Escambia Teachers Get Raises; 2008-09 Calendar Vote Postponed
November 28, 2007
The paychecks of Escambia County public school teachers are going up next year, thanks to an 8.26% pay increase approved Tuesday night by the Escambia County School Board.
The minimum starting salary for a first year teacher with a bachelor’s degree will rise from $29,105 to $32,000 beginning with the 2008-2009 school year. The maximum pay for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and about 25 years with the system would go from $48,197 to $50,000. A master’s degree earns teachers a $4,500 yearly bonus and board certification brings another $3,800 a year.
“It took about seven years to get to this point,” said Bill Vincent from the Escambia Education Association. He was referring to a five year step increase plan that culminated with the school board’s vote Tuesday night. That plan was intended to bring Escambia County teacher salaries in-line with state averages.
“We still have work to do in the middle and top to be competative,” he said. The average pay for teachers in Escambia County last school year was about $39,000. That compares to about $43,000 in neighboring Santa Rosa County and about $47,500 in Okaloosa County. The state average was about $43,200.
Vincent, who is the Escambia Education Associations bargaining representative, said 96.5 percent of teachers and 95% of support personnel in the system had voted in favor of the school board’s plan.
In other business, the Escambia County School Board voted to postpone approval of the the 2008-2009 school year calendar until their February meeting.
District 2 Member Gerald Boone expressed a desire to see the semester end by the time students start their 2008 Christmas break. Under the currently proposed calendar, students would return from Christmas break to being semester and district exams.
The board also made numerous personnel changes Tuesday night. Among North Escambia schools, the school board:
- appointed Francis Gindl as an Ernest Ward Middle School teacher effective 10/15/07.
- appointed Charlyn Madison as a Carver/Century teacher effective 10/25/07.
- accepted the retirement of Carol Hopkins as Reading Coordinator at Northview High School effective 10/31/07. She had been a teacher for 40 years.
- promoted Sonja S. Allen to Food Services Assistant II at Carver/Century effective 10/10/07.
- promoted Christine A. Barrett to School Data Specialist I at Ernest Ward Middle School effective 10/03/07.
- appointed Charlotte B. Giddins as a teacher assistant at Ernest Ward Middle effective 10/15/07.
- accepted the retirement of Donna M. Miller as a custodian at Ernest Ward Middle effective 10/03/07.
Three Prefiled for Escambia District 5 Commission Seat
November 25, 2007
Three republicans have prefiled for the District 5 Commission Seat that includes the North Escambia area.
Incumbent Commissioner Kevin White prefiled back on January 29 of this year. Chris Washler of Cantonment filed August 27, and Randall E. McCrackin of Cantonment filed this past Tuesday, November 20.
As of September 30, White had raised $32,405 in contributions, loans and in-kind contributions. Those contributions included a $200 loan from the candidate, who lists his occupation as an auto repair shop owner. His expenditures totaled $431.70 as of September 30, mostly for postage and printing. Click here to view White’s campaign finance reports in pdf format.
Washler had raised $1,244.45 as of September 30. That amount included a $300 loan and and $44.35 in in-kind contributions from the candidate. He had spent $30.61 on office supplies. Click here to view Washler’s campaign finance reports in pdf format.
McCrackin has not been required to file a campaign finance report to date, as he was not a candidate when the last report was due on September 30.
The candidates’ next finance reports are due by January 10, 2008, for the period that ends December 31, 2007. The primary election is scheduled for August 26, 2008. The prefile deadline for local offices is noon on May, 19, 2008.
NorthEscambia.com will have complete local election coverage over the coming months.
Chiefs Fall to Florida High
November 17, 2007
The Northview High School Chiefs (6-5) lost 33-0 in their state championship playoff bid Friday night to the Florida High School Seminoles (11-0).
The Seminoles recovered a game opening onside kick at Northview’s 46-yard line. Their drive ended with a one yard touchdown plunge by senior Mark Johnson, his first of three touchdowns Friday night in Tallahassee.
