In Depth: Transition Begins Between Carver/Century And Ernest Ward
April 16, 2009
The plan to move the middle school students from Carver/Century K-8 School to Ernest Ward Middle School has been put into motion. It’s a detailed 84 page document that details each aspect of the move, down to the last box.
But before the physical move starts, a plan to welcome the Carver/Century students into the Ernest Ward family will begin.
Four highly qualified Carver/Century personnel have been informed that they will be teaching at Ernest Ward next year.
A diverse group of Ernest Ward students were selected to make handmade invitations for incoming Ernest Ward students transferring from Carver/Century. The group includes students that reside in the current Carver/Century attendance zone but attend EWMS, along with students from each community from Barrineau Park Road to the Alabama state line.
Carver/Century students will accept those invitations next week. Incoming sixth grade students — this year’s current fifth graders — from Carver/Century will attend school at Ernest Ward on Tuesday. They will “shadow”a sixth grade student all day, attending their classes and activities such as lunch. It will be hands on personal orientation to middle school life at EWMS. The incoming seventh and eighth grade students will repeat the process on Wednesday and Thursday.
“It will help the transition be smoother, and will let the kids know that they are going to be my babies,” Ernest Ward Middle School Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry said Wednesday.”My babies”is the term that she always uses to refer to Ernest Ward students; she says she considers each student to be part of her family. “Everyone wanted to do the invitations; my babies were so excited that we are getting the new students.”
“This will be their special day,” Perry said of the “shadow” days next week.
The next part of the transition plan will take place on April 28 when the PTSA and School Advisory Council at Ernest Ward hosts a parents night for parents and guardians of incoming students from Carver/Century.
Then, on April 29, staff from Ernest Ward will travel to Carver/Century to personally hand-register each student one on one.
A full orientation night for the parents and guardians of all incoming Ernest Ward students will be held on May 7. Prior to that event, the teachers and staff at Ernest Ward will host a reception for the school’s new staff members that will be transferring from Carver/Century.
There is also an 84 page plan detailing the physical move of students records, furniture, computers and other property from Carver/Century to Ernest Ward.
A modular building with five classrooms, two closets, and one 24 by 36 foot restroom facility will be installed sometime in May at Ernest Ward for a total cost of $543,391.
Once school is out, the physical move of property and supplies between the two schools will begin.
Molino Park Spring Carnival Is Rescheduled
April 16, 2009
The Molino Park Elementary School Spring Carnival originally scheduled for this Saturday has been rescheduled for the third Saturday in May.
The MPES Spring Carnival will be held May 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. inside the school. The carnival will include games, prizes, vendors, BBQ, pizza and, of course, fun.
Thomas To Recommend Cutting 50 Bus Drivers, Associate Superintendent, Dozens More Jobs; 200 Teachers Could Be Next
April 15, 2009
The Escambia School superintendent is calling for the elimination of about 128 district funded positions, including an associate superintendent and 50 bus drivers to save about $3.5 million. In addition, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas says that about 200 teaching positions will likely be eliminated.
Thomas will recommend that the yearly contract positions not be renewed, including that of Associate Superintendent for Public and Interagency Affairs Ronnie Arnold. The elimination of the associate superintendent’s position will save the district $103,930.
The superintendent will recommend the district drop 50 of 366 total school bus driver jobs to save nearly $1.2 million. Dozens of other district and administrative positions ranging from clerks and secretaries to mechanics will also be dropped.
The “Department Personnel Planning Document” that Thomas will present to the school board on April 21 generally serves to non-renew the annual contracts that expire June 30 on the positions.
Overall, the superintendent tasked each district level department to target the elimination of about 9 percent of their personnel budget. Thomas said the district must find a way to cut $28 million.
Some of the positions will become vacant due to retirements or resignations. Those that remain in the eliminated positions will have the option of applying for other jobs in the school district. Those with seniority and certification will likely be able to find another position in the district, Thomas said.
Those that will be required to apply for another school district job include Associate Superintendent Arnold, the man that has become familiar to Escambia residents as the district’s spokesman.
“Odds are, he’s going to have a job next year,” Thomas said about Arnold. “We just don’t know yet what he will be doing, other than he won’t be doing what he’s doing now.”
Many others in the eliminated district positions will be able to find jobs in the district, Thomas said, because they hold teacher certifications.
“We hope to minimize the number of people put out onto the street,” he told NorthEscambia.com. “I’m not thrilled about any of them. They are not numbers on a spreadsheet. They are somebody with a family.”
Further cuts will come in the Escambia School District with the elimination of about 200 teaching positions, Thomas said. Natural attrition through events like retirement will eliminate many of those personnel. The offer of an early retirement program will also be a part of the 200 jobs. For every long-term teacher that takes an early retirement, from 1.5 to 1.75 newer teaching jobs can be saved, the superintendent said, due to salary differences based upon length of service.
