Escambia School District Approves New School Year Calendar
July 31, 2020
With the delay of the first day of school to August 24, the Escambia County School Board has approved a new calendar for the 2020-2021 school year.
The highlights are below, or click here for a printable pdf.
First Semester/First Nine-Week Grading Period
- August 17 – First day for teachers.
- August 21 – First day for Education Support staff members.
- August 24 – First day for students.
- September 7, Labor Day Holiday– All schools and offices will be closed.
October 27 – Last day of the first nine-week grading period.
- Second Nine-week Grading Period
- November 11, Veteran’s Day Holiday– All schools and offices will be closed.
- November 23 – 25, Fall Holiday – Teachers, students, 10-month and 11-month employees do not work these days.
- November 26 & 27 – Thanksgiving Holiday – All schools and offices will be closed. All students and staff will be off.
- December 21, 2020 to January 1, 2021, Winter Break and Holidays – All schools and offices are closed.
- January 4, 2021 – First day back for school staff and teachers.
- January 5, 2021 – First day back for students.
- January 15, 2021 – Last day of the second nine-week grading period and first semester.
Second Semester/Third Nine-Week Grading Period
- January 18, 2021, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – All schools and offices will be closed.
- March 15-19 – Spring Break – All students, teachers, 10-month and 11-month employees are off. Schools will be closed. District offices will be open.
- March 26, 2021 – Last day for the third nine-week grading period.
Fourth Nine-Week Grading Period
- April 2, 2021 – Teacher Work Day/Non-student day.
- May 31, 2021, Memorial Day – All schools and offices will be closed.
- June 2, 2021 – Last day for students, last day of the fourth nine-week grading period and the second semester.
- June 4, 2021 – Last day for teachers and 10-month employees.
Fowler Avenue Closure North Of Nine Mile Extended For A Week
July 31, 2020
Due to rain and utility conflicts this week, the closure of Fowler Avenue at Nine Mile Road has been expended an additional week to Friday, August 7.
Fowler Avenue lane closure that began on Tuesday, July 21 will be extended an additional seven days from Friday, July 31 to Friday, August 7.
The roadway was first closed July 21. Traffic is being e detoured to West Nine & Half Mile Road and Cove Avenue. Detour signs and variable message boards are in place to alert drivers of the temporary road closure and detour routes.
Child Rape Suspect Arrested In Atmore
July 31, 2020
A child sex abuse suspect was arrested in Atmore Thursday.
On February 7, the Bay Minette Police Department was made aware of a sex abuse allegation by a parent of a child under 12-years of age. Through the course of their investigation officers were able to determine that 29-year-old Corneise Colins Payne of Bay Minette had forceable sex with a minor child under 12 years of age, according to Bay Minette Police.
Investigators developed sufficient probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant for the charge of rape 1st degree on July 17.
Payne was arrested on the outstanding warrant Thursday and transported to the Baldwin County Jail.
Further details on the case were not released.
Deadline Extended For Santa Rosa Parents To Choose Regular School, Virtual Or Remote Learning
July 31, 2020
The Santa Rosa County School District has extended the deadline for parents to make a student learning option selection.
Parent are able to choose from Brick & Mortar, Fulltime Virtual and Remote Learning options for their child. The deadline to make a choice is August 7.
Make a selection by clicking or tapping here. For more information or assistance, contact the child’s local school. More information on each choice is also below.
BRICK & MORTAR
- Full semester commitment.
- Student returns to zoned school or approved reassignment.
- Face-to-Face instruction.
- Enhanced Health and Safety precautions aligned with local health department and CDC guidelines.
- Face coverings will be required.
- Middle school hybrid schedule of five Brick and Mortar face-to-face courses and one off-campus virtual course through Santa Rosa Online is available. School Counselors can schedule this.
- High School hybrid schedule of at least one Brick and Mortar face-to-face course and up to five off-campus virtual courses through Santa Rosa Online are available. School Counselors can schedule this.
- We will not be able to mix Brick and Mortar face to face with Remote Learning courses, except for co-curricular courses, i.e., Band, Chorus, Drama, ROTC and Sports PE.
FULL-TIME VIRTUAL
- Full semester commitment.
- Santa Rosa Online teacher.
- Courses may include live lessons.
- Parent will be learning coach.
- Students should be self-motivated and independent learners.
- Flexible class schedule.
- Students may participate in athletics and co-curricular activities, i.e., Band, Chorus, Drama, ROTC and Sports PE, at their zoned school.
- Courses delivered through Florida Virtual School, Connections Academy, or K-12 Fuel Ed.
- ESE/Gifted, 504, and ELL support services included.
- Student will need access to computer/Internet.
REMOTE LEARNING
- Full semester commitment.
- Teacher from student’s zoned school.
- Student must attend class each day at a specific time during school hours based on student schedule.
- Modified Florida Virtual School curriculum/teacher-led instruction.
