Florida Students To See Financial Aid Expansion
August 3, 2017
As Florida students return to universities and state colleges this month for a new academic year, many will benefit from a major expansion of need-based financial aid.
Florida’s main program aimed at students with financial need, known as “student assistance grants,” will expand to cover a record 234,824 students in the 2017-18 academic year, an increase of 112,495 students from last year, according to an estimate approved Wednesday by state analysts.
The 92 percent increase in eligible students is a result of the Legislature this year providing an additional $121 million for the program, for a total of $269.4 million in the new school year.
The students will receive an average grant of $1,147, with a maximum award up to $2,610. The money does not have to be repaid.
Last year, a little more than 122,000 students received the grants, but there were an estimated 107,449 who were eligible but did not receive the financial support because of a lack of funding, according to the Florida Department of Education
The program expansion, which became law when Gov. Rick Scott signed an $82 billion budget that took effect July 1, is projected to cover all eligible students this year. Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, spearheaded efforts to expand aid as part of a broader effort to revamp the higher-education system.
About 204,000 state university and college students will receive the assistance grants this year, along with 18,000 students in private universities and colleges. Another 13,000 students will use the grants in other post-secondary programs, including career education.
In merit-based aid, the new projections show 46,570 university and college students who qualify as “academic scholars” under Florida’s Bright Futures program will have all of their tuition and fees covered in 2017-18 and will receive $300 a semester for books.
The full scholarships will cover 44,456 university students and 2,114 state college students, the projection shows.
Last year, the top Bright Futures scholarship only covered about half of the tuition and fees, which average about $215 per credit hour at the 12 state universities.
Lawmakers this year expanded the scholarships to cover full tuition and expanded the top-level scholarships to summer classes.
About 16,600 Bright Futures scholars are expected to attend summer classes this year, averaging 11 credit hours at a cost of $39 million.
Overall, the cost of the expanded Bright Futures program will rise to $402 million this year, up from $204 million last year, the projection shows. It also includes funding for 47,491 Bright Futures “medallion scholars,” who receive aid covering $77 of each credit hour per semester.
The Legislature also expanded the “Florida Resident Access Grant” program, which will provide $3,300 a year to 37,324 students attending private colleges and universities in Florida in 2017-18.
That projection includes 6,536 Keiser University students, 2,552 University of Miami students, 2,334 St. Leo University students and 1,833 Bethune-Cookman University students receiving grants from the $123 million program.
The Benacquisto scholarship program, which covers full tuition, housing and other costs for National Merit Scholars, is expected to cover 873 students this year, up from 665 last year. The program will cost an estimated $13.2 million this year.
The projections were made by what is known as the “financial aid estimating conference,” which includes analysts from the House, Senate, governor’s office, the Department of Education and the Office of Economic & Demographic Research.
One Injured In Cantonment Pickup Truck Crash
August 3, 2017
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash late Wednesday night in Cantonment.
The accident happened about 11:15 p.m. on Muscogee Road near Andalusia Road. The driver of a pickup apparently lost control, ran off the road and struck a tree. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to a Pensacola hospital.
Further details were not released as the Florida Highway Patrol completes their investigation. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Win 7-0 Over The Birmingham Barons
August 3, 2017
With Pensacola clinging to a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning, Blue Wahoos third baseman Nick Senzel scored and then singled in two more runs in the seventh inning.
Behind Senzel’s hot hitting and baserunning and Jose Lopez’s six scoreless innings, Pensacola downed the Birmingham Barons, 7-0, Wednesday at Regions Field. The five-game series is tied, 2-2, with the final and deciding game scheduled at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.
Senzel showed why MLBPipeline.com ranked the Cincinnati Reds first round draft pick in 2016 the No. 11 prospect in the minor leagues in its updated midseason report, jumping up 15 spots from No. 26 in its preseason Top 100 list.
In the sixth inning, the 22-year-old lead off with a single to right field and moved to second on a single by first baseman Gavin LaValley. Senzel then tagged up on a fly ball to center field by left fielder Josh VanMeter. With two outs, he hustled home to make it a, 3-0, game when Birmingham reliever Alfredo Gonzalez made a throwing error on a pickoff attempt.
In the seventh inning, Birmingham intentionally walked Gabriel Guerrero to load the bases with one out. Senzel made the Barons pay by smacking a line drive to right field that scored both catcher Joe Hudson and shortstop Blake Trahan to put Pensacola ahead, 5-0. With runners on first and third, Senzel took off for second and Birmingham second baseman Danny Mendick missed the throw from the catcher, which allowed Guerrero to score from third base for a 6-0 Blue Wahoos lead.
