CULLMAN – Dr. Elton Bouldin will leave his position as principal of Cullman High School and will instead serve as the principal of Cullman City Schools' new Virtual School, which will launch this fall.
The transfer comes just less than two weeks away from Bouldin's court hearing, scheduled for July 6. Bouldin and CHS Assistant Principal Mark Stephens were arrested for trespassing in April after the parents of a student alleged that the pair illegally entered the student's home. Both men were charged with first-degree trespassing. Bouldin was also charged for failing to report an incident of school violence. Bouldin has maintained his innocence. Both men were fully reinstated after a brief administrative leave.
"We are excited to see our Virtual School launch as a program for the 2016-2017 school year. The program will be the transition we utilize as we bring the Cullman Innovation Academy together for the future of collaborative learning in Cullman City Schools," said Cullman City Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Patterson in a prepared statement. "The legislature passed a law requiring all districts to offer virtual education to students in grades 9-12 beginning in August 2016, from which the board and myself determined to strive to go above the law's minimum to equal the standard of excellence Cullman City Schools has in its rich tradition. We have adopted local board policies outlining the Virtual School program, designed procedures for students to participate in virtual learning from one class to full day, and began working to develop partnerships with businesses and colleges to further expand the rigorous learning opportunities we provide."
Patterson went on to say that since the law requires the district to offer virtual learning to 9th – 12th graders this fall, the board transferred Bouldin from CHS to serve as principal of the new Virtual School.
"This will provide us the necessary transition, as we set the foundation for Cullman Innovation Academy, and the collaborative learning it will provide between Cullman City Schools and community partners," she said. "As we strive to meet the objectives in our strategic plan, we are focusing the efforts of CHS and the Virtual Program, to provide real world learning experiences through the expansion of college and career opportunities, while maintaining the rigorous instruction needed."