Northview Releases Honor Roll
April 15, 2009
Northview High School has released its honor roll for the third nine weeks period as follows:
High Honors 4.0
9th grade
Holly Nicole Dickson
10th grade
Sarah Malinda Killam
Emily Faith Vickrey
11th grade
Kaitlyn Nicole Caraway
Clinton Eugene Davis
Mark Allen Shipps Jr.
12th grade
Gretchen Denea Boughner
Melissa Nicole Garrett
Jessica Maria Mothershed
Fredrick Lamario Smith
Honors 3.50-3.99
9th grade
Nathan Cole Commander
Josie Britt Doucette
Amber Dianne Francis
Jacob Nathaniel Gibson
Chelsea Grace Parham
Alexander Dewayne Payne
Tyler Lindsay Randolph
Timothy Lucas White
Elizabeth Ashley Wright
10th grade
Mallory Ann Bell
Allyson Michelle Bullard
Sara Lynn Conner
Ashley Elizabeth Digmon
James Tyler Garrett
Laneicia Dinette Gomez
Jocelyn Marlese Gould
David Aaron Lambert Jr.
Dabney Harrison Langhorne
Michael Todd Lowery
Dixie Lynn Picheo
Brianna Renae Roley
Christina Nicole Sepulveda
Hayley Renee Simpson
Colton Darryl Sims
Stephanie Leann Solari
Allison Ayers Vidak
Ladarion Bernard White
Katie Marie Wieborg
11th grade
Jessica Nicole Bloodsworth
Kolbi Shae Cobb
Bradley James Lowery
Amber Nicole McMillan
John Anthony Sellars
Felicia Michelle Settle
Jackson Helton Smith
Dakota Wayne Stuckey
12th grade
Richard Kyle Braun
Kayla Sue Brewer
Clarence Alfred Brown III
Olivia Kaylen Bryan
Coty James Chance
Tiffany Lynne Chance
Amy Nicole Conner
Stephanie Leigh Doucette
Lanie Jeannine Eubanks
Jamison Blayne Garrett
Melissa Nicole Garrett
Briana Renea Halteman
Stormy Brooke Hayes
Amber Renae Holland
Luke Fletcher Killam
Jody Wade Levins
Samantha Parry Merritt
Dustin Ryan Odom
Summer Denise Sanders
Amanda-Ann Morgan Sellars
Aaron Richard Sharpless
James Anthony Sharpless
Chelsea Ellen Sims
Ashley Arlene Snow
Amie Jolynn Sutton
Garbell Sharda Wesley
Kayla Dlaine Wheeler
New School Times Next Year; North Escambia Schools Changing Too?
April 11, 2009
The Escambia County School District is considering changing school start and dismissal times again this year, and once again some North Escambia schools will follow a schedule different than the rest of the county.
At the elementary level, Bratt and Molino Park will begin the school day at 7:45 and dismiss at 2:00.
At the middle school level, Ernest Ward will begin the school day at 9:05 and dismiss at 3:45. The earliest students can be dropped off at school will be 8:55. This represents a start and dismissal time 35 minutes later than the current year.
At the high school level, Northview High School will begin at 8:45 and dismiss at 3:20, a big change from this year’s 7:40 start and 2:45 dismissal.
North Escambia school times are different because of the long transport distances in the rural area and a two-tier system where middle and high school students will ride the bus together.
The North Escambia elementary schools will be following the same 7:45 a.m. to 2:00 schedule as the rest of the county’s elementary schools.
Middle Schools in the rest of Escambia County will have a 9:20 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. day, a change from their current 9:30 to 4:30 day.
Other high schools in Escambia County will be is session from 8:30 to 3:05, instead of this year’s 8:30 to 3:35 day.
The school times were changed this year, most drastically outside of North Escambia, to save money. By taking over two dozen buses off the road, the school district saved an estimated $1.2 million this year.
The new start and dismissal times recommended by a task force must now be approved by the school board before becoming final.
Flomaton High School Students Make Prom Promise
April 4, 2009
Silence fell over the gym at Flomaton High School Friday morning as Alabama State Troopers passed around photos of vehicles involved in alcohol or drug related crashes. Some of the photos involved wrecks where many of the students knew those that were involved.
It was the simple message of the Prom Promise program presented at the school — don’t drink and drive, and don’t do drugs and drive. Flomaton High juniors and seniors signed the Prom Promise after the program.
Flomaton Police Officer Terri Tolbert has attended proms for the two years she has been the school’s resource officer. For those two years, every student she has seen at the prom has made it back to school the following Monday morning. She wants to keep it that way.
