
Parents of fourth, eighth and tenth graders will receive a letter with information on how to access their student’s FCAT score online. Scores are due to be available online for individual students by Monday.
Click a school name below for more information on how that school scored on the FCAT Writing test.
- Bratt Elementary
- Byrneville Elementary
- Carver/Century K-8 School
- Ernest Ward Middle School
- Northview High School
- Molino Park Elementary School
Pictured above: A sign outside Bratt Elementary proclaims that Bratt Elementary is “Making a Positive Difference”. NorthEscambia.com photo.