2025-09-04

GULF COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD Thursday, September 4,2025

\| GULF COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

| Thursday, September 4, 2025 | | | --- | --- | | The Gulf County School Board met in regular session Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 5:00 (Agenda-Review Workshop) and 5:15 (Public Hearing on 2025-2026 Final Budget) at their Administrative Office in Port St. Joe. Superintendent Norton, Attorney Costin, and the following School Board Members were present: Chairman Brooke Wooten, Vice Chairman Ruby Knox, Equillar Gainer, and Matt Terry. (District 1 seat TBA.) | | | 5:00 AGENDA WORKSHOP: | | | The board reviewed the September 4 agenda packet. Mr. Terry commented that he noted minimal adjustments since the tentative budget was approved. There was no one from the public present to address the board. | | | 5:15 - PUBLIC HEARING on the 2025-2026 Final Budget | | | Chairman Wooten called the Public Hearing to order at 5:15. This hearing provides an opportunity for the public to address the school board regarding the 2025-2026 Final Budget. No one from the public was present with questions/concerns/statements regarding the 2025-2026 budget. | | | On separate motions as noted below the board unanimously approved the 2025-2026 Final Budget and 2024-2025 Annual Financial Statements (AFRS): | | | Required Local Effort 2.7850 Mrs. Knox / Mr. Terry | | | Prior Period Funding Adjustment 0.0050 Mr. Terry / Mr. Terry | | | Basic Discretionary 0.7480 Mrs. Knox / Mr. Terry | | | Capital outlay 0.7840 Mrs. Gainer / Mrs. Knox | | | Voted 1.0000 Mrs. Knox / Mr. Terry | | | Final Budget Total of 5.3220 Mrs. Knox / Mrs. Gainer | | | Chairman Wooten closed the Public Hearing at 5:19. | | | SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: | | | I. | CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Wooten called the regular school board meeting to order at 5:20. | | II. | ADOPTION OF AGENDA: On motion by Mr. Terry and seconded by Mrs. Gainer the board unanimously approved the amended agenda to include the addition of pages 5.01-5.04, 6.03-6.08, 8.8-11, and 10-10.01, and the amendment of page 7. Also included in the motion by approval to change the October 7 board meeting to October 16, with a 9:30 workshop and a 10:00 school board meeting. | | III. | HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC: None | | IV. | CONSENT MATTERS: On motion by Mr. Terry and seconded by Mrs. Gainer the board voted unanimously to take the following action: |

- Approved the August 12 Minutes, and PERSONNEL: - Approved Deborah Barnes' letter of intent to enter DROP with an anticipated retirement date of September 30, 2033, and selection of Option 2 for terminal pay for all accrued leave, and - Approved Kayla Bailey's request for maternity leave beginning Friday, September 19, 2025, and a tentative return date of November 10, 2025, and - Approved Jeremy Ray for the PSJH Media/Tech Specialist position effective September 5, 2025, and - Approved the list of 2025-2026 Certified Out-of-Field Teachers – 1st Semester, and - Approved Academic Sponsor for 2025-2026, and - Approved Fall Sports Supplements, and - Approved extra time for Brandi Fee and Tina Watkins for working as aides on the special needs bus, and - Approved extra time for Wanda Smiley for transporting special needs students via van, and - Approved Abby Cozine for one additional hour to maintain compliance in the PSJE Bridges classroom, and - Approved Chessie Williamson to teacher WES Gifted one day per week during her planning, and - Approved the following PSJE employees to be paid for their lunch as they have multiple duties: - Tina Nicodemus, Doreen Mork, and Dae Bushman, and - Approved buying Lana Harrison's planning period as she is teaching at both high schools, and - Approved the list of Substitute Teacher Applicants, and OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL: - Approved the PSJH Band of Gold to travel to Daleville, Alabama for Band Competition on Saturday, October 11. \|

5:15 - PUBLIC HEARING on the 2025-2026 Final Budget

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING:

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Page 2 \| \| \-\-\- \| \-\-\- \| \| V. \| STATE OF EMERGENCY- Pertaining to the old Wewahitchka Gymnasium on Highway 71: On motion by Mrs. Gainer and seconded by Mrs. Knox the board voted unanimously to declare a State of Emergency for the old Wewahitchka Gymnasium site on Highway 71, authorizing necessary precautionary steps to be taken to demolish the back part of the facility which houses the restrooms and electrical room. \| \| \| \| \| VI. \| PROGRAM MATTERS: On motion by Mrs. Knox and seconded by Mr. Terry the board voted unanimously to take the following action: -Approved the Private Duty Nurse (PDN) Agreement, and -Approved the Assessment Calendar, and -Approved the PAEC Learning Center's 2025-2026 Professional Learning Catalog. \| \| \| \| \| VII. \| SALES TAX REFERENDUM: On motion by Mr. Terry and seconded by Mrs. Gainer the board voted unanimously to move forward with necessary steps to get a Sales Tax Referendum on the November 2026 General Election Ballot. \| \| \| \| \| VIII. \| SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT: \| \| \| \| \| IX. \| BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS: \| \| \| \| \| IX. \| ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Wooten adjourned the meeting at 5:59. \|

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Jim Norton, Superintendent

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Brooke Wooten, Chairman