Voter Registration Event Next Week In Century
September 18, 2015
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office will hold a voter registration drive September 21 in Century
The event will be held from 2:30 until 3:30 p.m. at the Century Town Hall. Florida residents can register to vote or, if already registered, make sure the elections office has their most current information on file.
Florida residents attending the event should bring their Florida driver’s license, Florida ID card or the last four digits of their social security number.
For more information, call (850) 595-3900.
Northview Sets Homecoming Parade; Entries Now Accepted
September 18, 2015
The annual Northview High School Homecoming Parade has been set for Friday, October 9.
The parade will line up at noon and travel from Bratt Elementary School to Northview High. Entries are being accepted now; there is no cost to enter. For a printable entry form, click here. Entries are due by October 2.
Contact Perry Byars at (850) 327-6681 ext. 248 for more information.
The Northview Chief’s homecoming game will kickoff at 7 p.m. on October 9 against Liberty County.
Pictured: A float in the 2014 Northview High Homecoming Parade in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Senators Question Study On New Standardized Test
September 18, 2015
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle raised sharp questions Thursday about a study that Florida Department of Education officials say validated the state’s controversial new standardized test for public-school students.
Members of the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee reviewed the study of the Florida Standards Assessment, as the new test is called, and suggested that the department had portrayed the report’s conclusions in an overly optimistic light and wondered whether teacher evaluations and school grades should be tied to the exam.
The Legislature ordered the study last year after the troubled rollout of the Florida Standards Assessment, which included delays for students who tried to log on to take the test online and a cyberattack that slowed down the system for at least some test-takers.
The study supported the use of the Florida Standards Assessment for school grades and teacher evaluations but said that “the FSA scores for some students will be suspect” because of the computer glitches.
Under questioning during Thursday’s committee hearing, an employee of one of the companies involved in drafting the report seemed to indicate that reasonable people could disagree with the study’s conclusions.
“I think there is room for professional disagreement here,” said Andrew Wiley, director of education services for Alpine Testing Solutions. “I think there is data, and there’s data in the report, that could be looked at and pointed to that says, maybe the use of these test scores would not be appropriate. And, quite frankly, there was rigorous debate within our group — some people feeling differently and things like that.”
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart tried to downplay Wiley’s statement.
“I do think that what he was referencing was in general, philosophically, how people feel about using a test,” Stewart said.
But it was clear that senators had concerns about even using the test for teacher evaluations and school grades. Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who chairs a Senate education budget panel, read critical excerpts of the report and pressed Wiley on whether the results of the exam should be used.
“Would you bet your career on an evaluation that was based on an assessment such as this if you were a teacher?” Gaetz asked.
“I continue to think that using these test scores at that level would be appropriate,” Wiley responded.
Lawmakers also quizzed Wiley on when the Florida Department of Education received the report. The consultant said that the agency saw two early drafts of the study, but said that the department only suggested changes to a table and did not have input on the final conclusions.
Stewart said the department didn’t see the final draft of the report until the day before it was released to the public and reiterated Wiley’s comments about the agency’s input when talking to reporters after the meeting.
“You heard him say what kind of input we had, and I suggest you ask him about that,” she responded when questioned about it.
“We did not do any sort of work with them to suggest that they needed to change a conclusion or a finding,” she said later, after a follow-up question.
But the future for any changes to the Florida Standards Assessment seems murky at best. Many lawmakers appear ready to move on after a tedious debate over testing legislation in the 2015 legislative session, and the head of the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee suggested Thursday’s hearing would be the last.
“My intent is, after today we have other legislation that we’re going to be reviewing in our committee,” said Chairman John Legg, R-Lutz. “So my time will be limited.”
He suggested Gaetz’s budget committee might address testing issues. And Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who doubles as CEO of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, said the debate about the issue isn’t over.
“This meeting today gave me no more comfort. In fact, it even raised more questions about the process that was used, the conclusions that they came to. I am not satisfied,” he said. ” … I don’t think this is just going to go off into the sunset.”
Ernest Ward Middle Beats T.R. Miller (With Photo Gallery)
September 18, 2015
Ernest Ward Middle School beat T.R. Miller of Brewton 18-7 in middle school football Thursday night in Walnut Hill.