Northview then drove to first and goal at the Seminole four yard line, the closest the Chiefs would come to pay dirt all night. Florida High linebacker Mike Brown downed Northview’s star senior running back Nakita Myles behind the line of scrimmage. Myles entered the game with 3,865 career rushing yards.
Florida High went on to win the game 33-0, their first playoff win since 2003.
Northview was held to just 178 yards during the game
In other area playoff action. the Jay Royals (8-3) fell 14-13 to Mayo Lafayette (10-1).
ECUA Purchases Cans To Possibly Take Over Allied Waste Contract
November 16, 2007
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is preparing itself to eventually take over garbage collection North Escambia, perhaps sooner than later.
Allied Waste currently has a contract that extends until 2010 for residential garbage pickup north of Ten Mile Road for 11,000 households. But ECUA district five board member Larry Walker sees several situations where ECUA might take over the contract sooner.
ECUA voted Thursday afternoon to purchase 11,000 automated collection garbage cans instead of their usual 2,000 per year.
“There is increasing concern that Allied might decide to just walk away from Escambia County and dump residential pickup in ECUA’s lap,” Walker told NorthEscambia.com. “I’ve expressed my concern to my colleagues and fellow board members.”
The ECUA board voted 3-2 against moving forward with the can purchase last month. But after an open letter from Walker, the board voted unanimously for the purchase this month.
“With added financial pressures of Allied’s commercial operation, it is even less likely than before that Allied will commit the additional resources that are needed,” Walker said in his letter to the board. “I think it possible that Allied will choose to walk away from its Escambia County operations, both commercial and residential.”
(Click here to see Walker’s complete letter to the ECUA in pdf format.)
Walker said he pushed for the container purchase now rather than later because if Allied should walk away from their contract, the containers would be ready for distribution. But there is one problem that could raise, he said. The garbage cans will not arrive for about four months.
“If they walked away before we had the 11,000 containers, we’d be up the creek,” he said. The possibility would exist that ECUA could purchase Allied Waste’s current containers, he added, right where they sit…at the homes of customers.
In the event ECUA does not take over the Allied contract and Allied does not walk away, the $600,000 spent on the 11,000 cans will not be wasted, Walker said. They will be used over the next five years as part of a normal replacement of damaged cans in the current ECUA system.
ECUA has already purchased seven new garbage collection trucks that expected to arrive in December. The trucks were purchased in anticipation of taking over the north end household collection Allied Waste routes. If that does not happen, the trucks will be used to replace aging trucks in the ECUA fleet over the coming years.
Walker has increasingly pushed for ECUA to look harder at the Allied Waste contract in North Escambia. He said complaints were on the rise, and increased pressure from ECUA led to slightly better service in the area. But he wonders how long that will last.
Escambia County filed suit against Allied Waste Friday for $1.3 million in unpaid “tipping fees” – the charge per ton paid by companies such as Allied for dumping at the Perdido landfill. A recent county ordinance requires Allied and other garbage haulers in Escambia County to dump that waste, and paid the tipping fees, in Escambia County.
ECUA currently provides residential garbage collection south of Ten Mile Road, except in the city of Pensacola. Twice-weekly service is $17.35 per month, with senior citizen and lifeline discounts.
Attempts to reach Allied Waste for comment were unsuccessful.
For more details on the county’s tipping fee suit against Allied Waste, click here.
County Sues Allied Waste for $1.3 Million
November 16, 2007
Escambia County filed a $1.3 million lawsuit against Allied Waste in Escambia County Circuit Court. Allied provides residential garbage service north of 10 Mile Road, including all of North Escambia.
Escambia official say Allied owes the county $1.3 million in tipping fees. The county recently passed an ordinance requiring Allied and other garbage haulers in the county to dump at the county’s Perdido Landfill and pay tipping fees. The county says Allied dumped commercial trash outside the county, but still owes the fees. Tipping fees are a per-ton charge for each ton of garbage dumped into the landfill.
Back on November 1, the county gave Allied 15 days to pay up, prove they did not owe the fees or end up in court. Those 15 days passed with the county filing suit Friday, which was day 15.
Allied and county officials will start negotiations Monday to try to resolve the situation. If an agreement is reached, the suit will be dropped.
