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Gulf County School Board swears in Chad Bailey and approves consent agenda, SRO and health agreements
Summary
At its Oct. 16 meeting the Gulf County School Board swore in William "Chad" Bailey as District 1, adopted an amended agenda and approved a broad consent package including personnel actions, payment of bills for PSJHS stadium repairs, reinstatement of a full-time PSJH SLP, and 2025–2026 contracts for the SRO program and student dental services.
The Gulf County School Board met Oct. 16 in Port St. Joe and swore in William "Chad" Bailey as the District 1 school board member after his appointment by Governor DeSantis on Oct. 10. Judge Tim McFarland administered the oath of office.
The board unanimously adopted an amended agenda and approved a consent package that included the Sept. 4 minutes, budget matters and payment of bills, specifically authorizing payment related to the Port St. Joe High School stadium repair. The board approved out-of-state travel for the West Florida High School yearbook class to Blue Ridge, Ga., Oct. 27–29, 2025, as an educational trip.
Personnel actions on the consent agenda included approval of Sharon Hoffman’s retirement effective Oct. 31, 2025; letters of intent to enter DROP from Donna Thompson and Renee Lynn effective Oct. 1, 2026 (anticipated retirements Sept. 30, 2034); and a list of certified out-of-field teachers for the first semester. The board approved several hires and long-term substitutes: Debra Ake (Wewahitchka Gulf Academy instructor, effective Sept. 16, 2025), David Ford (WHS ELA, effective Oct. 27, 2025), Brhiannan Scruggs (WES paraprofessional, effective Sept. 25, 2025), Maggie McCoy (WES teacher, effective Sept. 29, 2025), Kim Ludlam (WES long-term substitute covering maternity leaves) and Julie Parker (PSJH long-term substitute, effective Oct. 6, 2025). The board also approved the list of substitute teacher applicants.
The board reinstated the Port St. Joe High School Speech-Language Pathologist position to full time, citing a growing caseload and the need for timely evaluations and services. On a separate motion the board approved Special Services out-of-field teachers for the first semester and appointed Kristin Wooten to a WHS Hospital/Homebound position; Chairman Brooke Wooten abstained from the vote on those items because they involved his wife, Kristin Wooten (vote reported as 4–0 on that motion).
Under program matters the board unanimously approved the 2025–2026 contract with the Gulf County Sheriff's Office for the School Resource Officer program, the 2025–2026 salary schedule for elected officials, a 2025–2026 memorandum of understanding with the Health Department for student dental care, and a 2025–2026 Deaf/Hard of Hearing contract.
Superintendent Jim Norton delivered the Superintendent's report and board members offered comments; the minutes excerpt provided does not record substantive items from those remarks. School Safety Specialist Jay Bidwell provided school safety information to the board in executive session. Chairman Brooke Wooten adjourned the meeting at 10:55 a.m.
Next steps: The minutes and individual personnel and contract documents will serve as the official record; no further votes were recorded in the provided excerpt.
