By By Lisa Tindell – news reporter
During an executive session of the Escambia County School Board Thursday, three students were expelled from the school district for the remainder of the school year because of a bomb threat incident at the Central Alternative School.
The names of the W.S. Neal High School students were not released by school officials due to their age.
School board members discussed the possible expulsions during an executive session. After that closed-door meeting, board members decided unanimously to expel the students.
Superintendent Billy Hines said in an earlier interview that the actions of the three are unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Escambia County's schools.
In other business, board members approved the budget for the 2008 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, 2007 and ends Sept. 30, 2008.
The $7.8 million budget reflects a $2.8 million increase over last year's budget. The budget includes total state revenue of $27,244,449 for the upcoming fiscal year.
Every school in the county school system will see some improvements during the year as a result of voters passing the ad valorem tax renewal in June according to Julie Madden, financial officer for the system.
The tax renewal has a significant impact on the budget each year, she said.
As a result of the continuation of those tax revenues in the budget, W.S. Neal Elementary School was able to add an assistant principal while W.S. Neal Middle and High Schools each received an additional teacher unit.
Flomaton Elementary and High Schools with each receive capital improvements. Pollard-McCall Junior High School will receive a teacher aid unit as well as a small amount of capital improvements.
In the Atmore area, A.C. Moore Elementary, Escambia County Middle and High Schools will each receive additional teacher units while Rachel Patterson Elementary and Huxford Elementary Schools will each receive funds for capital improvement projects.
Among the increases in expenditures for the coming year are increases in state mandated fringe benefits for employees.
Other increases in benefits to employees include a rise in the percentage of interest paid by the system into the retirement account of each employee.
Expenditures for the coming year also include a $50,000 increase in fuel costs over last year's costs.