A decision by the Escambia County School Board left an educator without a job Monday.

John Lambert was terminated following a hearing of the board with only one board member voting against the termination. Board members Chuck Brooks, Mike Goolsby, Sherry Digmon, William Grissett, Jack Crutchfield and Danny Benjamin voted in favor of approving Superintendent Randall Little’s recommendation to terminate Lambert. Board member Cindy Jackson cast the lone vote to allow Lambert to retain his position as band director at Flomaton High School.

The hearing was filled with presentations from attorneys representing the Escambia County School Board and Lambert.

Lambert’s position was put in jeopardy after  Rita Folmar, a custodian at the school, discovered a handgun in a book bag inside Lambert’s band room office in May.

Lambert had initially submitted a letter of resignation following the discovery, but quickly rescinded that resignation.

Evidence presented during the hearing included information found in School Board Policy 826, which involves a zero tolerance policy on weapons being brought onto school property by students or personnel.

Folmar, who was the subject of a second hearing Monday afternoon, appeared before the board as attorney’s asked for a continuance in that case.

For more details on the hearing and outcome, see the Wednesday edition of The Brewton Standard.