- Courses will include live lessons.
- Attendance will be taken daily.
- Regular attendance and adequate progress are required.
- Limited elective opportunities.
- Pacing and rigor matches zoned brick and mortar school.
- Parent will be learning coach.
- Student will need access to computer/Internet.
- ESE/Gifted, 504, and ELL support services included.
- These courses are not intended to be delivered at the same time as a face-to-face course, but in rare occasions this may occur.
- Middle school hybrid schedule of five Remote courses and one off-campus virtual course through Santa Rosa Online is available. School Counselors can schedule this.
- High School hybrid schedule of at least one Remote course and up to five off-campus virtual courses through Santa Rosa Online is available. School Counselors can schedule this.
- Part-time Dual Enrollment courses and schedules are available.
- Mixing Brick and Mortar face-to-face and Remote courses will be difficult but not impossible. Students will attend remote courses on the same schedule as Brick and Mortar students. In order to allow for travel time from home to school and home again while attending scheduled remote classes, the student will need to enroll in at least one off-campus Virtual course through Santa Rosa Online. This will make attendance in co-curricular classes like Band, Chorus, Drama, ROTC, and Sports PE classes possible. Parents will work with school counselors to make the necessary arrangements.
- Student may participate in athletics, clubs and activities available at zoned school.
Century Town Hall Remains Closed And Cashless After Positive Employee COVID-19 Tests
July 31, 2020
The Century town hall remains closed and is cashless for utility payments after two employees tested positive for COVID-19.
The employees, both of which worked inside the town hall, went home on quarantine after notifying the town of their positive results.
Utility payments can be made in the drop box next to the drive-up window. Only checks or money orders are accepted, no cash.
Credit card payments can be made by phone or the drive-thru window only on Wednesday, August 5 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. August 5 is currently the only date the drive- thru window will be open and the only dates credit card payments can be made by phone, but additional dates may be added as needed. No cash will be accepted at the drive-thru window.
For more information or further assistance call (850) 256-3208 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. or email kgodwin@centuryflorida.us or hhawkins@centuryflorida.us.
SEC Establishes New Conference-Only Football Start Date
July 30, 2020
The Southeastern Conference has established September 26 as the new kickoff for its 2020 football season to allow its universities to focus on the healthy return of their campus communities and the gradual re-introduction of athletics, as the 14 members of the SEC continue to monitor developments related to COVID-19, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey announced Thursday.
The 2020 SEC football season will be comprised of a 10-game Conference-only schedule and the SEC Football Championship Game will be played December 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, rescheduled from the original date of December 5. The schedule will include one mid-season open date for each school and an open date on December 12 for all schools.
“This new plan for a football schedule is consistent with the educational goals of our universities to allow for the safe and orderly return to campus of their student populations and to provide a healthy learning environment during these unique circumstances presented by the COVID-19 virus,” Sankey said. “This new schedule supports the safety measures that are being taken by each of our institutions to ensure the health of our campus communities.”
This action was taken following extensive discussions and thorough deliberation among the SEC’s Presidents and Chancellors, Athletics Directors, Conference Office staff, and medical advisors, led by the SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force.
“After careful consideration of the public health indicators in our region and following advice of our medical advisors, we have determined that this is the best course of action to prepare for a safe and healthy return to competition for SEC student-athletes, coaches and others associated with our sports programs,” said Sankey.
The decision to limit competition to Conference-only opponents and rescheduling the SEC Championship Game is based on the need for maximum flexibility in making any necessary scheduling adjustments while reacting to developments around the pandemic and continued advice from medical professionals.
“We believe these schedule adjustments offer the best opportunity to complete a full season by giving us the ability to adapt to the fluid nature of the virus and the flexibility to adjust schedules as necessary if disruptions occur,” Sankey said. “It is regrettable that some of our traditional non-conference rivalries cannot take place in 2020 under this plan, but these are unique, and hopefully temporary, circumstances that call for unconventional measures.”
The rescheduled start to the season will allow the SEC to continue to monitor health trends across its 11-state footprint, as well as monitor developments in technology around mitigation and treatment of the virus, including:
- Trends in public health indicators throughout the SEC’s 11-state footprint, including positive cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations and recovery statistics
- State, local and campus heath directives, including restrictions on gatherings, isolation requirements for travelers, and other health and travel restrictions
- Continued development of risk mitigation strategies
- Continued advancement in COVID-19 testing reliability and availability
- Continued evolution of time-based strategies for resuming activities after positive test results, including contact tracing, isolation and quarantine requirements
- Observation of successes and challenges presented by return to competition in other sports
A revised schedule for the 2020 SEC football season will be announced at a later date following approval by the Conference’s athletics directors.
Further decisions regarding safety standards related to athletics events, tailgating and other game day activities, including social distancing, face covering and other health measures consistent with CDC, state and local guidelines, will be announced at a later date.