The Escambia County Utilities Authority recently began preparations for possibly taking over Allied’s waste contract in North Escambia. Seven new garbage trucks will be delivered in December, and Thursday the ECUA voted to purchase 11,000 new garbage can that could be used in the north end.
For more details on ECUA’s possible Allied contract takeover, click here.
Annual Thanksgiving Lunch Held in Byrneville
November 15, 2007
Beulah Chapel Assembly of God held its annual Community Thanksgiving Lunch for senior citizens Thursday.
About three dozen seniors attended the lunch, which featured a full Thanksgiving menu of turkey, ham, dressing, gravy, green beans, dumplings and sweet potato casserole. Additional lunches were delivered to shut-ins in the Byrneville community.
Church members were assisted by firemen from the Century Volunteer Fire Department in serving the lunch.
Click here for more photos from the event.
Bratt Elementary Honors Community Veterans
November 15, 2007
Bratt Elementary School’s third grade classes presented “Let’s Sing America” Thursday morning to honor veterans in the community.
With patriotic songs such as “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “We Remember”, the students paid tribute to those that have served our country.
A slideshow presentation included the names of many area veterans, along with their branch of service and area served. About a dozen veterans were honored at the first presentation of the musical.
The program was presented by the classes of Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Marlow, Mrs. Luker and Mrs. Smith.
For a complete photo gallery from the program, click here.
Former Woodham Teacher Arrested In Century Avoids Trial
November 14, 2007
James “Benny” Washington, former coach of the Woodham High School basketball program, will avoid trial on drug possession charges by entering a pretrial intervention program. Washington was arrested March 8 in Century.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Ellis Smallwood found a small piece of powder cocaine, a marijuana cigarette and rolling papers during a traffic stop on North Century Boulevard near Ranch Road, according to court papers.
Washington was clocked by Smallwood on radar at 41 mph in a 35 mph zone. Washington then pulled into the parking lot of the Century Burger King, before entering the highway again and being stopped by the deputy, according to testimony. Smallwood testified that he smelled a strong odor of burnt marijuana and air freshener upon making the traffic stop, prompting the search.
Washington’s attorney, Barry Beroset, argued that the traffic stop and resulting search were illegal. Circuit Judge Michael Allen did not agree, and refused to throw out the charges back in September.
The Escambia County School Board suspended Washington without pay from his teaching position at Woodham after his arrest. He was fired as Woodham’s basketall coach after being suspended by the Florida High School Athletic Association after allegedly making a racist remark toward black official. He publicly denied that claim. He had served as basketball coach for the Titans for 18 years. Woodham has since became a middle school.
The one felony and two misdemeanor charges against Washington will be dropped by state prosecutors if he completes the yearlong program of community service, random drug test and substance abuse counseling.
Nadine McCaw Wins Century Council Seat Two In Tuesday General Election
November 13, 2007
Nadine McCaw won seat number two on the Century City Council Tuesday, defeating write-in candidate Sheryl Jordan by a three to one margin.
McCaw received 294 votes, while Jordan received 101 votes. McCaw defeated James Sutton 348 to 252 in the October 9 city primary.
Also during the October 8 primary, Freddie McCall, Sr. defeated incumbent mayor Evelyn Hammond 355-245. For city council seat one, Ann Brooks defeated 30-year incumbent Marie McMurray 412 votes to 183.
Hammond subsequently filed a complain with Escambia Supervisor of Elections David Stafford alleging that Mayor-elect McCall and McCaw attempted to buy votes with money and watermelons. That complaint was referred to the State Attorney’s office for investigation.
The new council members and mayor will take office in January.
Fire Departments Respond to Alarm at Courthouse
November 12, 2007
At least four area fire departments responded to a fire alarm and a report of the smell of smoke about 6:30 Monday night at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse at 7500 North Century Boulevard.
The smoke smell and fire alarm activation were reported by a sheriff’s deputy in the building. After a thorough investigation, it was determined that the smell originated from a television that was overheating in the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department area of the building.
Fire departments from Century, McDavid, Molino and Flomaton all responded to the initial call.