Escambia County’s Five Star Schools Announced
December 21, 2018
The Florida Department of Education announced the winners of the Five Star School Award for the 2017-2018 school year. The award is bestowed upon schools that are committed to incorporating family and community members into the school environment to enhance student learning.
In Escambia County, Five Star Schools Award winners were:
- A.K. Suter Elementary School
- Bellview Elementary School
- Beulah Elementary School
- Blue Angels Elementary School
- Cordova Park Elementary School
- Ferry Pass Elementary School
- Hellen Caro Elementary School
- Jim Allen Elementary School
- McArthur Elementary School
- Molino Park Elementary School
- N.B. Cook Elementary School of the Arts
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School
- Scenic Heights Elementary School
“It is an honor to recognize these schools with the Five Star School Award,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “As a former teacher and principal, I have seen firsthand the positive impact family and community involvement can have on the lives of students. When school leaders and educators engage the community, the result is higher academic achievement and more students prepared for future success.”
To earn Five Star School recognition, a school must show that it has achieved all of the benchmarks and criteria in five categories – Community/Business Partnerships, Family Involvement, Volunteerism, Student Community Service and School Advisory Council. Schools must also earn a grade of “C” or above or a school improvement rating of “Maintaining” or “Commendable” for the year being recognized.
Tate, Jay Cheerleaders Earn Bids To National Competition
December 21, 2018
The Tate High School varsity cheerleaders placed first this recently among small varsity coed teams at the Northwest Florida Universal Cheerleaders Association. They also received a bid to the national competition in Orlando. This was the fifth first place finish of the competitive season for the Aggie varsity cheerleaders.
The Jay High School competition cheer squad also placed second in their small varsity non-tumble division and earned a bid to the national competition in Orlando for the game day routine.
Pictured top: The Tate High School varsity cheerleaders. Pictured below: The Jay High School competition cheer squad. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Presents Annual Christmas Program
December 21, 2018
Ernest Ward Middle School presented their annual Christmas program Thursday morning.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Alabama Correctional Officer Arrested On Contraband Charges
December 21, 2018
Corrections agents from the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) arrested a correctional officer at the Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore on Thursday for attempting to smuggle illegal contraband into the prison.
Tony Williams, 34, of Frisco City, was arrested Thursday for prohibited activities and use of office for personal gain.
During a search of the officer’s personal vehicle, a K9 unit alerted on Williams vehicle where authorities found multiple packages containing 10 cell phones. Williams admitted to purchasing the phones with the intention of receiving payment from inmates.
Williams was taken to Escambia County Jail and booked following his arrest. He resigned from his job after more than 10 years with the ADOC.
Escambia County High Atmore Names Mason As New Head Football Coach
December 21, 2018
Scott Mason has been named the new head football coach at Escambia County High School in Atmore.
He replaces Rico Jackson, who has been hired as the new head football coach at Murphy High School in Mobile.
Mason was head football coach and athletic director at Florala High School. He was worked as the offensive coordinator at Faith Academy, Citronell, Vigor and Saraland high schools. He also worked as head coach at Fruitdale High School.
Mason is married and has one son, Turner Mason. In his spare time he enjoys writing, reading and hunting.
Escambia Academy Tops Jay; Tate Girls Beat Gulf Breeze
December 21, 2018
BOYS
Escambia Academy 63, Jay 60
GIRLS
Tate 49, Gulf Breeze 32
Moreisha Thompson led Tate in scoring. Also for Tate: Melanie LeTourneau 14, Nya Craig 7, Tia Pryear 4, Danica Riddell 3, Railee Cook 2, Taylor O’Brien 2.
DeSantis Panel Says Health Innovation Is Needed
December 21, 2018
Supporters of Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis want Florida to take a more active role in finding innovative ways to overhaul how health care is delivered in the state.
Health-care executive Alan Levine, who is helping lead a committee set up by the DeSantis transition team to examine health care, said Wednesday the state should consider creating an incubator that would help link research at the state’s universities with the buying power of Florida’s $26 billion Medicaid program. Medicaid is overseen by the Agency for Health Care Administration, which will be directly under the control of the incoming governor.
Levine is a former Agency for Health Care Administration secretary who also sits on the state university system’s Board of Governors.
