Escambia Schools To Hold Career Academy Showcase
January 23, 2013
The Escambia County School District’s Workforce Education Department will host the 2013 “Empower Your Mind” Middle and High School Career Academy Showcase next week.
The event will be held in the Woodham Middle School Gymnasium from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, January 24.
Middle and high school career academy teachers, students, and business partners will be showcasing the district’s career academies. Families of fifth through ninth grade students in Escambia County are invited to attend the Career Academy Showcase to discover opportunities provided through career academy participation.
The School Choice Department will be available to assist families with completing applications on-site. Families are encouraged to take advantage of the on-site application process after gaining insight into the various career academies offered throughout the district. The career academy application deadline is February 15, 2013.
Visit the Escambia County School District Workforce Education Department website for online application information at http://career.escambia.k12.fl.us/home/index.asp. For more information, call (850) 469-5357.
School Safety Bill Filed In House
January 23, 2013
Tax collected on the sale of ammunition and guns would go into a “Safe Schools Trust Fund,” to pay for additional guidance services and school safety measures under legislation filed in the House.
Freshman Rep. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, filed two bills on Friday creating the trust fund and directing revenue from the existing tax on guns and ammo into it.
One of the bills filed by Stewart (HB 325), would also expand the ban on carrying guns at schools – widening the prohibition from school buildings to an area within 500 feet of a school – but would allow people to check their guns, exempting them from prosecution if they turn their gun in to someone when they arrive at a school.
While prohibiting the carrying of guns within the 500-foot buffers known as “school safety zones,” Stewart’s bill would allow anyone who is in such a zone to surrender their gun to a law enforcement officer or school official and not be charged under the ban, as long as they haven’t used the gun to violate the law in some way first.
The legislation also would require school districts to add school safety issues to their guidance plans for students in kindergarten through grade 5.
The money collected from the tax on guns and ammo sales would go to help pay for the additional guidance requirements and to pay for any expenses related to the change in the law prohibiting guns on school grounds.
If any money is left over, under one of Stewart’s bills (HB 327) it could go to “additional projects and programs to improve the safety of students,” though the bill doesn’t specify how.
Stewart’s proposal is likely to be only the first proposing to increase spending on school safety in the wake of the December school shootings in Newtown, Conn. The Senate last week discussed in committee some ideas for increasing school safety and how to pay for it.
The Senate appears likely to focus on school resource officers, police assigned to guard schools. But there was also talk of additional guidance counselors last week in the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
By The News Service of Florida
Northview Boys Beat Baker, Girls Fall To Escambia
January 23, 2013
The Northview Chiefs boys beat Baker Tuesday, while the girls lost to Escambia High.
Northview 66, Baker 44 (Boys)
The Northview Chiefs defeated Baker 66-44 Tuesday night. Neino Robinson had 19 for the Chiefs, while Cameron Newsome added 18. A junior varsity boys game scheduled for Tuesday was canceled.
The Northview varsity and junior varsity boys will be on the road next Tuesday afternoon against WS Neal.
Escambia 38, Northview 35 (Girls)
Escambia 27, Northview 16 (JV Girls)
In girls action, the Northview Lady Chiefs varsity lost to the Escambia Lady Gators 28-35. Shaquanna Jones scored 13 for the Lady Chiefs, and Elayzha Bates also had 13. The junior varsity Lady Chiefs lost to the Lady Gators 17-16.
The Lady Chiefs varsity and junior varsity teams will travel to Paxton on Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Bill Would Keep Current Bright Futures Test Threshold
January 23, 2013
Applicants for Florida Bright Future Scholarships would not have to meet higher testing standards scheduled to kick in next school year under a measure filed Tuesday that would maintain the testing threshold at existing levels.
The bill, HB 387, would maintain current law that requires students to score at least a 22 on the ACT or 1070 on the SAT to qualify for the scholarship. The scores represent the 51st percentile on each test. Those standards are scheduled to increase beginning in the 2013-14 academic year to 26 on the ACT and 1170 on the SAT, scores that represent the 75th percentile.
The bill was filed by Rep. Ricardo Rangel, D-Kissimmee.
Friendship Learning Lodge Kids Learn Fire Safety
January 23, 2013
Lt. Chris White, the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department and Flomaton Fire Rescue recently visited Friendship Learning Lodge to help teach them about fire safety. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Correctional Prisoner Stabbed
January 22, 2013
A prisoner at Century Correctional Institution was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital after being stabbed at least twice in the head this morning.
The prisoner, reported to be about 58-years old, was transported by LifeFlight from the prison on Tedder Road to Baptist Hospital in serious condition.
The prisoner’s name and information about the circumstances surrounding the 7:40 a.m. stabbing have not been released.
Volunteers Paint Community Center For National Day Of Service
January 22, 2013
A small army of volunteers organized by Americorps worked Monday — the National Day of Service — to paint the Carver Community Center.
Completely funded by donations, the non-profit Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue provides a safe place for children to go after school and during the summer as the center provides meals for 150 to 200 children daily. The center also offers tutoring services for children year round.
“They do good things here for the children,” said volunteer Rico Simmons from Pensacola State College’s Student Government Association. “I’m glad to see the turnout today, Martin Luther King Day. It’s a good thing for the future of the kids.”
Nearly 100 volunteers painted inside the community center, a much needed facelift covering flaking and peeling paint in hallways and classrooms.
“Having a clean environment will make learning easier,” said volunteer Alexis Lugo, SGA member at PSC.
“The kids feel safe here,” Randy Fleming of the Florida Department of Children and Families said. “It’s a place they are going to come to.”
“They serve a lot of kids,” Phylis Gonzelez, ACES program coordinator said. “It was a good project for us.”
In addition to a fresh new look inside, the Carver Community Center is set to receive 20 refurbished computers from the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, and an individual has volunteered to cover the cost of the center’s internet service for one year.
Groups taking part in Monday’s work at the Carver Community Center included the Pensacola State College SGA, Northwest Florida College, Americorps Coalition of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, the Ministry Village from Olive Baptist Church, Chain Reaction and Habitat for Humanity.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured top: A volunteer paints a window Monday morning at the Carver Community Center in Century. Pictured inset and below: Two of the nearly 100 volunteers that took part in the National Day of Service project. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Century Celebrates Legacy Of Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 22, 2013
Dozens turned out in Century Monday to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Century-Flomaton Improvement Association held their annual motorcade, ending with a program and celebration at the Ag Building. Songs, essays and speeches honored King’s memory, looked forward to the future and honored local community leaders that have passed away. Guest speak Lorenzo Jones addressed the group before a community lunch.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Members of the Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church Youth Choir perform Monday morning during a MLK Day celebration in Century. Pictured inset: Audience members enjoy the choir performance. Pictured below: A panoramic picture of the event (click it to enlarge and view properly). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo: Ring Around The Moon
January 22, 2013
High, thin cirrus clouds led to a halo around the moon Monday night, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Atmore MLK Day Parade
January 22, 2013
In Atmore, the 2013 Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade rolled through town to a memorial program and lunch at Escambia County High School on Monday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: An entry in Atmore’s 2013 Martin Luther King Jr. Day parde Monday. Pictured inset: The parade honored King’s memory. Pictured below: A float in the parade. Pictured bottom: The Northview High School NJROTC participated in the event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
