The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Workshop Meeting at 8:00 p.m., in the cafeteria at Northview High School, 4100 West Highway 4, Bratt, Florida, with the following present:

Chairman: Dr. John DeWitt (entered the workshop at 8:10p.m.)

Vice Chairman: Mrs. Cary Stidham

Members: Mr. Gary L. Bergosh (entered the workshop at 8:20 p.m.)

Mrs. Linda Finkelstein

Dr. Elmer Jenkins

School Board Attorney: Mr. Francisco Negron (was not present)

Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim Paul

I. CALL TO ORDER

Mrs. Stidham chaired the workshop which was called to order at 8:00 p.m.

II. DISCUSSION OF SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND PLAN ON SCHOOL CONSOLIDATIONS AND SCHOOL CLOSINGS, AND INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC, AS AFFECTING SCHOOLS IN THE AREA

The Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Mandy Calloway, Bratt, Florida, spoke in support of keeping Byrneville and Bratt Elementary Schools open.

2) Dusty Boutwell, Cody Boutwell, and John Burkett (Byrneville Elementary School students) asked that the Board keep the school open.

3) Dave Murzon addressed the Board on behalf of Florida Representative Jeff Miller, and he spoke in favor of keeping District 5 schools open.

4) Shawn White, 197 West Roach Road, McDavid, Florida, spoke in support of keeping Byrneville Elementary School open.

5) Patti Cook, Bratt, Florida, requested that other budgetary options be explored before closing schools.

6) Tommy Mayhugh, Bratt, Florida, stated that he serves on the School Advisory Council for Barrineau Park Elementary School, and he asked that the Board keep the school open.

7) Kim Wilcoxon, School Advisory Council Chairman, Byrneville Elementary School, asked that the Board keep the school open. She asked that the Board consider a proposal to extend schools days by one (1) or one-and-a-half (1½) hours per day to make four-day school weeks (which would change the number of school days from 180 to 144 days). She suggested checking with other districts which have implemented four-day school weeks to pursue that possibility.

8) Carl Emmons, 4885 Highway 168, Walnut Hill, Florida, expressed concern regarding the cost of running two administrative sites, and he suggested considering consolidation of the Garden Street site into the Hall Center. He also suggested looking at reducing the number of administrators.

9) Ruby Amerson Wells, Byrneville, Florida, spoke in favor of keeping schools open in District 5.

10) Laura Cook, Bratt, Florida, spoke in favor of keeping District 5 schools open.

11) Robin Parker, 2505 Breastworks Road, Walnut Hill, Florida, asked the Board to keep schools open in District 5.

12) Marion Williams, 196 Mango Avenue, Pensacola, Florida, requested that the Board allow an extension of time (beyond 2001) to raise appropriate funding to keep the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center open.

13) Jennifer Lee, 4091 Roley Road, Bratt, Florida, addressed the Board representing Bratt Elementary School, and she spoke in support of keeping neighborhood schools open. A handout and video (not filed for the record) were also provided to Board Members.

14) Rikki Vidak, Molino, Florida, asked that the Board keep schools open in District 5.

15) Gwen Tutton, Bratt, Florida, spoke in favor of keeping District 5 schools open.

16) Cecilia Sapp, Bratt, Florida, expressed support for keeping schools open in District 5.

17) Jane Thomas, 5275 Pilgrim Trail West, Molino, Florida, stated that she serves as a volunteer at Bratt Elementary School, and she asked that the Board explore other budgetary options before closing or consolidating schools.

18) Linda Johnson, Bratt, Florida, spoke in favor of keeping District 5 schools open.

19) Alan Lowery, Bratt, Florida, stated that he has two sons attending Ernest Ward Middle School, and he asked that the Board keep the school open.

20) Mary Carter, Byrneville, Florida, stated that she is a bus driver for the school system, and she expressed support for keeping schools open in District 5.

21) Barbara Morgan, Bratt, Florida, spoke in favor of keeping District 5 schools open.

22) Paula Sellars, 161 West Highway 4, Byrneville, Florida, asked that the Board keep Byrneville Elementary School open.

23) Amanda Sellars, 161 West Highway 4, Byrneville, Florida, stated that she is a fourth grade student at Byrneville Elementary School, and she asked that the Board keep the school open.

24) Steve Leonard, 3250 Holland Road, McDavid, Florida, expressed concern that consolidation would overcrowd schools, and he asked that the Board pursue other budgetary options.

25) Heather Leonard, 3250 Holland Road, McDavid, Florida, asked that the Board keep schools open in District 5.

26) Heath Burkett, Bratt, Florida, stated that he is a third grade student at Byrneville Elementary, and he asked that the school be kept open.

27) Roy Chancery, McDavid, Florida, addressed the Board in support of keeping schools open in District 5.

