RCS, FCS school boards hold June meetings

Despite the summer break for local schools, the county and city boards of education stay busy in June and July with a variety of school business from personnel moves and financial issues to early field trip requests. The Franklin County Board of Education and Russellville City Schools Board of Education meetings were held last week.

Franklin County

The FCBOE met last week to address a lengthy agenda, including more than a dozen personnel actions.

The board heard from Robin Lakey with the State Examiner of Public Accounts, who presented the system’s 2016 audit report. “We noted no matters that indicated that the board had not complied in all material respects with all laws and regulations,” she said. However, the audit did show one instance of noncompliance, which Lakey read verbatim from the report: “Section 94 of the Constitution of Alabama 1901 provides that the Board cannot grant public money or lend credit to individuals. Employees at Vina High School were allowed to cash personal checks ranging from $50.00 to $605.00 out of petty cash. The checks were held from one day to over two months before being deposited. Two checks in the amounts of $300.00 and $350.00, written by the

same employee, were returned as ‘Non-Sufficient Funds.’ These checks were subsequently repaid.” Lakey said Superintendent Greg Hamilton had prepared a corrective action plan in connection with the finding.

Also in special guests the board heard from Jessica Williams with Glimpse, who detailed how her company can analyze myriad data to pinpoint the school system’s education return on investment, and Scott Wiginton and Sherry Hutcheson, who took the time to recognize Red Bay students who recently achieved ServSafe certification: Isabella Fowler, Trenton Funderburk, Dylan Pearson, Emily Clements and Cheyenne Wallace.

The board awarded bids to American Paper and Twine for copier/computer paper; Bear Creek Propane for LP gas; and Tatum Oil Company for diesel.

In financial concerns, the board approved a resolution “developing a plan to establish and maintain a minimum General Fund balance equal to one month’s operating expenses.” According to the resolution, the system will accomplish this through: implementing the attendance incentive program for teachers; aligning with state standards for CNP costs; collecting all available indirect cost from all available federal funds; utilizing the flexibility option on earned teacher units; and utilizing federal funds to the best effect. These measures, coupled with increased funds in FY2018 to match the system’s increased enrollment, are designed to combat the system’s budgetary shortfalls.

The board also approved the following personnel changes:

• Renew principal/director contracts: Jackie Ergle, principal at Phil Campbell Elementary, and Scott Wiginton, director at the Franklin County Career and Technical Center
• Retirement: maintenance worker Andy Cansler, Red Bay High School principal Kenny Sparks, payroll officer Juanita Martin, Phil Campbell High School librarian Sissy Moore and Belgreen High School principal Myra Frederick
• Resignation: Central Office custodian Juanita Martin and Phil Campbell Elementary teacher Carrie Rickman
• Transfers: Alicia Dunstan to special education teacher at PCES, Amber Mahurin to English teacher at East Franklin Junior High, Andrea Sornberger to full-time health science teacher
• Employment: Paul Humphres, half-time assistant principal at Vina High; William Stacy, music teacher/band director at PCHS; Simon Mak, math teacher at Vina High; Jason Cooper, math teacher half-time at EFJHS and half-time at Tharptown High; Jake Ward, Tharptown Elementary; Joseph Brown, PE teacher at TES; Tasha Zills, Tharptown Elementary; Callie Henderson, music teacher/band director at THS; Jason Harris, head varsity football coach at Vina; Jonathan Raper, in-school suspension teach at PCHS; Abbey Rhea, special education teacher at TES; Bethany Tracy, speech language pathologist; April Simpson, special education aide at PCES; Debra Spillers, part-time temporary gifted teacher; Sonya Marks, PE/math teacher at Red Bay; Greg Swinney, bus driver; Paula Jackson, reading coach half-time at Red Bay and half-time at Vina

The next regular FCBOE meeting will be July 25 at 5:15 p.m., and work session will be at 5 p.m.

Russellville

The Russellville City Schools Board of Education approved facility use requests and the 2017-18 salary schedule and handled a number of personnel actions:

• Resignation in position: Joseph Cole, teacher at RHS; Kim Horton, teacher at RES; Mallory Kincaid, teacher at RMS; and Katelyn Phillips, teacher at RES
• Leave of absence: Tanya Cleveland, third grade teacher at RES; medical leave of absence
• Employment in position: Emily Malone, teacher at RMS; Rebecca Logsdon, SPE teacher at RES; and Donna Sykes, engineering/computer science teacher at RHS
• Employment, contract principal (three-year contract): Jason Goodwin at RHS, Karen Thorn at RMS and Deanna Hollimon at WES
• Temporary employment: Nicole Clingan, 21st CCLC teacher (part-time and as needed) and Kim Palmer, 21st CCLC Teacher (part-time and as needed)
• Athletic Consultants for 2017-18: Chase Gilmer to be a pro consult for the RMS football team, minimum payment shall not exceed $960 incurred expenses
• Notwithstanding – paid by the Football Booster Club; Daniel Hollimon to be a pro consult for the RMS football team, minimum payment shall not exceed $960 incurred expenses notwithstanding – paid by the Football Booster Club; Wayne Wilkes to be a pro consult during spring training for the RHS varsity football team, minimum payment shall not exceed $1,380 incurred expenses notwithstanding – paid by the Football Booster Club.
• Substitutes: Keith Wilson, bus driver

The next regular RCS BOE meeting will be July 27 at 3:30 p.m., and work session will be July 24 at 3:30 p.m.