[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",5986393,"mediaKeyId","5766745-1691d4e36938703142fb17eb4e45d4e2","parentId",5766745,"title","District reports low overall referral rate but flags afternoon bus misconduct as a rising concern","audioSeconds",114,"startMs",3293000,"endMs",3407000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5766745-1691d4e36938703142fb17eb4e45d4e2&start=3293&end=3407","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5766745-1691d4e36938703142fb17eb4e45d4e2/thumbnail_3293000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5986393/Florida/District-reports-low-overall-referral-rate-but-flags-afternoon-bus-misconduct-as-a-rising-concern","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5986393-628228f2766c4c95ffe4801b1a53e45a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770410&Signature=YxZoA8Sa8YFvBYKMarNRwM7XTMvWVpGONCvtH3WUT2Y32VYZs5J-A3ULCTzuG-3MiPDseTX9kad9EeVcz5dTtEdNZLbewxgHtRSCQev~YqarlLBHwaMU2vsDES1wiR2cB7M7qsLHCQfGroUM5LNoPRbo-ZMU9vGCZwlxmLYATPzaVTTSG3G~DVT5X1IDxSGxccSGMc6nIT08LI0TXaw~zURHIMhtZQVQGw3HgmpLIOaLq3e3~OPDY3Bv9B8~AuhYbSybdwuuwLJabr7zkT4jtw0Mg180eeBu32Eh3m7GkkMpwb6WQWwIdw1-HFvFhmRK59N1Io-3Mnv8serNfj0enQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Escambia School District","date","2025-09-12T15:38:37Z","article","Superintendent Leonard provided an update on discipline at the Sept. 11 workshop, telling the board that, to date, about 98.2–98.3% of students had zero disciplinary referrals and that the district will provide a fuller report at the end of the first nine‑week grading period.

The superintendent said the district excludes tardies and late check‑ins from the referral count in the current figures and plans to include those metrics in the comprehensive report. He praised school leadership and teachers for improvement efforts but said the one area where discipline has worsened is on afternoon buses, and he asked school administrators and transportation staff to address the problem.

Board members echoed the need to ensure student and staff safety and described practices they have observed, including removing persistently disruptive students from buses and, when necessary, from school to maintain learning environments. Several members said restoring parent confidence that schools are safe and orderly can reduce transfers to alternatives.

Next steps: staff will return with a full discipline briefing at the end of the nine‑week period that will include referrals, tardies, attendance and coursework metrics and will highlight actions taken to address bus misconduct.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ECPS YouTube - September 11, 2025 - Regular School Board Meeting and Workshop","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Leonard reported that less than 2% of students had received disciplinary referrals so far in the term, praised school leadership and noted an uptick in disruptive behavior on afternoon bus routes; the district will bring a more complete discipline update after the first nine‑week period.","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},5986398,"West Florida High pre‑nursing students describe clinical pipeline and certifications to board",270,2518000,2788000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5766745-1691d4e36938703142fb17eb4e45d4e2&start=2518&end=2788","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5766745-1691d4e36938703142fb17eb4e45d4e2/thumbnail_2518000.jpg","/articles/5986398/Florida/West-Florida-High-prenursing-students-describe-clinical-pipeline-and-certifications-to-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5986398-5417f5428c281862b7123977b213aac7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770410&Signature=SEddKawtw1gFmX-jKfBv7pP6BzO-Pob7Ho9u-xTEm-~Tf1JIiU6MTSXixJDArGjSVV0bIwtg367P2R2dLj3l1puRAHXHu9P5qpjSr9SIrDj2ONVZehUMXGb0vu1NvwtkX750mKmHAAKK3Z2zVgbArW20LKThHxg6TJS88L0bggoTwn64LaO-CACyoOYhKjpjgDLKfqDTZ5aMDFItG3oMHdvat5-3QIjHkDUS0WLc95QheAZVjVVTpssP8YCQ3Q0jaDQs-Qy1XAmHWUw65VM53nQEtxMAs4MBMIxhW6YGrmD2o1R0gVFrT5O7EOr6Z1a2REeBnm97I0xAraC~Pa687Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Five students from West Florida High School’s Pre‑Nursing Academy told the school board Sept. 11 about the program’s coursework, certifications and clinical experience and outlined their post‑graduation plans.

The students described a four‑year sequence that begins with anatomy and physiology in ninth grade, moves through foundations of health care and ECG technology, and culminates in a senior‑year clinical rotation at Baptist and West Florida hospitals under the supervision of staff registered nurses. Seniors in the program complete multiple industry certifications — including patient care technician, medical assistant and home health aide credentials — intended to give students hands‑on experience entering health‑care programs or employment.

