Board renews Teachtown special‑education curriculum and confirms hiring, training timeline

The Escambia County Board of Education on July 15 approved renewal of a Teachtown special‑education curriculum subscription and confirmed personnel approvals and training schedules ahead of the district’s August start.

Staff presented the Teachtown renewal (amount shown in the agenda was $27,620) and Miss Barnett described the curriculum’s role: "This particular curriculum is used with our students that are working toward the alternative standards. It is a complete one end to the other curriculum that is interactive... They are adapted so that they can actually read the book without having to know all the words." The board voted to renew the subscription; the transcript shows a voice vote but does not include a roll‑call breakdown.

The board approved personnel recommendations and discussed the hiring timeline: the district said it aims to have teachers hired by Aug. 1 and scheduled a July 31 meeting as the final opportunity to hire before school begins. Staff also outlined principal training and leadership sessions planned July 28–30 (dividing elementary and secondary tracks) and noted institute and professional development days the first week of August; students are scheduled to return Aug. 6.

The board’s approvals were described as routine personnel and curriculum actions; the transcript contains a few numeric formatting inconsistencies in the agenda and the district packet should be consulted for definitive contract and budget numbers.