By By JOHN DILMORE JR. Publisher
The Escambia County School board met last week to name a successor to district seven board member Stephen McGill, who resigned his position to serve on the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Charles H. "Chuck" Brooks was chosen from a field of six candidates to fill the vacated seat.
Board member Willie Grissett said that all applicants for the district seven poisition -- who were interviewed at the board's Brewton office Nov. 4 -- were impressive.
The applicants were graded using a point system, Grissett said, and all had graded high.
In other action, the board voted to re-elect board member Mike Goolsby as its chairman, and to elect Grissett as its vice chairman.
Superintendent Melvin (Buck) Powell also urged board members to continue encouraging people to get out and vote on Dec. 9, when a vote on a new 10-mill tax to fund eduaction will be held.
The purpose of the new tax is to bolster eduaction funding with local funds to make up for monies that have been lost due to state funding cuts. Among the potential consequences the district has laid out if the measure does not pass are the elimination of band and athletic programs and the closing of some school facilities.
The school board also moved to replace one teacher from Neal Elementary who has moved out of town, and to replace one bus driver.
An executive session followed, during which members of the board discussed the possible expulsion of two students -- one from Escambia County High School and one from Flomaton Middle School.
After the session it was announced that the expulsions would go through.
The Escambia County High School student will be expelled for the remainder of the school year, and the Flomaton Middle School student will be expelled for a period of one calendar year, beginning Nov. 13.