WEAR Channel 3 news anchor Bob Solarski told the Flomaton students about his struggles with alcoholism. Solarski was arrested for DUI in the parking lot of University Mall in Pensacola in early October after he rammed several vehicles. The newscaster said it is hard to report on young people losing their lives in DUI accidents.
Karen Brown Rhodes of Fort Walton Beach lost her son, Jonathan Kohlheim, on March 19, 2002. The 17 year old was involved in a drunk-driving accident in Crestview.
She told the emotional story Friday morning to the students at Flomaton High School.
Kohlheim’s brother survived the crash, but he is now an alcoholic, unable to deal with what happened to his little brother, Rhodes said.
Kohlheim’s friend is in prison for his death, and he plans to visit high schools to tell of his mistakes once he is released. Rhodes said she has forgiven him because it was an accident, but, it could have been prevented had he not been drinking and driving. Rhodes passed around pictures of her son and the the mangled car.
Rev. Doug Hogg, pastor of the Little Escambia Baptist Church, prayed for the safety of the Flomaton students as they attend their prom. The church’s youth director, Buddy Goodman, was also on hand in support of the students.
The Flomaton High School Prom was held Saturday night in the school’s gym.
Joel Ellison of Ellison Construction Inc., Jason Hart of Med-South, Inc., Buddy Smith of Bud’s Refrigeration, Earnest Ray White, Attorney At Law and Larry White Insurance Agency contributed to Friday morning’s Prom Promise program at Flomaton High. Assistant Flomaton Police Chief Sean Golden and members of Flomaton Fire Rescue were also on hand for the program.
Pictured top: April Cayson and other seniors turn in their Prom Promise Friday morning at Flomaton High School. Pictured top inset: Channel 3 anchor Bob Solarski addresses the students about his alcohol problems. Pictured bottom inset: Seniors Kaitlyn Hambrick and Allison Gafford showing off their shirts that were handed out to each student who signed a Prom Promise. Submitted photos by Alisa Hart for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alisa Hart contributed to this story.
Molino Park Elementary Holds Relay For Life Wagon Parade
April 4, 2009
Molino Park Elementary School held a parade Friday to celebrate after a successful Relay for Life fund raiser.
Each grade created a wagon float with a holiday theme. They paraded around the school’s back parking lot Friday, one grade at a time, to lots of clapping and cheering.
The winning float — Krewe for a Cure — was from the fifth grade.
The students raised money for the school’s Relay for Life team by taking home donation envelopes. The Molino Park Relay for Life team will compete in the Relay for Life at Tate High School in a few weeks.
For a complete photo gallery from the Molino Park parade, click here.
Pictured above: The first grade wagon “Soar for a Cure” in Molino Park Elementary School’s annual wagon parade Friday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
New Members In Northview’s Beta Club
April 3, 2009
Northview High School has announced new members for the school’s chapter of The National Beta Club.
Tenth grade inductees are:
- Mallory Bell
- Jansen Bodiford
- Allie Bryan
- Allyson Bullard
- Caitlyn Brown
- Hillary Byrd
- Ashley Digmon
- Laneicia Gomez
- Jocelyn Gould
- Sarah Killam
- A.J. Lambert
- Dixie Picheo
- Joshua Scott
- Christina Sepulveda
- Hayley Simpson
- Colton Sims
- Stephanie Solari
- Emily Vickrey
- Allison Vidak
- Katie Wieborg
Santa Rosa Cuts 121 Support Jobs; 260 Teachers May Be Next
April 1, 2009
The pink slips have been delivered to over 100 educational support personnel in Santa Rosa County, and over 250 teaching positions could be cut next.
A total of 121 non-teaching positions are beign cut in Santa Rosa County due to a multi-million dollar budget shortfall for the district. School officials say that as many as 260 teaching positions may also be eliminated.
The teaching cuts are expected to be mostly non-tenured positions.
FFA, 4-H Members Celebrate 100 Years Of 4-H With Spring Livestock Show
April 1, 2009
FFA students and 4-H members from Escambia County celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 4-H in conjunction with the GCA and NRA Spring Livestock Show.
Despite heavy rains and flooding conditions, the show went on this past Saturday. Local 4-H and FFA members from Northview and Tate high schools showed their very best swine, goats, lambs and steers in the annual event.
