The Escambia County School Board approved the published agenda and a series of routine and personnel items at its April 2025 meeting, voting unanimously on the agenda and most consent items and registering one abstention on a leave-of-absence request tied to a board member’s family.

Board Chair David Williams called for adoption of the agenda, which passed 5–0 after a motion and second. The board then approved minutes, appointments and multiple consent items by similar unanimous votes.

Why it matters: the actions include a personnel planning change that removes a legacy “safety officer” classification from the district’s staffing plan and clarifies that the duties were para‑administrative, not school security — a change the district said reassigns work to specialized staff as the protection services function matured.

The board approved a requested leave for Lisa Nelson with a separate vote. Board member Harrell abstained from that vote, saying he would abstain because the applicant is his daughter; the leave was approved 4–0 with one abstention. Other routine reports — inventory and the district hotline report — were approved 5–0.

Votes at a glance

- Adoption of the meeting agenda — approved 5–0.
- Approval of March 13 and March 18 minutes — approved 5–0 (each).
- Administrative appointments (as presented by the superintendent) — approved 5–0.
- Consent agenda (minus pulled items) — approved 5–0.
- Leave of absence (Item 25c; remainder approved as amended) — initial amendment and the package approved 5–0; separate vote on Lisa Nelson’s leave: approved 4–0 with 1 abstention (Harrell).
- Personnel planning document (Item 25g) — approved 5–0; staff clarified this removes a holdover “safety officer” classification and that the duties are being absorbed by protection services specialists.
- Proclamation: May 2025 Teacher Appreciation Week and May 6, 2025 Teacher Appreciation Day — approved 5–0.
- Inventory reports and hotline report (Internal Audit) — each approved 5–0.

What board members and staff said

A district staff member explaining the personnel planning change told the board that the safety officer title is a holdover from early protection services work and that the role is not equivalent to classroom security or guardians; the duties have been redistributed to specialist positions as the department matured. The board accepted the clarification before voting 5–0 on the personnel planning document.

On the Lisa Nelson leave vote, Harrell stated he would abstain because the applicant is his daughter; the board approved the request by a show of hands, 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.

Discussion vs. decision

Discussion: Board members asked for clarification about the safety officer role and public understanding; staff clarified the title’s history and that only two such positions existed and that specialists now perform the responsibilities.

Decision: The board voted to (a) approve the consent agenda (minus pulled items), (b) approve the personnel planning document that removes the safety officer classification, and (c) approve Lisa Nelson’s leave with one abstention.

Next steps and context

The personnel change was described as an internal staffing reclassification; implementation will proceed within the protection services department. The board did not place additional conditions on the leave approval beyond the standard paperwork and abstention record.

Ending: The meeting moved from routine business into the public forum, where community members raised separate topics including book review committee procedures and requests to expand vocational and resilience training programs.