By By Adam Prestridge
special to the standard
At first glance, Escambia County Board of Education’s bank balance seems high with $7.6 million reported at Thursday afternoon’s monthly board meeting held at Escambia County Middle School.
With an increase of $344,000 compared to the November 2009 financial statement, proration seems a distant threat.
During her monthly report of the December 2009 financials, Chief School Financial Officer Julie Madden warned not to get to excited over the increase because the balance will soon begin a steady decline.
The meeting’s atmosphere helped to ease the financial challenges that await board members as administrators from across the county including principals and teachers along with some parents packed the ECMS library in celebration of School Board Recognition Month.
In years past, board members have been treated to a variety of entertainment as appreciation including dance routines, slide shows about children accomplishments and students imitating board members in skits. Thursday, board members were treated to a variety of music performed by students from Escambia County High School as well as the middle school under the direction of ECHS band director Deri Grissett.
Board members were also showered with gifts ranging from a variety of cakes and gift baskets to T-shirts and framed photos by principals and their staffs from across the county.