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New software could mean a better way of travel for bus drivers with the Escambia County School system.

In last week’s meeting of the Escambia County School Board, members gave approval for a contract for Transfinder, the software to help administrators create bus routes easing some trouble with the current routing system.

“The cost would be about $14,000 the first year which would include installation and set up,” Superintendent Michelle Collier told board members. “The annual cost after that would be about $7,400.”

The total cost of the contract with Transfinder is $21,440 to be paid from state transportation funds, Collier said.

Collier explained the data management program would allow bus shop supervisors to have the tools to create and map bus routes to make overlapping and extended time on busses for students more manageable. The board approved the recommendation.

In other business, the board:

• approved an amended supplement salary schedule for 2024-25 to correct wording in contracts for certain employees;
• approved a contract with KAM Technologies for network equipment upgrades in the newly renovated wing of A.C. Moore Primary School in the amount of $41,760 to be paid out of FY 24 A&T funds;
• approved a contract with Creamer Dozer Service, Inc., for site work and concrete pad work at Flomaton High School Stadium in the amount of $59,000 to be paid out of FY24 A&T funds;
• approved an overnight trip for two Escambia Career Readiness Center students who will be competed at the SkillsUSA National Conference in Atlanta on June 23-27. Principal Sabrina Wilson will accompany the students.
• approved the following personnel changes:

RETIREMENT: Wesley Sessions as PE teacher at Flomaton High School and Julie Newton as TEAMS Math Teacher at Flomaton High School, both effective June 1;

RESIGNATION: Kimberly Hester, teacher at Flomaton Elementary; Lorri Michelle Tolbert, lunchroom worker at Huxford Elementary; Tierra Blaze Rolin, secretary/registrar at Huxford Elementary; Rheanna Thomas, special education aid at WSN Elementary; Julie Carnley, custodian at WSN Middle; Karen Layton, social studies teacher at WSN Middle; Gail Peace, part-time academic interventionist at WSN Middle; Hugh T. Fountain, PE teacher/career prep at WSN High; Kimberly Huggins, bus driver Brewton bus shop; Deborah Silcox, part-time special education teacher, central office; June Kent, part-time special education teacher, central office; and Hannah Bryant, speech language pathologist, central office;

LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Kaley Mann, teacher at Rachel Patterson Elementary, effective April 14-May 9;

EMPLOYMENT: Michael Bowens, JAG Career specialist, central office; Stephanie Thomas, media specialist at AC Moore Primary; Joshua Hardy, PE teacher at Flomaton Elementary; Haley White, math coach at Pollard-McCall Junior High; and Lisa Marshall, custodian, WSN Middle;

EMPLOYMENT CHANGE: Raquel Davis from elementary curriculum and instruction supervisor to personnel administrator/supervisor, central office; Anna Wheeler from TEAMS Math to Science teacher at WSN Middle; Tonya Howard from lunchroom worker to CNP Manager at WSN High;

TRANSFER: John Stephens from business teacher at Escambia County Middle to Flomaton High;

CONTRACTS: LaTonya Gill, contract principal at Escambia County High; Candace Hendricks, probationary principal at Flomaton Elementary; and Elizabeth Andrews, probationary principal at WSN Elementary.