Why it matters: district and regional health‑science academies are part of the local workforce pipeline for nurses and allied‑health professionals at a time when national and state reports indicate nursing shortages. The students told the board the program’s strong certification record and involvement in HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) provide competitive advantages for graduates.

Student plans: the five presenters listed colleges they plan to attend, including Pensacola State College, University of Florida, Florida A&M and the University of South Alabama, and said most peers in the program plan to pursue nursing or other health‑care degrees.

Board response: board members praised the students and their instructor, Gail Ewing. Members noted the program’s role in college and career readiness and encouraged continuing support for clinical partnerships and certification opportunities.

Next steps: no formal action was required; board members asked staff to continue highlighting career‑technical programs and to ensure support for clinical placements and certification funding.","Five West Florida High students presented the school’s pre‑nursing pathway — classroom coursework, certifications and 40‑hour senior clinical rotations at local hospitals — and said many classmates plan to pursue nursing degrees at local and state colleges.",{"_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},5986403,"Board signals intent to remove citizen book‑review committees; staff to rewrite policy for Tuesday first reading",526,4814000,5340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5766745-1691d4e36938703142fb17eb4e45d4e2&start=4814&end=5340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5766745-1691d4e36938703142fb17eb4e45d4e2/thumbnail_4814000.jpg","/articles/5986403/Florida/Board-signals-intent-to-remove-citizen-bookreview-committees-staff-to-rewrite-policy-for-Tuesday-first-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5986403-502e3e18f8180cf52c3307c8302e5717/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770410&Signature=mD0JLaeAZ1tsHLZFyDzmWDL7TeKZ2vb2i23bgdI88HekmHrKL~FVqNbEnOWxLL4OdkAxwcewa8TmCvZyuLioxNGsievYIMQ1tRMkThHALzUo2QvHg3iwf5zHGgFZhRj9xO4hybhhPgPpypwzSxEc-rU~aBcHDcLYYpbsOnhZiI8qUPP2ZdLYGW6T1HuzXhbVYhAGvSWuji-~kkYY4HJs6Gy06RVPZqiosAGoTvJZNtCBA3oQ5fEH0E-UFPo4ogx2hTKrXQN0u-h6Z3wdM-sXhhlgPElbGwzSB725DY7ajLY8qrzSLskzxv240rbzIPd-P4WpZ6LVWSr5v2Y01TYiUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Sept. 11 workshop the Escambia County School Board discussed proposed changes to library collection and book‑review procedures and expressed majority support for eliminating citizen‑based book review committees from the district policy, directing staff to prepare the revised policy for the board’s first reading on Tuesday.

Why it matters: board members said the existing committee process had proven cumbersome and slow and that the district — not volunteer review panels — would ultimately be held responsible if challenged materials remained on shelves. Several board members said they favor an internal review path that retains parental input on the front end and reserves appeals to the full board.

Details of the board discussion: board members referenced draft policy changes on Policy 25.20 and 25.22 and debated whether to remove committee language immediately or to present an amended policy for the board’s formal first reading. The board’s attorney advised caution: policy language should be replaced through the policy amendment process rather than a standalone resolution, because the existing policy contains optional committee language. The attorney recommended preserving current policy language until a replacement plan is ready.

Staff and media‑services input: Media Services described a new practice for 2023–24 in which school media specialists prepare purchase lists, obtain principal approval and post the lists to school websites for at least 10 days so community members can provide feedback before a new title is purchased. Where a purchase is a duplicate for a school, staff said those copies can be purchased without board action; where a book is new to the district the item will be routed for higher‑level approval. Superintendent Leonard and district counsel discussed creating a short district-level review panel (three staff members) to consider challenges, with board appeal to follow.

Board direction and next steps: a majority of members present asked staff to remove the citizen committee language from the policy draft to be presented for the board’s first reading at the next regular meeting; staff were asked to develop replacement procedures that include (1) a documented sign‑off by media specialists and principals certifying compliance with state requirements, (2) a district review panel to process credible challenges and (3) an appeals path to the full board. Board members emphasized they expect a clear, written accountability trail so the district can show who vetted a challenged title.

