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The Escambia County Board of Education approved to move away from a uniform policy to a dress code during a special-called meeting at the Atmore Central Office on June 5.
After a discussion was held by board members, the board voted unanimously to add the action item of moving away from a uniform policy toward a dress code.
Superintendent Dr. Michele Collier said a survey was conducted regarding the uniform policy. She added that of 2,700 surveyed, 70 percent didn’t want uniforms.
Board President Coleman Wallace opened the discussion prior to the vote.
“Do we continue with uniforms or allow the students to dress as presentable,” Wallace said.
Board Vice President Kevin Hoomes expressed his support for a dress code, and move away from a uniform policy.
“After going through buying uniforms for the past 14-15 years, it’s a different landscape now than it was,” Hoomes said. “When the uniform policy was implemented, it looked a certain way, but not anymore.”
District 5 Board Member Loumeek White said he understands that the majority of teachers want the uniform policy to stay in place.
“As a board, we need to support the teachers,” White said. “For me, it’s a safety reason. This will really open up the door to an added issue.”
District 2 Board Member Greg Dawkins said if the board decides to get rid of the uniform policy, something has to be in place.
Dawkins said he likes the idea of spirit shirts, and is not in favor of khaki pants.
“The problem I hear the most are the pants for girls,” Dawkins said. “You can’t find their pants. I don’t see the benefit of having uniforms anymore, if we have a dress code already in place.”
District 3 Board Member Jerry Wilson agreed with Hoomes and Dawkins.
“Being able to find uniforms is hard,” Wilson said. “It’s hard to get stuff that fits. There are a lot of hardships on poverty-stricken families with multiple kids.”
District 4 Board Member Cindy Jackson, who encouraged a vote on the policy during the meeting, said there are going to be problems either way with or without uniforms.
“I agree with Greg and Jerry,” Jackson said. “It’s hard to find pants. We need to compromise.”
District 6 Board Member Sherry Digmon said she feels like uniforms are a deterrent for anyone to walk into a school.
Digmon said she has mixed feelings regarding the issues, and her gut feeling is to support uniforms.
Wallace said he understands the poverty-stricken issue, however.
“If you follow the dress code, even that would prevent rivalry conditions,” he said. “Our business is education, not dress people. But, we have to be considerate.”
Other topics of discussion included jeans and sweat shirts or jackets.
Then, the board made a motion to add the action item to the regular meeting.
According to reports, the board voted 5-2 on moving away from the uniform policy with Digmon and White dissenting.
The board will vote on the dress code during its next meeting, which will be held Thurs., June 26.
In other business, the board:
• approved an overnight trip for the Escambia County High School cheer team to attend a cheer camp at Alabama State University from June 6-8;
• approved the 2025-26 code of conduct;
• approved an MOU between the board of education and city of Atmore;
• approved the positions of accountability supervisor, to be paid under the 240-day SVF pay scale, and special education program specialist, to be paid under the 202-day SPEC pay scale;
• approved the revision of the 2025 summer salary schedule;
• approved the purchase of partitions and screens from Slone Doors for restrooms at W.S. Neal Middle School for $29,720.80, to be paid out of FY25 A&T funds;
• approved the purchase of career and life skills curriculum from Education
Associates for $27,944, to be paid out of IDEA/transition grant; and,
• approved the purchase of Phonics First training course from Brainspring for $90,565, to be paid out of FY24 Titlte II funds.
Personnel action taken during the meeting include:
Resignation
• Jennifer Lee, as principal at Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective June 30;
• Gavin Walker, as teacher at W.S. Neal High School, effective May 23;
• Donnie Faulk, as bus driver at Atmore Bus Shop, effective May 28;
Employment
• Maranda Lambeth, as kindergarten teacher at A.C. Moore Primary, effective Aug. 1;
• Anthony Carter, as physical education teacher at Escambia County High School, effective Aug. 1;
• James Page, as math teacher at ECHS, effective Aug. 1;
• Joshua Du Pre, as social studies teacher at EHCS, effective Aug. 1;
• KaTia May, as science teacher at ECHS, effective Aug. 1;
• Dailan Green, as information technology teacher at ECHS, effective July 23;
• Kiara Johns, as health science teacher at ECHS, effective July 23;
• Brian Stallworth, as elementary teacher at Escambia County Alternative School, effective Aug. 1;
• Kenneth Busby, as physical education teacher at Flomaton High School, effective Aug. 1;
• Savannah Rogers, as elementary teacher at Huxford Elementary School, effective Aug. 1;
• Lesley Davis, as elementary teacher at HES, effective Aug. 1;
• Obie Watkins, as physical education teacher at RPES, effective Aug. 1;
• Tina Byerly, as special education teacher at RPES, effective Aug. 1;
• Alexia Lewis, as elementary teacher at RPES, effective Aug. 1;
• Aundrea Beasley, as instructional paraprofessional at RPES, effective Aug. 1;
Employment change
• Toya McMillian, from principal at the alternative school to assistant principal at Escambia County Middle School, effective July 23;
• Jennifer Lee, from principal at RPES to assistant principal at W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective July 23;
• Tracy Padgett, from instructional aide to elementary teacher at Flomaton Elementary School, effective Aug. 1;
• Andrea Bailey, from six-hour CNP worker to seven-hour CNP worker at W.S. Neal Middle School, effective Aug. 1;
Transfer
• Karl Smith, as assistant principal from FES to ECHS, effective July 23;
• Greg Brock, as assistant principal from ECHS to W.S. Neal High School, effective July 23;
• Robb Whitfield, as assistant principal from WSNHS to FES, effective July 23;
• Yolanda Walters, as assistant principal from ECMS to RPES, effective July 23;
• Tiffany Oliver, as assistant principal from ECMS to ECHS, effective July 23;
• Brenda Bell, as special education aide from FHS to FES, effective Aug. 1;
• Sarah Aaron, as special education aide from FES to WSNES, effective Aug. 1;
• Logan Cook, as TEAMS- science from WSNMS to Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective Aug. 1;
• Sandi McMurphy, as nurse from ECHS/ECMS to ECMS and Alternative Schools, effective Aug. 1;
• Belinda Fails, as SPED nurse to nurse at WSNHS, effective Aug. 1;
Rehire
• Nicholas Golden, as TEAMS Science at WSNMS, effective Aug. 1;
• Nikki Golden, as elementary teacher at WSNMS, effective Aug. 1;
Summer school employment
• James Williams (ECMS), Jason Thomas (WSNMS), Vanessa Mealar (WSNHS),
Preston Hassell (FHS), Patricia Cooper (FHS) and Sarah Aaron (ECRC) as custodians, effective June 9;
Contract
• Junia Fischer, as contract principal at PMJHS, effective from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026; and,
Retirement
Sherry Ellison, as secretary/bookkeeper at FES, effective June 25.