“This is a great evolutionary opportunity for AHCA to expand its role into innovation,” Levine said. “Maybe it’s a public-private partnership where there is investment funds and ideas brought forward whether they are universities or private entrepreneurs. … AHCA’s in a position to be able to help deploy some of those ideas.”
Levine is not the only member of the health-care transition committee to support an increased role for medical innovation.
Committee member David Maymon sent a memo this week that requested the state create an “innovation center” for the public so people can submit ideas and make recommendation. In addition to the center, Maymon suggested that a seven-member board, with representatives from the governor’s office, the Legislature and health-care providers, meet quarterly to discuss the ideas.
Maymon, founder of Advocate Home Care, said his suggestion stems from his own frustrations with the state.
“On more than one occasion, I have come forward with an idea on how to deliver the health-care model in a more proficient manner that would produce reduced costs and provide better patient outcomes,” he wrote in his memo. “The response was always the same. While it sounds like a good idea, that is not within our ability to change.”
The incoming governor set up the Transition Advisory Committee on Health and Wellness this month, with Wednesday marking the second meeting of the group led by Levine and Lt. Gov.-elect Jeanette Nunez.
On the campaign trail, DeSantis talked largely about issues such as his opposition to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion.
Nunez has said the administration wants to help lower health-care costs while also coming up with long-term improvements to the system, which is one of the largest items in the state’s nearly $90 billion budget
During Wednesday’s meeting, the committee also briefly discussed ways to address a shortage of health-care providers. That triggered a discussion over whether to adopt additional limits on lawsuits.
Audrey Brown, president and CEO of the Florida Association of Health Plans, said the DeSantis administration should examine whether to increase the number of physicians who are covered by a state no-risk pool.
by Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida
Driver Rolls Over On Highway 97
December 20, 2018
There was no word on any injuries following a single vehicle rollover crash Thursday morning.
It was reported about 8 a.m. on Highway 97 about 1.5 miles south of Tungoil Road, but the exact time of the crash was not known.
The driver was not at the scene when first responders arrived on scene. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Council Minutes Remain Unapproved For Months Due To Theft, Staff Errors
December 20, 2018
The Town of Century still does not have council minutes approved for meetings dating back three months — partially due to a reported document theft and partially due to staff errors.
This week, the council approved minutes for multiple meetings dating back to mid-August. But no minutes have been submitted to the council for two regular meetings in September because the town clerk’s notes are still missing.
On November 27, Town Clerk Kim Godwin filed a report with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office stating that on November 27 she discovered a memory card containing audio recordings of council meetings was missing, along with her written notes.
On December 4, assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille told NorthEscambia.com that most of the items were located by Godwin.
Mayor Henry Hawkins said this week the notes are still missing that pertained to the September regular council meetings.
Monday night, the council declined to approve minutes for October 15, November 5 and November 19. Brooks said the draft minutes contained “many, many errors.” Errors she cited including incorrect resolution numbers that were considered or passed by the council.
At a November 19 town council meeting, Brooks warned Godwin that someone could go to jail for violating the Sunshine Law, which stipulates minutes should be prepared “promptly.”
Godwin was not present at Monday night’s council meeting.
Northview Principal Gayle Weaver Retiring
December 20, 2018
Northview High School Principal Gayle Weaver has announced her retirement.
“I am officially retiring,” Weaver said Thursday. “I would like to thank everybody for everything they have always done. Great parents, great students, great community.”
“Please keep supporting Northview High School. Get out, volunteer, help in the booster clubs, help anyway you can,” she said. “This is a great place because of the people. I’ve enjoyed it here … thank you very much. It’s been a great quarter of a century.”
After teaching in Alabama, Weaver joined the Escambia County School District in 1989 as a teacher at Ernest Ward High School. She became assistant principal at Ernest Ward in 1992, and was named principal of the new Northview High School in 1994.
Weaver is the only person to have served as Northview’s principal since the school opened in 1995.
Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Assistant Principal Gerry Pippins has been named Northview’s interim principal for the remainder of the school year. The position will be advertised for a permanent replacement.
Pictured top: Northview High School Principal Gayle Weaver with the school’s 2012 1A State Championship team in Orlando. Pictured below: Weaver comes face to face with a BMX bicycle jumping over her during a 2016 program at the school. Pictured bottom: Weaver during a recent graduation. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