Senzel was 2-5 with a run scored, stolen base and two RBIs giving him 21 RBIs since being called up from High-A Daytona Tortugas after the All-Star break. He’s hitting .329.
Meanwhile, Pensacola starter Jose Lopez threw six scoreless innings, allowed four hits, walked two and struck out four to improve his record to 6-1 with a 2.69 ERA. The 22-year-old struck out three of the first four Barons he faced.
Over his last five starts, Lopez has allowed an amazing 1.13 ERA, giving up just five runs in 40 innings.
As a team, Pensacola owns the second-best ERA in the Southern League at 2.99 and is tied with the Chattanooga Lookouts with the most shutouts in the league with 12.
Pensacola is in first place in the Southern League South Division with a 20-19 record in the second half. Pensacola is 60-49 overall and won the first half title. Birmingham, which is in last place in the Southern League North Division, dropped to 16-23 and are 42-66 overall.
Flame Broiled? Firefighters Respond To Burger King
August 2, 2017
Firefighters responded to the smell of smoke in the Burger King restaurant on Highway 29 at Old Chemstrand Road early Wednesday morning. Employees reported a burning smell in the ceiling. The odor was traced to a malfunctioning air conditioning unit. There was no damage reported. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Native Rebekah Bydlak Running For Florida House
August 2, 2017
Republican Rebekah Bydlak of Cantonment has filed to run for the Florida House seat currently held by Clay Ingram. Ingram can’t run again due to term limits.
During the 2016 primary, Bydlak ran for Congress, taking fourth place in an eight-candidate race.
“I have dedicated my life and professional career to fighting for conservative principles as a private citizen,” said Bydlak upon announcing her run for the Florida House. “For too long we have witnessed the same politicians saying one thing at home and doing another when elected, all the while getting nothing done. I’m running to fight for our conservative values and deliver for Northwest Florida.”
Bydlak is currently the executive director of the Coalition to Reduce Spending, an advocacy organization dedicated to reducing federal spending and debt.
“I’ve been humbled by the encouragement I’ve received from family and friends alike in weighing this decision,” Bydlak said. “After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to announce my candidacy for the Florida House.”
Bydlak was home schooled her entire life before attending Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida. She holds a master’s degree in political science and public administration from UWF. She lives in Cantonment with her husband, Jonathan.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
New Website For West Florida Public Libraries
August 2, 2017
Tuesday, West Florida Public Libraries announced the launch of a newly-designed website.
The revamped site was created to provide a user-friendly experience that makes it easier than ever for citizens, businesses and visitors to access information about the library system from their computer, tablet or mobile phone.
The website was developed using the latest technology and a responsive design, making it compatible with all browsers and mobile devices. Users will also have the option to share information across all major social networking sites.
The site is organized to provide quick and direct access to all of the programs and services the library offers.
Some new features include:
- Upcoming events and new fiction titles available on the homepage
- An easily-fillable form for requesting a meeting room
- Access to searches for the Kids Catalog and the full catalog on the homepag
The site will be continually updated, with new features being added regularly.
Escambia School District, UWF Honor Top Summer Science Students
August 2, 2017
Future environmental health advocates from the Escambia County School District presented their Capstone projects to wrap-up the UWF Environmental Health Scholars 8-week summer program.
“This was our fourth year in this partnership and each year we have the pleasure of working with some amazing local high school students. They make me feel good about our environmental futures,” said Aisha Adkison, Health Science Specialist, in the ECSD Workforce Education Department. “These students dedicated three days a week for eight weeks of their summer vacation to learning more about our world and a vast variety of environmental challenges. They each select a research topic and prepare a Capstone project.”
The program is funded on a subcontract for over $100,000/yr for 5 years through the Gulf Region Health Outreach Program (GRHOP) administered by the Center for Gulf Coast Environmental Health Research, Leadership & Strategic Initiatives, School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, Tulane University. The grant covers training for secondary education teachers from the region, specialized equipment and supplies for those teachers’ classrooms and the summer program for students. Selected students spend three days a week at UWF with public health faculty, Dr. Enid Sisskin and Dr. George Stewart.
Project topics included, the 21st Century War on Science, GMOs, pandemics, climate change, the dangerous cumulative effect of littering, storms’ effect on the ozone layer, anthrax and a look at the U.S./Mexico border challenge from the perspective of its effect on animals. Another student took a hard look at anxiety and tied it to the other topics because, as she pointed out, how can any of us go out and fix any of these other environmental problems if anxiety keeps us trapped inside.
