School Board approves gym fees, HVAC contracts, calendars and personnel action; one member dissents

School Board Chair Steve Moss called the Oct. 28, 2025, meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. and led the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Five board members were present: Winston Chester, Ann Leonard, Christopher Moore, Jerry Register and Steve Moss.

The board opened with recognitions: Crystal Bullock presented Optimist Club awards and the Superintendent's Business Partner honor; Mark Bradshaw presented a STEM Student of the Month; and Aimee Vershaw-Bright and the Junior League of Panama City presented Excellence in Education grants.

During the public-comment period, Leonard Hall urged the board to emphasize parental and board responsibility for students. Jodi Moore and April Gibson raised concerns about teacher social-media posts, the district's school-club policies and the timing and livestreaming of board meetings. Those comments were heard but the minutes record no formal staff response or new direction on those items.

On governance and personnel, the board approved the agenda as amended and unanimously approved the Oct. 14 minutes. The board approved a recommendation for an employee suspension without pay for Maggie Ball (motion by Ann Leonard; second by Winston Chester). The board also approved the ABCE and BESPA master contracts pending union ratification.

Facilities and procurement accounted for much of the meeting's substantive business. The board approved architectural fees for a new gymnasium at West Bay Elementary and authorized several HVAC equipment purchases and installation contracts: Johnson Controls for the Breakfast Point Academy chiller project, Trane equipment for Bozeman School Building 5 renovation, and installation contracts with Keith Lawson Company for multiple projects. The board also awarded RFP 26-02 for maintenance services (HVAC, plumbing, electrical) and approved a Pancare contract amendment. Technology renewals for the Avaya phone system and Microsoft services were approved as well.

A plurality of procurement and consent items passed without recorded dissent, but two items drew a recorded No from board member Jerry Register. The board approved a Tetra Tech change order for environmental assessment services at the New Tyndall School described as “beyond the original scope of work”; that motion passed with Register voting No. The board also approved the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 student academic calendars; the motion passed with Register recorded as No.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of agenda as amended: Passed (unanimous). - Approval of Oct. 14, 2025 minutes: Passed (unanimous). - Tetra Tech change order (New Tyndall School environmental assessment beyond original scope): Passed. Yes: Winston Chester, Ann Leonard, Christopher Moore, Steve Moss. No: Jerry Register. - Approval of 2026–2027 & 2027–2028 student academic calendars: Passed. Yes: Winston Chester, Ann Leonard, Christopher Moore, Steve Moss. No: Jerry Register. - Employee suspension without pay (Maggie Ball): Passed (motion by Ann Leonard; second by Winston Chester). - ABCE master contract (pending union ratification): Passed. - BESPA master contract (pending union ratification): Passed. - West Bay Elementary architecture fees (new gym): Passed. - Johnson Controls equipment purchase (Breakfast Point Academy chiller): Passed. - Trane equipment purchase (Bozeman Building 5): Passed. - Keith Lawson Company installation contracts (multiple schools): Passed. - Award of RFP 26-02 (Maintenance HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical Services): Passed. - Pancare contract amendment: Passed. - Avaya district phone system subscription renewal: Passed. - Microsoft annual renewal: Passed. - Approval to advertise new and revised job descriptions: Passed. - Purchasing and contracting—Invo Companies: Passed. Yes: Winston Chester, Christopher Moore, Steve Moss. No: Ann Leonard, Jerry Register. - Policy 8415 (Emergency and Crisis Management): Adopted; Passed.

Why it matters

The approvals move multiple capital and maintenance projects into procurement and installation stages, including a new gym at West Bay Elementary and chiller and HVAC work that affect operations at Breakfast Point Academy and Bozeman School. The board's ratification of contracts and the adoption of an Emergency and Crisis Management policy set near-term administrative and operational direction. Public commenters urged attention to teacher social-media conduct and to meeting accessibility, but the minutes do not record a formal board directive addressing those concerns.

The meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m. The board scheduled follow-up as part of normal procurement, contract and bargaining processes; several items (for example, the master contracts) are contingent on external steps such as union ratification or subsequent vendor agreements.