Other notes related to the resumption of competition:
- The SEC announced in July that the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, soccer and volleyball would be postponed through at least August 31. Start dates and schedules for those sports, as well as sports in their non-traditional seasons during the fall, will be announced at a later date.
- The SEC announced in July that student-athletes in all sports who elect to not participate in intercollegiate athletics during the fall 2020 academic semester because of health and/or safety concerns related to COVID-19 will continue to have their scholarships honored by their university and will remain in good standing with their team.
- The SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force continues to meet on policies and procedures for the safe return of student-athletes to competition, including the development of comprehensive testing and reporting policies, building on the NCAA’s Resocialization of College Sports Guidelines.
- Each athletics program has been engaged in evaluating best practices for game operations to prepare a safe environment for student-athletes, coaches, staff, officials and other individuals necessary to conduct games.
Someone Bought A Lottery Ticket In Century Worth $1,000 A Day For Life, Or $7 Million Now
July 30, 2020
Someone that purchased a lottery ticket in Century will now receive $1,000 per day for life.
The jackpot-winning lottery ticket was purchased for Wednesday’s drawing at a convenience store in Century.
The winning grand prize Cash4Life ticket was sold at the Southern Pit Stop at 9231 North Century Boulevard, according to the Florida Lottery. The retailer will receive $10,000 for selling the top prize-winning ticket.
The winner will have a cash option of $7 million.
Wednesday’s winning numbers were 08-11-21-36-39 with a Cash ball of 02. The odds of winning $1,000 per day for life is 1:21,846,048.
Cash4Life tickets are sold in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Maryland and Virginia.
Century Man Found Competent To Stand Trial For Raping 16-Year Old Girl, Breaking Into Church Building
July 30, 2020
A Century man has been found competent to stand trial for grabbing a 16-year old girl she walked to the library in Century, raping her and then breaking into a church building where he helped himself to bottles of water and bag of chips. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Na’Keetric Devonte Davison, 27, is charged with sexual battery of a victim over 12 and below 18, kidnapping of a child to commit sexual battery, battery by strangulation, robbery, burglary, and criminal mischief with property damage for the August 2019 incident.
On December 2, 2019, Davison was found incompetent to stand trial and committed into the custody of the state. In July 2020, a new physiological evaluation found he was now competent for trial. During a hearing Wednesday, Judge Jennie Kinsey ordered Davison held without bond until his trial.
On August 21, 2019, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Highway 29 and McCurdy Street Wednesday where a teen female exiting the woodline told deputies she had been raped by a man that fled the area on foot.
A passerby called 911 to reported a disturbance after seeing a man pull the teen into wooded area.
According to an arrest report , the 16-year old white female was obviously hysterical, standing with her jeans unzipped and her hair in disarray. She told deputies she was walking south on the sidewalk to the Century Branch Library when she was approached from behind by a black male that asked her for some change. She stated the black male, later identified as Davison, grabbed her and pulled her into a wooded area adjacent to the sidewalk. Davison then grabbed her by the throat, slammed her to the ground and told her not to scream or he would kill her, the report states.
The teen told deputies that Davison then sexually assaulted her before telling her again that he would kill her if she screamed out. He then took her wallet from inside her purse and fled on foot into the woods.
The teen was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
A perimeter was established, and Davison was tracked by deputies and K-9 units from the Escambia County Road Prison and the Century Correctional Institution.
NorthEscambia.com was there as Davison was found inside a small building used as a meeting room adjacent to the New Calvary Church at Zion and Jackson streets. Had kicked in the door of the building in order to gain entry, according to an arrest report, and consumed several bottles of water and a bag of chips.
He was taken into custody without further incident.
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COVID-19 Hospitalization Numbers In Escambia County: Maybe A Little Good News?
July 30, 2020
On June 29, there were 59 people hospitalized in Escambia County due to COVID-19. One month later on July 29, there were 224 in the hospital.
The City of Pensacola has published a graphic showing the current number of COVID-19 hospitalizations by day since June 25. The daily data reflects the combined total from Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist Hospital an West Florida Hospital.
“Although our numbers are still high, the good news is that we are not seeing significant daily increases like we were several weeks ago,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said Wednesday. “We also saw a decrease yesterday and today, but it is too early to say whether that trend will continue.”
Click graphic to enlarge.
DeSantis Extends Florida Eviction Moratorium
July 30, 2020
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Wednesday evening that extends the moratorium on evictions to 12:01 a.m. on September 1.
“I hereby suspend and toll any statute providing for final action at the conclusion of a mortgage foreclosure proceeding under Florida law solely when the proceeding arises from non-payment of mortgage by a single-family mortgagor adversely affected by the COVID-19 emergency,” DeSantis said in his order.
The action is intended to provide relief for thousands of Florida residents that remain unemployed or otherwise are suffering economically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The eviction moratorium first went into effect on April 2 during Florida’s economic shutdown. This was the fourth extension.