It was all about the numbers at Thursday’s Escambia County Board of Education meeting, as board members discussed the new school year budget and most recent audit.

Christina Smith of the state auditor’s office gave the system an “unqualified” report – which means no findings were located in the books.

“It was a very clean audit,” Smith said of the records for the 2013 records for Pollard McCall Junior High and the Escambia County Middle School and Title I and improving teacher quality federal funds.

“I wish we could do all schools and programs, but we don’t have the time.”

The first examination of the fiscal year 2015 budget was also held, which detailed the $58 million needed to fund county education.

Figures show a beginning fund balance of $12.9 million; some $44.2 million in revenues and $58 million in expenditures.

The budget will be presented at the October meeting for approval.

Escambia County School Board members were recently honored for achievements at the Alabama Association of School Boards meeting. Danny Benjamin earned level III certification; Mike Edwards and the Rev. Coleman Wallace earned level II certification; Mike Goolsby was named to the master honor roll; Sherrie Digmon and Cindy Jackson earned level IV achievement.

This story was written by Brewton Standard publisher Stephanie Nelson.