[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6230673,"mediaKeyId","3442084-f52c878b650f431e91c60dc6deede926","parentId",3442084,"title","Board approves revised secondary student code of conduct for first reading; deletes alternate draft","audioSeconds",37,"startMs",1698000,"endMs",1735000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442084-f52c878b650f431e91c60dc6deede926&start=1698&end=1735","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442084-f52c878b650f431e91c60dc6deede926/thumbnail_1698000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6230673/Florida/Board-approves-revised-secondary-student-code-of-conduct-for-first-reading-deletes-alternate-draft","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230673-a222dd9787515ac527040a01d7e6c09c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137636&Signature=DXT90rhhFLxzfc6XBRS~F~EG7FgpxqIw2BtBijyjeYzskVi-BmcHZ6I0~F4KE0owV0ISGrzuH-655vKMEk-8DR3yO8gi3H4-jSru8w6oyxFjpEsXansiRtDa~BLNnjpbdpKKUjetUsHgY9UAWIDBRETm4kYOz9Ktoz0~bTeyy41wVjPSyNQ-OW0XMF7PiOlQZUSqNHCQduHfiFjhN3a~2jRJvzcF3RoQuHiq3-CpDv2EgZhkK5hrKE~L8NY2e6yewh9UAhuN6qUNoZ28IrK3SAj7U0WH602z6iDU2aunjA9YeJ-y12YvuTW2ofjGGj0988AzhuS-OG0eWuNGrZD4WQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Escambia School District","date","2025-05-22T08:25:17.747Z","article","The Escambia County School Board voted 5-0 on May 2, 2025, to approve a revised secondary code of student conduct as a first reading and to delete an alternate draft that had been published in error.

Board members discussed the presence of two draft versions of the secondary code of conduct during the meeting. Mister Williams, School Board member, noted that an earlier item (item c) should have been deleted because it duplicated discussion from a workshop and reflected an earlier draft; the board moved and voted to delete item c. The board then voted 5-0 to accept the revised copy of the secondary student code of conduct for the first reading (item d).

Board members clarified that the May 2 action constituted advertising for public input and was not final adoption. Mister Williams reminded the board and the public that final adoption would occur at a later meeting (the board referenced adoption at an August meeting for advertising-phase items).

The discussion also touched on a proposed contingency regarding cell phone usage in the event the district is chosen as a pilot county; board members noted language had been discussed at a workshop and that the correct language appeared in the approved draft. No final disciplinary language beyond the advertised revision was adopted on May 2.

The 5-0 votes to delete the duplicate draft and to approve the revised draft for first reading were recorded in the meeting minutes as advertising actions only; the district will take the normal final-adoption steps in subsequent meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular School Board Meeting - 05/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Escambia County School Board approved a revised secondary student code of conduct for first reading and voted to delete an alternate version that had been posted in error; the item is part of the advertising process and final adoption will occur at a later meeting.","taxTitle","Escambia, School Districts, Florida","taxId",15600,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6230677,"Public and board debate proposed boost to superintendent’s pay; no vote taken",1131,3756000,4887000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442084-f52c878b650f431e91c60dc6deede926&start=3756&end=4887","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442084-f52c878b650f431e91c60dc6deede926/thumbnail_3756000.jpg","/articles/6230677/Florida/Public-and-board-debate-proposed-boost-to-superintendents-pay-no-vote-taken","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230677-f3f740ec9aa8efbca1a8c701a5eeb3e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137636&Signature=kTUsISSwbL-AEHRVTdDNvzG0PnwPKMinfR7ZjY1SboMtLLkRgg7SR2Btx78dD-99DyN1WNAfPWA3Bm4jkalt8JEUeHIl~zu4~kPyHmGAqN8wtd6V8CGfRLEsIPZc-gIufkO73pl~9u9yIV0GYmJUt5-w0TdJIEHyRZqA~haX03sIh2foXAJMZeb1DOp8jc2VGyuc463iYg54aZAulnnEEgVje7wVBuqcV26Uz7Maoy3yfiYit2EgzcgPhMATJcXp-pJSQn2Dk1pkrehAhxkh6vuqe6nlEuAQSAwROPdsStgk7Ucsju03dYMD8oD9jyukkoGhZQm~uQWpnrs0MRKgxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A proposal reported to include a roughly $55,000 increase in Superintendent Leonard’s pay prompted public comment and board discussion on May 2, 2025, but the board did not take formal action.

Desiree Warren, a resident, said she recognizes the superintendent “is deserving of a raise” but asked the board to consider why $55,000 would be proposed when many district employees face pay pressures. Warren told the board that some employees work two or three jobs to make ends meet and said the board should remember employees when considering any superintendent salary change.

Board members’ remarks reflected concern about optics and district budget constraints. Mister Harrow, School Board member, said a $50,000 raise “is not in the cards at this time” and called such a jump “bad optics for our community.” Mister Fetzko, School Board member, and Mister Adams, School Board member, both expressed support for the superintendent’s performance but said larger increases should be considered in tandem with raises for classroom and support staff. Adams noted the superintendent’s contract currently sets a base salary and said increments tied to annual evaluation and district-wide compensation adjustments could be a path forward.

