County tech programs earn BIC certification

By Staff
Kim Wes
Six Franklin County career/technical educators were recognized during the Franklin County Board of Education meeting Nov. 24.
Career tech programs led by Red Bay teachers Angie Sizemore and Herbert Trulove, Career Technical Center business teacher Debbie Boyd, Phil Campbell consumer science teacher Amy Gunderman, Red Bay and county health teacher Kay Hargett and Career Tech Coordinator Orval Seay have each received business/industry certification, which is used to certify career tech programs for industry compliance.
"These teachers have worked hard to complete this and have received their BIC certification," Superintendent Gary Williams said.
Williams was officially appointed superintendent during the meeting after being elected in June to replace Bill Moss, who retired last month. Vina board member Randy Hester, who was re-elected Nov. 3, was sworn in during the work session and elected board chair during the meeting. T.J. Bragwell, Belgreen's board representative, was voted vice-chair.
Williams said the board has not set a timetable for hiring an assistant superintendent, which was his position for the past four years.
"We will post it in January for 14 days, and the job requirements include a master's degree and administration experience," he said. "We will have a search committee, but we haven't talked about that yet."
The board postponed a vote on whether to accept two different bids for upgrades at Red Bay High School and Vina School.
H&N Construction submitted a low bid of $226,000 for HVAC upgrades in the physical education building at Red Bay, while Shoals Electric Company had a low bid of $221,748 for lighting at the Vina football field and Red Bay baseball field.
"The bids came in too high, so we're going to see if we can re-bid these projects because we need to do everything we can to lower the costs," Williams said.
In other business, the board approved: