[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6316396,"mediaKeyId","2377090-ceb2471c7d8dacdb1f3e0c27bad0b52c","parentId",2377090,"title","School board approves lower sale price for John L. Gibson property; city to proceed amid charter group's interest","audioSeconds",1130,"startMs",4225000,"endMs",5355000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2377090-ceb2471c7d8dacdb1f3e0c27bad0b52c&start=4225&end=5355","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2377090-ceb2471c7d8dacdb1f3e0c27bad0b52c/thumbnail_4225000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6316396/Florida/School-board-approves-lower-sale-price-for-John-L-Gibson-property-city-to-proceed-amid-charter-groups-interest","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316396-c5f2736bbd241b90304db27baae14d7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402319&Signature=MWjoiHGDg~cqn0aeLQB-t88~SlwSb7qS~YNmhrNk9PgQNXqU6-5NF7Be9qhfuFkCJ~1qxWwhv5QNBR5jZBJZzcu6V71Kbg0pO-TOc0fgpcaTqaW52r0iHgmuzShuz7rBiG6sMKvhph7gD54mPrbVHbrm5e-XZy-A8x7M1v6i0hVxfesmi9zE0zDYEMcISCnwe5vDJwc0-Q5AVhREC1ACeLijyOIK0aEuVbNmbDsPtR91RU7XW-IhWRobi~dCaA-CrlFe9IWo-f6orCFVgfK5E9DlKwRu6sfuC-Kqzx2ZhEtj5LfvUGvTsOoxvci7N8LeoJIyxEbti7wiKIazlaNtdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Escambia School District","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Escambia County School Board voted to approve an amended sales agreement that reduces the purchase price for the former John L. Gibson school property and allows the district to proceed toward closing with the city of Pensacola.

The motion to approve an amendment to the sales agreement for the John L. Gibson property passed 3-2. The amendment adjusts the sale price to reflect the cost of restoring the building, which district staff said is substantial. \"That study revealed substantial amounts of contribution cost that it would take to preserve that building,\" said Dennis (district realty staff), speaking to the board about the city’s preservation study. \"The number you have before you is essentially the value of the property not sitting underneath the building…\"

Why it matters: The decision moves the district closer to transferring the property to the city under the amended price and affects local groups seeking a permanent site for charter or community programs. Members of Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy (JHPA) told the board they want the former school as a continuing educational home and asked the district to consider working with the city and the charter to preserve the structure.

District staff told the board that the district accepted an earlier offer and entered a contract with the city after a public offering period in September 2024. Dennis described the sale as an \"as is\" transfer with a due-diligence period for the purchaser to survey and study the building. He said the city undertook an intensive preservation study and negotiated an adjusted price to reflect preservation costs; a yes vote would allow closing to proceed. \"We're pretty proud of the relationship that we fostered with the city,\" Dennis said.

Speakers representing Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy urged the board to help the charter secure the site. \"This property is especially important to me,\" said Celestine Lewis, identifying herself as a founding member of Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy. \"We would like to purchase the John a Gibson School for our new home.\" Fred Gunther of Gunther Properties told the board the charter had submitted a cash offer for $275,000 with a $50,000 deposit and a three-week closing window. \"The school is aware the building's flooded…we have submitted a cash offer with no contingencies,\" Gunther said.

Board members and staff noted the building’s age and the high cost of rehabilitation. Board member Lisa Burgosch asked for clarification from staff about contract implications of delaying action; Dennis warned that moving beyond the contract’s due-diligence period could constitute a violation. Board member Victor Peskov said he wanted the district to continue looking for other properties that might be more economical for the charter. \"I'd rather see if there's some other properties that we might know of or might be available…because the cost to get it up and running…is a lot,\" Peskov said.

The board invited Jacqueline Harris representatives to continue working with the city and district staff. Captain Alexander, who identified himself as representing the charter’s board, told the board the prospective purchaser on the submitted contract is Creative Learning LLC, which he said is the board's legal buyer name.

What's next: With approval of the amended sales agreement, district staff said they expect to move immediately toward closing under the contract terms with the city. The amendment passed 3-2; the board record does not show individual roll-call votes in the public transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular School Board Meeting 02-18-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Escambia County School Board voted 3-2 to approve an amended sales agreement lowering the price of the former John L. Gibson school and to move toward closing with the city of Pensacola.","taxTitle","Escambia, School Districts, Florida","taxId",15600,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6316386,"Votes at a glance: Escambia County School Board — February 2025 meeting",1016,5352000,6368000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2377090-ceb2471c7d8dacdb1f3e0c27bad0b52c&start=5352&end=6368","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2377090-ceb2471c7d8dacdb1f3e0c27bad0b52c/thumbnail_5352000.jpg","/articles/6316386/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-Escambia-County-School-Board-February-2025-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316386-e149c175fb1d4fb342f7f32300d5f6af/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402319&Signature=YbbDqhJWzcxFecOlkp0YWKKImYlsPKC5y~Ni8ww~64SXCxN1QCe~vPL-ADQw~1vtM4gBPzfWpjwVyvPH1uvxW8farVBbvwDf~BoBOVOX2rFjHr7YW6J9T-H4jHilpqTiBsjYl-tGuZ-hX-egu8eTZPChyH5gXyMgX80dxR2TkfqV0apRA7VBuvM0xey5lGHOSOJJ17HwKCIavA64nVhX8T4VvDcYdvTPmUiQYMpeZ7E5Ocp67M7iYF46aA3oOvYyK1PEycO-JZSt5x16ox6RtR8uo4-rSv7FEH4ldaYDbMRNYdMacWlF~f8Eo7lfTcYYJUfRFnAmv-wfD4pQGIcz1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Escambia County School Board recorded several formal votes during its February 2025 meeting. Below are the principal items, outcomes and the limited details available in the public transcript.