At the meeting, Mister Harrow referenced contractual details raised during discussion: he said Superintendent Leonard’s contract listed a salary of $172,250 and that the contract includes travel allowances and potential performance-related incentives. Board members noted that under the contract matrix the superintendent could be eligible for an evaluation-based increase in December tied to other administrative raises, commonly in the range of a few percent.

No motion to change the superintendent’s salary was introduced or voted on during the May 2 meeting. Several board members said they would discuss the topic further, including the possibility of incremental adjustments tied to district negotiations and employee raises. Superintendent Leonard did not receive a board-approved salary change that night.

Speakers and board members asked staff to consider legally defensible approaches that would balance competitive pay for district leadership with fairness to teachers and support staff; board members said they expected further discussion before any salary action.","A proposal reported in local media to increase Superintendent Leonard’s salary by roughly $55,000 drew public comment and divided board reaction; several members said optics and budget constraints make a large immediate raise unlikely and that any change should be phased or tied to employee compensation.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6230683,"Residents urge immediate removal of sexually explicit books; board says process too slow",1588,2580000,4168000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442084-f52c878b650f431e91c60dc6deede926&start=2580&end=4168","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442084-f52c878b650f431e91c60dc6deede926/thumbnail_2580000.jpg","/articles/6230683/Florida/Residents-urge-immediate-removal-of-sexually-explicit-books-board-says-process-too-slow","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230683-675f76a5934c9df20b37865663b8d755/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137636&Signature=X9lJo-rDupPyfqQkLzaD7Yon~w0JmG~JsMeU4pVOJ6R4ZI9cr7urp~iR3qSOPnkRerJdnoE1Qzbj6fTn~ActwvZWsEnQz~aOgGpfc3PmwjXBLzWk4XuI0ZHeAmkK5~ITW78P5SBiq8ptc0~EXZyLWIW~Attew~F2iXSjjl2QoT2tlHx43QqNtVqnvchJLe-KHRLi3JFat0H6LanWrdnYBxAZcc~G7mB87YXBiot2V11wBmFUSPJtqh0FVvzRb1tOHWGR-9kbhAFbGrSkq8EgSCNI6pDtZk-R3GZU1~Ly98Q0ffbDeChH14gcc0OSHUbN~u8J7Ur0xH4GpVxj0tqNcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents pressed the Escambia County School Board on May 2, 2025, to remove books from school libraries that they said contain sexually explicit material and lack legitimate academic purpose.

The calls for removals followed a recent Florida attorney general letter to Hillsborough County instructing that “the school board bears the affirmative obligation to remove these materials and others like them, not only from the classroom but from the libraries,” a point repeatedly cited by speakers during the board’s public forum.

Vicki Baggett, a resident who has submitted multiple titles for review, told the board she has identified dozens of books she says contain explicit passages and read several of those passages aloud at the meeting. Baggett said the district currently “has 235 books to be reviewed” and that, by her count, about 88 would remain after removing titles already removed in other Florida counties. She said only one book has been removed since review committees resumed and urged the board to act immediately rather than rely on committee review.

Several other speakers urged quicker action. Rick Holznick, a resident, cited the attorney general’s letter and said Hillsborough removed “389,000 books,” urging Escambia officials to “get the low hanging fruit” and remove titles already flagged elsewhere. Keith Bowen, who said he serves on a district book review committee for District 2, described what he called “a broken book review process” and urged the board or superintendent to remove books that entered libraries without proper review. Melanie Eubanks and Desiree Warren also told the board the current review system is not working and asked for swifter removals.

Board members acknowledged the backlog and the public concern but did not vote to remove any titles during the meeting. Mister Adams, School Board member, said if books have already been removed in other Florida districts, “then let’s get them the heck out of Escambia County.” Mister Fetzko, School Board member, described the review process as “entirely too slow” and said the board should consider a different procedure. Mister Harrow, School Board member, said the district should “move forward” but also noted legal risks and federal lawsuits tied to removal decisions.

Superintendent Leonard, cited by speakers and board members, did not announce any immediate removals. Board members repeatedly framed the issue as one that requires legal defensibility and faster committee throughput; they said the topic would be discussed at an upcoming workshop so the board can consider procedural changes or other options to accelerate removals.

No formal board action to remove specific titles was taken on May 2. Instead, the meeting record shows substantial public comment and several board members directing staff or the board to return with options for changing the review process.

The public testimony included requests for transparency about which titles were flagged, how donations enter school libraries, and whether administrators and media specialists are following state law. Speakers referenced Florida Statute 847.012 and a recent attorney general enforcement letter as the legal basis for removals. One speaker also raised related transparency questions about audit committee notices and meeting minutes.

The board closed the public forum after extended comment and indicated the book-review process and possible policy changes would be an agenda item for a future workshop. The district’s next steps and any specific titles that might be removed were not specified at the meeting.","Multiple residents urged the Escambia County School Board to remove books they described as pornographic from school libraries, citing an attorney general letter and state statute; the board acknowledged the backlog and said it will discuss speeding the process at a future workshop but took no immediate removal action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves revised secondary student code of conduct for first reading; deletes alternate draft

Public and board debate proposed boost to superintendent’s pay; no vote taken

Residents urge immediate removal of sexually explicit books; board says process too slow