No formal vote took place at the workshop; the board agreed to place the amended policy on the upcoming meeting agenda for formal action.","At a Sept. 11 workshop board members directed staff to prepare revisions to policy sections that currently provide for citizen‑based book review committees, asking district staff to propose a streamlined internal review process and reporting/appeal path to the board.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5986408,"Escambia school leaders warn falling enrollment and voucher flow-throughs shrank general-fund cushion to about 5.5%",609,587000,1196000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5766745-1691d4e36938703142fb17eb4e45d4e2&start=587&end=1196","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5766745-1691d4e36938703142fb17eb4e45d4e2/thumbnail_587000.jpg","/articles/5986408/Florida/Escambia-school-leaders-warn-falling-enrollment-and-voucher-flow-throughs-shrank-general-fund-cushion-to-about-55","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5986408-e731c16837fac446b308c58638802caa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770410&Signature=QFu4v3YrAUp~boWXBlO4HdkvcdE9vbh6dxRnc2O-7dNcw-rN5dUfXzo60tvyx9kbBvNwfCKE-BTdCpS2rgBaPigVOok3Dl9Mmg9FtFzGqRAo7sCBfKYBmvdJfqWMkSvQvLxzdTiHKLu5OWrHc0X070545DavIEa1X7Ja7kCv3R~p7sL5HZzBsanmeylhai2YaH37sgS~YZwKBW4GEWBBDE8ICOGwbCnFQES6FjBg-PCAN6gICamEWKAQxmn-K8ZBHYklQ0DNXgLwZ~mmhZFehmgw~SoGYcmGA0G9gRogLjUQLxAGKWX7aGGxR0bgF~pHd8okctGfU3ETYvG9Mhf-Ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Escambia County School Board members and Superintendent Leonard discussed the district’s financial condition during a Sept. 11 special meeting, focusing on a decline in traditional student enrollment, a fund balance that dropped to about 5.5% of the general fund and the way state voucher funding appears in district budgets even when the dollars flow to private schools.

Board members raised the issue after the board approved a resolution amending the 2023–24 and 2024–25 district budget and then accepted the superintendent’s annual financial report. Board Member Adams noted a decrease in the district’s “financial condition ratio” from 9.7% to about 5.5% and urged monthly reporting that would show how internal transfers and reserve changes affect the overall picture.

Why it matters: a slimmer fund balance reduces the district’s flexibility to address unexpected costs and to fund salary or program changes without drawing reserves. Board members said they want earlier, clearer updates so the board can consider adjustments before late‑year transfers or one‑time accounting moves are needed.

Superintendent Leonard and staff told the board that the apparent stability of the budget is obscured by the state funding formula and voucher flow-throughs. The superintendent explained that state voucher payments are included in the district’s overall budget figures even when the money ultimately goes to charter or private providers; as a result, the district’s actual controllable funds shrink with lower traditional school enrollment even when the top‑line number looks similar. Board members said the district has identified roughly 277–300 students who remain in district classrooms while holding vouchers, creating a timing and revenue mismatch the district is still attempting to resolve with the state.

The superintendent described some of the steps already taken to reduce costs, including staffing reallocations, continued review of contracted services and using capital millage to cover eligible costs such as transportation. He said transportation routes are operating on four tiers with fewer drivers and that some positions were absorbed into staffing allocations rather than being eliminated outright.

Board members and staff discussed potential next steps if the enrollment trend and voucher outflow continue: hiring freezes, a review of contracted services, and longer‑range options such as consolidation or repurposing of under‑capacity schools. Board Member Petzko and other members said closures and consolidations are possible tools but cautioned that such steps would take 12–18 months to implement and must be done thoughtfully to avoid creating vacant buildings that could be taken over by others.

Formal actions: the board moved and approved a resolution to amend the 2023–24 and 2024–25 district school budget and voted, 5–0, to accept the superintendent’s annual financial report. Several members signaled they plan to return for follow‑up workshops requesting monthly snapshots of the financial condition ratio and a simple dashboard showing major transfers.

Next steps: board members asked staff to prepare more frequent, top‑level reports (including a consistent financial condition ratio and a fund‑balance chart) and to bring longer‑range options — such as consolidation or building repurposing plans — to future workshops so the board can consider timing and community impact before making final decisions.","Board members and the superintendent discussed a lower-than-expected fund balance, a drop in traditional public-school enrollment and voucher funding that appears in district budgets but flows to private providers, and possible staffing and facility changes to avoid a budget shortfall.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District reports low overall referral rate but flags afternoon bus misconduct as a rising concern

West Florida High pre‑nursing students describe clinical pipeline and certifications to board

Board signals intent to remove citizen book‑review committees; staff to rewrite policy for Tuesday first reading

Escambia school leaders warn falling enrollment and voucher flow-throughs shrank general-fund cushion to about 5.5%