CULLMAN, Ala. – At its meeting on Dec. 12, the Cullman County Board of Education (CCBOE) recognized employees who have shown an overwhelming commitment to theirs job and dedication to the students of Cullman County Schools.
E5 Exceptional Award recipients have to be nominated for the distinction by a co-worker or student. Winners included Austin Riddle, a teacher from Good Hope High School; Rachel Campbell, a teacher from Harmony School; Elizabeth Watwood, principal of Hanceville High School; and Wanda Day, Samantha Surret, Anna Bagget and McKenzie Hill, teachers and aides at the Cullman County Child Development Center. All were recognized for the love and compassion they show toward students they interact with daily, enriching their lives and being truly “exceptional.”
Superintendent Dr. Shane Barnette addressed the board to boast about the student achievement rate in the newly released Alabama State Department of Education Report Card for the 2022-2023 school year. The report card is released once a year, grading schools on academic achievement, academic growth, graduation rate, college and career readiness, chronic absenteeism and progress in English language proficiency.
“Twenty-five out of 28 schools increased on their state report card this year from last year, which is very impressive,” said Barnette. “As a district we did not go up a number, but we didn’t go down; we stayed at an 89. We’re proud of all of the hard work that our students, teachers and administrators are doing; they’ve really got some great things going on.”
Find out more about the state report card at https://reportcard.alsde.edu.
In other business, the CCBOE:
Recognized the resignations of:
- Janet Mattox
- Felicia Chambers
- Ryan Brewer
- Scott Graham
- Kayla Blackmon
Approved the following leaves of absence:
- Savannah Cofer
- Canangnit Calvert
- Taylor Brown
Approved the following voluntary transfers:
- Michael Nelson
- Emily Brown
Approved the following appointments:
- Joy Mueller Winchester as Systemwide Behavior Coach/Interventionist
- Caragan Rice as Bus Driver for CDC
- Angela Robertson as Bus Driver for CDC
- John Griggs as CNP Maintenance Technician
- Matthew Griggs as CNP Maintenance Technician
- Paul Woodall as CATA HVAC instructor
- Hailey Kilpatrick as Good Hope Elementary Teacher
- Destiny Lowe as Good Hope Elementary Teacher
- Troy Taylor as Assistant Principal at Hanceville Elementary
- Marissa Flanigan-Lee as Hanceville Middle School teacher
- Warren Strickland as Holly Pond Elementary Bus Driver
- Tess Kent as SPED Teacher Holly Pond Elementary
- Julie Ray as Bus driver at Parkside Elementary
- Michelle Carpenter as Part time Intervention at Welti Elementary
- Eric Vest temporary West point Middle School Teacher
Approved the following substitute teachers:
- Melanie Bentley
- Jennifer Byrom
- Jeffrey Taylor
- Samantha Burns
- Tamara Bailey
- Autumn Barnett
- Alaina Cagle
- Amanda Cockrell
- Amanda Dockins
- Amber Elliot
- Candance Freeman
- Wesley Freeman
- Jason Hadley
- Gracie Hamby
- Candace Harbison
- Beverly Harper
- Laura Herring
- Madison Hill
- Valerie Hitt
- Tailer Johnson
- Kinsye Jones
- Dereck Keen
- Celia King
- Kathy McDowell
- Timi Meyer
- Taylor Miller
- Amber Morgan
- Emily Parker
- Amy Philbeck
- Tucker Philbeck
- Saadya Pounders
- Bobbi Putman
- April Runge
- Debra Rust
- Kerry Silvers
- Brooke Sinyard
- Carol Smith
- Rodney Spicer
- Rebecca Stephens
- Misti Sterling
- Tiffany Swann
- Kaitlin Watson
- Jo Wheeler
- Sandy Widner
- Selena Wilkins
- Stephanie Will
- Kelsey Wooten
Approved Angela Lane as a Long-Term Certified Substitute
Approved the contract and salary changes for:
- Samantha Surrett
- Michelle Pender
- Ryan Brewer
- Todd Greenlee
- Amanda Freeman
- John Farley
Approved request from Cold Springs High School to pay Cantrice Voce $2,000 for working the basketball gate for the 2023-2024 season, paid by local school funds.
Approved request from Cold Springs High School to pay Treasure Tubbs $900 for additional band duties during the 2023 season, paid by local school funds.
Approved request from Good Hope High School to pay Williams Cody Weaver and Shelba Edge each $100 per night to clean the gym after home basketball games, paid by local school funds.
Approved request from Good Hope High School to pay Lisa Holt $500 for assisting with archery team, paid by local school funds.
Approved request from Holly Pond Elementary School to pay Tate Brown $500 for assisting with the boys basketball team, paid by local schools funds.
Approved request from Vinemont High School to pay Roy Todd Johnson $2,000 for 2023-2024 Athletic Director, paid by local school funds.
Approved the following out-of-state field trip requests:
- Fairview High School Cheer Team- Orlando, FL Feb. 8, 2024
- West Point High School Scholars Bowl Team- Rosemont, IL April 4, 2024
Approved Oct 2023 Financial Statements
Approved Oct 2023 Bills and Salaries
Approved request of change order #6- West Point High shared Cafeteria Addition & Renovation:
- Sawcut, remove existing floor drains and cleanout, patch, and install two (2) floor drains and one (1) 4’ cleanout. -Increase: $6,267.00
Approved request of change order #7- West Point High Shared Cafeteria Addition & Renovation:
- Change in HVAC due to conflict with duct previously installed. – Increase: $3,444.00
Approved request of change order #1- Hanceville Elementary New Addition:
- Final close-out reconciliation, includes all changes and upgrades throughout the project Increase: $103,615.79
Approved Maintenance Department’s bid for $2,599,000 for renovations and additions at Fairview High School.
Closing the meeting, Barnette delivered his Superintendent’s Report, relaying and reiterating important dates for individuals and parents in the county school system.
- Dec. 19- end of first semester- students dismissed at 1 p.m.
- Christmas Break- Dec 20- Jan 3 (12 month returns Jan 2)
- Jan. 8 -Spring Sports Media Day
- Jan. 12_ Report Cards go home
- Jan. 15- Schools and Central Office closed
The next CCBOE meeting will be Thursday Jan. 18, 2024, the CCBOE meeting room. The work session begins at 3:30 p.m., with the meeting immediately following.