Ernest Ward will be on the road against Jay on Thursday, September 24 at 6 p.m.
For more NorthEscambia.com photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Teens Learn Employable Skills During Partnership Camp
September 18, 2015
During the summer, the Children’s Home Society of Florida YouthWorks Program partnered with Escambia County’s Department of Neighborhood and Human Services to provide youth with valuable skills working as “Play, Learn, Grow” summer camp support staff.
The youth worked alongside Escambia County employees and were trained on conflict resolution, dealing with difficult people in a work environment, working with diverse populations, responsibility, customer service, professionalism, teamwork and many other workforce skills. The training was conducted in several ways, including one-on-one, in a group setting and hands-on.
“The experience itself helped develop and prepare our youth for the future workforce and we, as well as the youth, are very grateful,” said Eunicia Giuchici, youth career placement coordinator for Children’s Home Society of Florida YouthWorks.
Some of the youth were offered jobs with the county next summer, while others went off to college with new employable skills, and some were hired in local jobs. All of the participants were successful on some level due to their involvement in the summer camp program.
“One youth, Kianna, has a future goal of becoming an educator for young children,” Giuchici said. “This was her first job working with at-risk children. She had some bumps along the way but was able to learn from her experience to guide her in her next job. Due to her hands-on experience at the Summer Camp, Kianna was able to secure a job as a retail associate at Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast. She will be attending Pensacola State College next semester to begin working toward her education degree.”
She added that all youth learn in different ways and that is why teaching alternatives are important to their success.
“Whether we tell them, teach them or involve them, we are making a positive effort in the future of our youth and workforce,” Giuchici said. “We applaud the hard work of the supervisors, staff, and support personnel from Escambia County’s Department of Neighborhood and Human Services including Shurlitha Jones, Leroy Williams, Kathryn Lovely and Nellie Washington, and the continuous employment support from Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast (Robin King and Ronald Rivera).”
Pictured: Summer camp participant Kianna was able to secure a job as a retail associate at Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast. She will be attending Pensacola State College next semester to begin working toward her education degree. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Residents To See Property Tax Increase
September 17, 2015
The Town of Century has given first approval to a property tax increase, but it won’t cost the average citizen more than a few pennies per month and won’t add much to the town’s bottom line.
The town council voted for a property tax rate increase from a current year 0.8707 mills to 0.9006 mills, an increase of 6.35 percent. The increase would equal the 2013-2014 rate, while remaining lower than the rate during the previous three years.
One mill is equal to $1 in taxes per $1,000 in taxable value. If the tax increase is approved, the property tax paid to Century on home with a $50,000 taxable value would increase from $42.34 to $45.03, or about $2.69 per year.
With the increase Century would be set to collect $29,549 in total property taxes, up from $27,463. Due to homestead and other exemptions, many Century residents do not pay any property tax at all because of low property values.
The Century council will hold a final public hearing and vote on the tax increase at 6:55 p.m. on Monday, September 21 at town hall..
Highway 4 Speed Limit To Increase In Santa Rosa
September 17, 2015
Beginning Monday, the speed limit will be increased on a portion of Highway 4 in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Based on the results of a recent speed study, the Florida Department of Transportation will increase the speed limit on a 17.5 mile portion of Highway 4 from east of Highway 87 in Santa Rosa County to Barton Road west of Baker in Okaloosa County from 55 mph to 60 mph.
One Injured In Crash Near Barrineau Park Bridge
September 17, 2015
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash at the Barrineau Park bridge over the Perdido River Wednesday night.
The accident occurred about 9:15 p.m. on the Alabama side of the bridge, leaving a pickup truck on its side off the roadway. One person was transported by Escambia County EMS to West Florida Hospital.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
The Molino Station of Escambia Rescue, in addition to Baldwin County authorities, also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Campus Gun Bills Advance In House And Senate
September 17, 2015
A proposal that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to pack heat while hitting the books on college and university campuses notched it first two successes Wednesday.
The legislation (SB 68 and HB 4001), which won support from criminal-justice committees in the House and Senate, is widely opposed by academic leaders.
Proponents argued that the proposal would make colleges safer, while opponents questioned the need to allow weapons into an already stress-filled atmosphere.