• Amendment to sales agreement for John L. Gibson property (Agenda item 31e): Approved, 3–2. The amendment adjusts the sale price to account for restoration costs identified in a preservation study and, per district staff, would allow the purchaser and city to proceed toward closing under the contract. (See related coverage: \"School board approves lower sale price for John L. Gibson property\")

• Resolution to place a referendum on the ballot to return to an elected school superintendent (Agenda item 43): Approved, 3–2. The board approved language to place the question on the 2026 ballot; if voters approve, the next superintendent election would be scheduled for 2028, according to board discussion.

• Amendment to School Board Policy 2522 (Item listed under public hearing): Approved, 5–0. The transcript records the board approving the amendment; the meeting minutes will show the final policy language.

• Consent agenda, minutes and routine items: The consent agenda (less pulled items) and multiple sets of meeting minutes were approved by recorded votes of 5–0 where shown in the transcript.

Notes: The public transcript records roll-call tallies for the above items (numeric outcomes) but does not show a full named roll-call for each member in the audio excerpt. Where motion makers or seconders were not announced on the record, the meeting record lists only the motion and outcome. The district will publish the official minutes with the complete roll-call and formal motion language.","Key board votes from the February 2025 regular meeting, including an amended sales agreement for the John L. Gibson property and a resolution to place a referendum on the ballot to restore an elected superintendent.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6316391,"Public forum centers on ICE guidelines, book challenges and ESE staffing concerns",0,7011000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2377090-ceb2471c7d8dacdb1f3e0c27bad0b52c&start=7011&end=7011","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2377090-ceb2471c7d8dacdb1f3e0c27bad0b52c/thumbnail_7011000.jpg","/articles/6316391/Florida/Public-forum-centers-on-ICE-guidelines-book-challenges-and-ESE-staffing-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316391-fccec040855719d7ac6ae6fb7263f080/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402319&Signature=XpxmpXx~TAjbNEeaWYmWVey0mQ~NboktREwz-fOuq~lqBByS-aeaHDfaZBAlb6ASFWdzpRFu4bfowWY9O~~kk38FqGEL67JLFjTY~G5QznKmT61T7qXtfdKflfvEkxmni9PpXzewsJMMqfv5UKncJoHkUKWZHPbWogM4rGhEb3B-qv1q81uxH4nC4RKBgkMttqm18KWQh~v5TAB9agDzh~nGxKOJnwCJwU0rP-PcfVBZ4CjNrlwGKNMc0goZMyLZwiDVXJzLvetABbsaJbVdQJIxL8-Ah0A5J-sBgXcFK9BFy5gYdErrZ0Cy9v8v8ub2twbuR~7wa2djk1o5aIftoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers at the meeting’s public forum pressed the Escambia County School Board for written guidance to protect students from immigration-enforcement actions on campus, criticized the district’s handling of challenged books, and described staffing shortfalls and safety problems in special-education classrooms.

Community members requested a clear district policy that would require immigration agents to present a valid judicial warrant before entering schools. \"This community has real fears,\" said Carol Cleaver, a Ferry Pass Middle School teacher. \"I think it could go a long way to cutting down on confusion if we consider some of the guidelines that other counties in Florida have already put into writing.\" Deshaun McKenzie, a teacher, urged the board not to equate \"complying with the law\" with automatically cooperating when agents lack appropriate documentation. \"Complying with the law would mean ICE agents would have to come with legal warrants signed seeking specific students,\" he said.

Several speakers pointed to Lee County’s written guidance as a model and asked the district to produce a written policy for administrators, teachers and families. \"Please issue clear guidance to every school about the legal options they have to obstruct disruptive, harassing, and extra-legal ICE activity in our schools,\" Sarah Bromet said.

Public commenters also returned to debates about library collections and litigation over book challenges. A recorded video by author Bill Konigsberg (played by a meeting speaker) defended the value of challenged titles, arguing that removing books because selected passages are read out of context risks censoring material that supports vulnerable students. \"When we ban books based on sections read out of context, it is quite possible to make something sound inappropriate when taken in context,\" Konigsberg said in the recorded remarks presented by Vanessa Reynolds. Peter Dye, a parent, criticized the cost of litigation over a contested title: \"$600,000 of taxpayer money has already been spent on this fight. How much more will we waste?\"

Teachers and parents raised safety and staffing problems in the district’s special-education (ESE) programs. Kimberly Garman, an ESE pre-K teacher, said units that were converted to multigrade VE classrooms were promised staffing ratios that have not been consistently met. \"We were told multi-grade units would be capped at 12 with 2 ESPs…now there are many pre-K units with more than 12 students,\" she said. Garman described frequent classroom incidents and said paperwork demands and testing deadlines make adequate service delivery impractical without more staff.

What the board said: Board members acknowledged the community’s concerns and asked staff to examine existing guidance and potential policies. Several board members said they would follow up with district legal counsel and administration to develop or adapt guidelines for schools. Superintendent Keith Leonard did not propose a specific policy at the meeting but said staff would monitor developments and be responsive to legal constraints.

What’s next: Several speakers asked the board to produce a written district policy on immigration enforcement and to consider restoring contested books to shelves while litigation proceeds. Board members said staff would take the requests under advisement and that the district would continue to consult legal counsel and peer districts.","At the Escambia County School Board meeting, dozens of public speakers urged the district to adopt written guidance limiting immigration-enforcement access to schools, criticized book removals and the cost of litigation, and raised staffing and safety concerns in special education programs.","actionData","errors"]

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School board approves lower sale price for John L. Gibson property; city to proceed amid charter group's interest

Votes at a glance: Escambia County School Board — February 2025 meeting

Public forum centers on ICE guidelines, book challenges and ESE staffing concerns