The results were:
1st Place: Madison Kemp, Ernest Ward Middle graduate and a Florida Virtual School student. Her topic was: The Effects of Manmade Climate Change on Global Health.
2nd Place: Tyra Williams, a rising senior in the Health Academy at Pensacola High School. Her topic was: How Facts Became Opinions: The 21st Century War on Science.
3rd Place: Tyler Motts, an Environmental Science student from Pine Forest High School, His topic was: The Environmental Impact of the US – Mexico Border.
Statements made during the presentations started with facts, data, graphs and images. But project requirements also directed the students to reach their own conclusions, reflect on what they learned and state their opinions. One student did a great job of summarizing a conclusion shared no matter what the topic, “We need to care. Humans must take a stand, because we are our own worst enemy.”
Pictured: Tyra Williams (left), second place winner, and Madison Kemp, first place winner. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Sets Budget Workshops
August 2, 2017
Editor’s note: 9 a.m. 8/2/17 – This story reflects a change made by the town in the first meeting date from August 10 to August 9.
Century will begin their budget setting process with workshop meetings August 9 and August 24, according to a public notice issued Tuesday.
In previous years, the town council has held budget workshop meetings much earlier. During the past couple of years, the town has held two budget workshops in June, followed by one or two meetings to complete the process in July.
Both the August 9 and August 24 meetings will be held in the council chambers at the Century Town Hall at 7995 North Century Boulevard. The 4 p.m. meetings are open to the public.
The fiscal year 2016-2017 budget in Century was $4.26 million.
NorthEscambia.com photos,click to enlarge.
Northview High Plans Orientation For Thursday
August 2, 2017
From Northview High School:
We will issue class schedules, hall lockers, and textbooks to returning 10th, 11th and 12th grade students on the first day of school. Ninth graders and new students will attend an August 3rd Orientation and will receive everything they need at that time. Please remember that May 24, 2017, as noted on the registration cards, was the last day to request schedule changes. There is a processing procedure which students may utilize to request schedule changes, once school has started. However, since the parent and student approved the schedule at registration time and since the master schedule and teacher assignments have been made based upon these requests, all requests must support both the student’s requested schedule and teacher assignments. Please be advised that schedule changes at this time are extremely rare and are allowed only for registration adjustments or academic requirements based on the FSA end-of- course exam scores. Students will not have the opportunity to request schedule changes during the textbook issuing time. Textbooks will be issued to correspond with the student’s printed schedule. Locker assignments will also be printed on the class schedules, so students should be extremely careful not to leave their printed course schedules unattended.
August 3, 2017
School Offices will be closed from 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
1 PM – 2:30 PM 9 th Grade and New Student Orientation
All incoming 9th grade and new students in grades 10, 11, and 12 should report to the theater before 1 p.m., on Thursday, August 3. In the theater, students will have a short introduction and welcome program. Immediately afterwards, the students will be divided into groups to facilitate the processing of schedules and lockers. Orientation will include a brief tour of the Northview campus. Parent Chromebook training will be provided as well. Students with signed Cromebook contracts will be issued Chromebooks to take home after school begins. Students without a signed contract will not be issued a Chromebook but will check one out daily from the media center. The entire process should take approximately 90 minutes, so parents are asked to be prompt in picking up their students at the breezeway after the conclusion of this activity.
County Seeking Volunteer For Mass Transit Advisory Committee
August 2, 2017
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for a vacancy on the Escambia County Mass Transit Advisory Committee, or MTAC.
Escambia residents interested in serving on the Escambia County Mass Transit Advisory Committee are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve on the Committee by close of business on Monday, Aug. 14. Resumes should be submitted to Judy Witterstaeter, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502, or emailed to jhwitter@myescambia.com.
Please be aware that resumes submitted to a BCC agenda for consideration will become part of the official minutes and are subject to public records requests.
The board, in its regular meeting on Oct. 1, 2009, adopted a resolution establishing the MTAC. The MTAC meets quarterly, typically on the second Wednesday of the month from 3-5 p.m.
The duties of the committee include the following:
Establishing a set of benchmarks to periodically evaluate the service and management of existing public mass transit systems operating in Escambia County;
Setting short-range and long-range goals for increasing ridership, expanding routes and instituting new mass transit services;
Assisting the Board of County of Commissioners, the county administrator and Escambia County Area Transit management in developing partnerships with industry groups and employers to foster economic development; and
Identifying opportunities for inter-governmental or regional transportation alliances with entities both within Escambia County and outside of Escambia County.