28) Clark Caraway, 3020 Breastworks Road, McDavid, Florida, spoke in favor of keeping District 5 schools open.

29) Lina Showalter, Bratt, Florida, spoke in favor of keeping District 5 schools open.

30) Stephanie Nielson, 7900 Raines Road, Century, Florida, expressed opposition to closing schools in District 5.

31) Lissa Bardin, Bratt, Florida, spoke in favor of keeping District 5 schools open.

32) Jesse Bailey, Bratt, Florida, expressed support for keeping schools open in District 5.

33) Gary Killam, 2361 West State Line Road, Century, Florida, asked that schools not be closed in order to provide employee raises, and he asked the Board to explore other budgetary options.

34) Christina Thompson, Bratt, Florida, requested that the Board keep schools open in District 5.

35) Paula Vernigan, Bratt, Florida, stated that she is a teacher at Carver Middle School, and she asked that the Board take time to consider other budgetary options before closing schools.

36) C. A. Weis, 1150 Byrneville Road, Century, Florida, expressed support for keeping schools open in District 5.

37) Lisa Dumas, Bratt, Florida, asked that the schools be kept open.

38) Aulmon Watford, 860 West Bogia Road, Bogia, Florida, stated that he is a Northview High School student, and he expressed opposition to school consolidation or school closure.

39) Frank Faust, Byrneville, Florida, spoke in support of keeping schools open.

40) Colvin Davis, Bratt, Florida, asked that schools remain open in District 5.

41) Wendi Oliver, Byrneville, Florida, stated that she is a senior at Northview High School, and she spoke in favor of keeping schools open.

42) Carolyn Conn, Bratt, Florida, stated that she previously taught at Ernest Ward Middle School and at Bratt Elementary School. She asked that schools remain open.

43) Idainer Bradley, Bratt, Florida, stated that she has a child attending Northview High School and a child attending Carver Middle School. She asked that the Board keep these schools open.

44) Rian Kagerrels, Molino, Florida, stated that he is the Minister at Aldersgate Methodist Church, and he asked that more time be given to research budget options, with school closings to be considered only as a last resort.

45) Paul Chason, 4450 North Highway 99, Century, Florida, stated that he serves on the Ernest Ward Middle School Advisory Council, and he spoke in support of keeping the schools open in District 5. He also stated that a petition would be provided with over 155 signatures in support of a K-8 proposal.

46) Colleen Boyett, 1667 Williams Ditch Road, Cantonment, Florida, stated that she is a teacher, and she spoke in support of the Superintendent's proposed plan for consolidation of schools.

47) Lisa Emmons, 4885 Highway 168, Walnut Hill, Florida, asked that the Board not close District 5 schools. She expressed concern that if Bratt Elementary School closed, her child may have to ride the bus for over an hour to get to school.

48) Scott Parker, 2505 Breastworks Road, Walnut Hill, Florida, commented concerning growth potential in the northern part of the County.

49) Jerrold Burroughs, Byrneville, Florida, stated that he is a teacher in District 5 and formerly served as a State Representative, and he expressed concerns about increasing the student to teacher ratio. He asked that the Board keep schools open.

50) Carrie North, Bratt, Florida, expressed opposition to school consolidations or school closings in District 5.

51) Gary Maher, 341 Highway 164, McDavid, Florida, asked that schools in District 5 remain open and that the Board continue to look for other funding alternatives.

52) Melanie Killam, 2361 West State Line Road, Century, Florida, asked that the Board take into consideration that Byrneville Elementary School, Century Elementary, and Carver Middle School are Title I schools.

53) John Miller, Bratt, Florida, stated that he is a junior at Northview High School, and he spoke in favor of keeping schools open.

54) Judy Griggers, 3340 Oakshade Road, Century, Florida, stated that her son attends Northview High School and her two daughters attend Bratt Elementary School. She asked that schools in District 5 not be closed.

55) Jacquelyn Smith, Bratt, Florida, stated that she is a third grade teacher at Byrneville Elementary School, and she asked that the Board keep the school open.

56) Sheila Bryan, 3690 Oakshade Road, Bratt, Florida, stated that she is a teacher at Bratt Elementary School, and she expressed opposition to consolidating or closing schools in District 5.

57) Jeffery Kimbrough, McDavid, Florida, asked that schools not be consolidated or closed in District 5.

Mrs. Stidham closed the public forum and relinquished the gavel to Dr. DeWitt. Chairman DeWitt thanked everyone for attending and providing input. He announced that the School Board will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, January 29, 2001, at 4:30 at the Hall Center to discuss proposed plans for school consolidation and school closure and consider final decision by the Board.

III. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the workshop adjourned at 10:00 p.m. (Official recordings of this workshop are filed in the Information Services Department.)

Attest: Approved:

________________________ __________________________

Superintendent Chairman