Winners are listed below by category:
SWINE
- Lightweight Swine: 1st Jessica Imholte – 4-H, 2nd Forrest Gibbs – 4-H, 3rd Abbie Courson – 4 H, 4th Devin Bell – FFA
- Middleweight Swine: 1st Meagan Gibbs – FFA, 2nd John Hardin – 4-H, 3rd Jennifer Taylor – FFA
- Light Heavyweight: 1st Kellie Gindl – 4-H, 2nd Thomas Aliff – 4-H, 3rd Donald Cunningham – 4-H
- Heavyweight Swine: 1st Austin Dodd – 4-H, 2nd Brandon Lattourelle – 4-H, 3rd Josh Malonzo – FFA
- Grand Champion Market Hog – Kellie Gindl – 4-H
- Reserve Champion Market Hog – Thomas Aliff – 4 H
- Swine Jr Showmanship: 1st Brendan Bell – 4-H, 2nd John Hardin – 4-H, 3rd Tristan Livingston – 4-H
- Swine Intermediate Showmanship: 1st Forrest Gibbs Jr. – 4-H, 2nd Austin Dodd – 4-H, 3rd Donald Cunningham – 4 H
- Swine Sr. Showmanship: 1st Devin Bell – FFA, 2nd Meagan Gibbs – FFA, 3rd Thomas Conway – 4-H
YOUTH GOAT
- Class I, Breeding: Allison Vidak – FFA
- Grand Champion Doe: Allison Vidak – FFA
- Senior Showmanship: 1st place – Allison Vidak – FFA
YOUTH LAMB
- Class I Breeding Lamb winner: Miranda Vidak – 4-H
- Class II Breeding Lamb: Kellie Gindl – 4-H
- Breeding Champion: Kellie Gindl – 4-H
- Reserve Breeding Champion – Miranda Vidak – 4-H
MARKET LAMB
- Market Lamb: 1st Brooke Schlobohm – 4-H, 2nd Amber Estes – 4-H
- Market Lamb Champion: Brooke Schlobohm – 4-H
- Market Lamb Reserve Champion: Amber Estes – 4-H
- Lamb, Intermediate Showmanship: Miranda Vidak, 1st place – 4-H
- Lamb, Senior Showmanship: Kellie Gindl, 1st place – 4-H Amber Estes, 2nd place – 4-H Brooke Schlobohm , 3rd place – 4-H
MARKET STEERS
- Lightweight Steers: 1st place Julie Hester – FFA, 2nd place Amber Estes – 4-H, 3rd place Cody Wiggins – 4-H
- Middleweight Steers: 1st place Tyler Hester – FFA, 2nd place Austin Cunningham – 4-H, 3rd place Lynsey Meharg – FFA
- Heavyweight Steers: 1st place Donald Cunningham – 4-H, 2nd place Blake Worley – 4-H, 3rd place Ashley Cunningham – 4-H
- Grand Champion Market Steer: Donald Cunningham – 4-H
- Reserve Champion Market Steer: Tyler Hester – FFA
- Junior Showmanship: 1st place, Blake Worley– 4-H,
- Intermediate Showmanship: 1st place, Donald Cunningham– 4-H, 2nd place, Ashley Cunningham– 4-H, 3rd place, Austin Cunningham– 4-H
- Senior Showmanship: 1st place, Lynsey Meharg – FFA, 2nd place, Cody Wiggins– 4-H, 3rd place, Amber Estes– 4-H
YOUTH PREVIEW STEER
- Class I winner: Allison Vidak – FFA
- Class II winner: Lynsey Meharg – FFA
- Grand Champion Preview Steer: Lynsey Meharg – FFA
- Reserve Champion Preview Steer: Allison Vidak – FFA
- Senior Showmanhip: 1st place, Lynsey Meharg – FFA, 2nd Place, Allison Vidak – FFA
YOUTH BEEF BREEDING
- Class I, Commercial: 1st Ashley Cunningham– 4-H,
- Class II, Commercial: 1st Emily Higdon – FFA, 2nd Allison Vidak – FFA
- Class III, Commercial: 1st Lynsey Meharg – FFA
- Grand Champion Commercial: Emily Higdon – FFA
- Reserve Champion Commercial: Lynsey Meharg – FFA
- Class I, Registered: 1st Lynsey Meharg – FFA
- Class II, Registered: 1st Lynsey Meharg – FFA
- Grand Champion Registered: Lynsey Meharg – FFA
- Reserve Champion Registered: Lynsey Meharg – FFA
- Overall Supreme Champion: Lynsey Meharg – FFA
- Overall Reserve Champion: Emily Higdon – FFA
- Intermediate Showmanship: 1st place, Ashley Cunningham– 4-H,
- Senior Showmanship: 1st place, Lynsey Meharg – FFA
Pictured top: The participants in this past weekend’s GCA and NRA Spring Livestock Show. Pictured below: Thomas Aliff (left), 13, won second place Reserve Grand Champion and John Wesly Hardin, 8, won second in his class and second in showmanship. Pictured bottom: Julie Hester (left), Ernest Ward Middle School FFA member, won first place in the lightweight steer category. Tyler Hester, Northview High FFA member, won first place in the middle weight steer category and was the Reserve Grand Champion. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
