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By Mary Lett (Pensacola News Journal)
O.J. Semmes Elementary and Global Learning Academy will be the first of six schools to participate in the Escambia Children’s Trust Healthy Schools Initiative.
The ECT had originally planned to include 10 Escambia County Public Schools elementary schools in the initiative over a five-year period. However, the ECT scaled down the program in order to pay $1,134,025 in back taxes to Escambia County, as well an estimated $450,000 in yearly taxes moving forward.
“Without having that funding, it eliminated our ability to fund all of the schools,” said Lindsey Cannon, ECT’s executive director, noting the Healthy Schools Initiative will target students in the school district’s “Corridors of Concern.”
The ECT sought an exemption from the past due taxes, but it was denied by Escambia County Commissioners. At ECT’s Sept. 19 meeting, Board Attorney Meredith D. Bush notified the board – Tina Cain, Escambia County School District Superintendent Keith Leonard, David Peaden, ECPS board member David Williams, Judge Thomas Williams and Board Chairwoman Tori Woods – of the denial. The matter was not discussed.
ECT board members Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May, Dr. Rex Northrup and Stephanie White did not attend the meeting.
Escambia Children's Trust must now pay taxes to the county. Why, and where the money goes:
Cannon told the News Journal that ECT has budgeted $450,000 per school per year to fund the initiative, which will bring wraparound services onto the schools’ campuses.
“We will start with two schools and increase that by two schools per year up to six schools at this time,” Cannon said.
Brentwood, Ensley, Lincoln Park, Montclair, Navy Point, Oakcrest, Sherwood and Warrington elementary schools were also identified as “the most in need schools,” for the initiative.
“The remaining four (schools) from the list have not been selected yet and will be done in partnership with the lead agency that is awarded the Healthy Schools Initiative, the Escambia County (School District) and ECT,” she added.
The national Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child program is (WSCC) supported by the Centers for Disease Control and is a framework for addressing health in schools. The model is student-centered and emphasizes the role of the community in supporting the school, the connections between health and academic achievement, and the importance of evidence-based school policies and practices.
On-site medical, dental and eye services; social service support; nutrition and health education; mental health services; community, school and family engagement opportunities; on-site after school physical and academic support programs; and mentoring are among the services to be offered at each school as part of the initiative.
Escambia County School Board member and former educator Bill Slayton applauds the initiative – saying it will be beneficial to students and their families.
“If the opportunity is in the school, parents and guardians are more apt to take advantage of it and it’s going to benefit the child. They will have access to doctors, dentists, eye doctors and if something happens at school, they can be seen quickly by just going to the medical clinic,” said Slayton who represents District 5.
He added he feels the initiative will also strengthen the relationship between the schools and the students.
“Teachers and administrators will get to know the students better. I remember back in my teaching days; we had two students we were very concerned about. These students had issues with personal hygiene and irregular attendance,” he recalled. “We eventually found out that they were living in a car. And then we were able to turn that over to an agency and get those kids some help.”
The Healthy School Initiative is set to begin Nov. 1. In June, ECT launched an Invitation to Bid for the Healthy Schools Escambia initiative to nonprofits. The deadline for proposals was Sept. 20. Cannon said ECT will announce the nonprofit selected as the lead agency for the initiative in October.
Slayton added the initiative is not only a win for the selected schools but for the entire school district.
“Escambia County School District has been trying very hard to get everyone on an upward plain. This initiative will help students maintain academic success. We don’t have any D or F schools this year and we want to keep it that way,” he said.
“Every school that reports to the school district was an A, B or C this year, and that success will be amplified when these students are healthier, their nutritious needs are met and we’re making sure things at home are in good shape. We work on helping the students first and that helps the school district.”
The Escambia Children’s Trust was approved by voters in 2020, the Escambia Children’s Trust is responsible for allocating more than $10 million annually in property taxes to fund initiatives and services to help children and their families, especially those with the greatest need.
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