“I don’t feel like your constitutional rights should stop at a line in the sand,” said Senate Criminal Justice Chairman Greg Evers, a Baker Republican who is sponsoring the Senate bill.
The Senate committee voted 3-2 along party lines to support the proposal, which is filed for the 2016 legislative session. The Senate proposal must still get through three additional committees, including the Judiciary Committee, which did not take up the issue during the 2015 legislative session.
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted 8-5, with Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, joining four Democrats in opposing the measure. Pilon, saying he is a National Rifle Association member, noted a desire for additional training for campus law enforcement.
House bill sponsor Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, indicated the measure could make schools safer since concealed-carry permit holders must be 21. Also, he said current law prohibits military veterans who have returned to school on the “GI Bill” from carrying weapons.
“Most of those people have more training than our law-enforcement officers do,” Steube said. “I was an infantry officer. We trained for years on how to execute different scenarios, and so have all these different military members.”
The proposal continues to face opposition from faculty members, university and college presidents and campus law enforcement.
Tallahassee Community College President Jim Murdaugh said the presidents remain unified in their opposition, as they were when the proposal was debated during the 2015 session.
“What we do in a campus environment is stimulate and sometime provoke the students who are on our campuses in order for them to learn,” Murdaugh told the House panel. “We cause them to challenge what they believe, and sometimes that results in friction between faculty and students. The idea of having someone armed in that kind of environment … is not something that leads, in my estimation, likely to good outcomes.”
Florida State University President John Thrasher, a former lawmaker who helped derail a similar measure in 2011, told The News Service of Florida on Tuesday that allowing more guns on campus will not make schools safer.
“We live in a different environment where, if you look at the footprint of this campus and you see where this campus is and where it goes, and then you look at the outskirts of it, there are multiple places to be served alcohol, there are multiple types of high-risk behaviors that go on at universities when you have 42,000 students,” Thrasher said. “I frankly think it’s just a mistake to do it. I’ve said that. I’m going to continue to say it. I believe in the Second Amendment. I supported it when I was in the Legislature, but I think there certainly are reasonable exceptions. This is one of those.”
But a number of students, some pointing to a November 2014 shooting at Florida State’s Strozier Library that left three people injured, told lawmakers Wednesday that they don’t feel safe. Even though the gunman in the Strozier Library shooting was killed by first responders, there remains a two- or three-minute response time — time in which people with concealed-weapons licenses could react, several students noted.
Shayna Lopez-Rivas, a Florida State University who said she has been sexually assaulted, said she would have not been assaulted on campus if she had been allowed to carry a gun. University of Florida student Brandon Woolf, a vice president of the campus chapter of Student for Concealed Carry, said students should be allowed to defend themselves.
“A lot can happen in two to three minutes,” Woolf said. “Nobody here wants to call my parents and tell them I was killed while hiding behind a desk.”
But Florida State University music professor Matthew Lata, a member of the campus’ chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, said such views are in the minority.
“The majority of students don’t want it. The vast majority of faculty don’t want it. Our presidents don’t want it. Our (university system) Board of Governors doesn’t want it. Our law enforcement, most importantly, doesn’t want it,” Lata told the Senate committee. “At what point should legislators listen to the people?”
Since 2011, the number of concealed-weapon licenses in Florida has grown from just over 853,000 to more than 1.5 million. The numbers have been boosted during the past couple of months as the state is now fast-tracking the license process for active-duty military members and honorably discharged veterans.
The committees’ support for the campus concealed-weapons proposal came as Florida State University this week entered into an agreement with the Second Amendment advocacy group Florida Carry. In the agreement, the university said it will not “detain, arrest, or discipline” any person lawfully in possession of a weapon or firearm in their private vehicle or lawfully in possession of a handgun securely encased in a private vehicle.
Florida Carry filed a lawsuit against the school over a football “game day” guide that initially included a provision about barring guns in vehicles on campus. The school later updated the language to reflect a 2013 ruling by the 1st District Court of Appeal that said the University of North Florida could not prevent firearms from being stowed in cars on campus.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Northview Volleyball Games Rescheduled
September 17, 2015
Thursday night’s Northview High School volleyball games against Laurel Hill have been canceled. The games have been rescheduled for Monday, September 28 at Northview. The junior varsity will play at 4:30, followed by the varsity at 5:30.