CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County School Board held its monthly meeting on Feb. 15 and recognized two students who placed nationally in the Horace Mann Academic Planning Calendar Design competition. West Point Middle School student Aliana Riggs was named the national champion for the contest in grades four-eight, and her artwork will be featured on the cover of the 2024 Horace Mann Academic Calendar. Third place was clenched by fellow Warrior, West Point High School student Aspen Sellers. Both girls were recognized at the meeting by Greg Privett, a representative of Horace Mann.
“We have some artists among us, guys. I’m going to let him (Privett) explain what it is, but it’s incredible,” said Cullman County Schools Superintendent Dr. Shane Barnette.
Mann addressed the audience and explained a little of the history behind the Horace Mann Academic Calendar; begun over 70 years ago, the company had been distributing academic calendars to schools all across the country. In 2023 came the design competition.
“This year they had the idea to let students have a contest and design the cover. When they submitted their artwork we had two winners from Cullman County. Aspen (Sellers) placed in the southeast regional and Aliana (Riggs) won the overall contest for her grades four through eight,” said Privett.
In other business the board:
- Approved the resignations of Kimberly Warren, Mary Brewer, Teresa Adair and James Parker
- Approved the 2024-2025 School Calendar
- Approved leaves of absence requested by Catherine Flynt, Canungnit Calvert and Logan Sellers
- Approved the appointments of Braxton Mann (Hanceville High School Math Teacher), Donnie Holmes (Vinemont Station Head) and Karen Wilhite (Vinemont Elem. Reading Interventionist)
- Approved the following substitute teachers and support personnel:
- Carla Cain
- Dorothy Conley
- Frank Gingrich
- Kinaye Jones
- Rhonda Nail
- Judy Schultz
- Elizabeth Screws
- Vicky Dovel
- Amanda Kilgo
- Tera Lee
- Donald Nation
- Laura Nichols
- Joseph Palus
- Jeffery Wynn
- Approved Tyler Calvert and Tera Lee as long-term substitutes
- Approved James Scott, Eric Pendley, Joshua Shannon, Sydney Carpentier, Kevin Folds and Isaiah Wylie as non-faculty coaches
- Approved the following contract changes:
- Kevin Folds- add West Point Senior High Softball Assistant Coach for West Point High School to be paid from the Athletic Supplement
- Cameron Bates- removal of West Point Middle School Baseball
- Isaiah Wylie- add West Point Middle School Baseball, to be paid from the Athletic Supplement
- Approved a request from Holly Pond High School to pay Jeffery Horton $900 for nine varsity and middle school home games for concession stand duties, paid by Holly Pond Quarterback Club
- Approved Danielle Kritner and Martha Ward as afterhours program personnel, paid $20 per hour from local school funds
- Approved Reilly Hood, Leigh Baughn, Tanya Douglas and Contrina Styles (Nurse) as Before and After School tutors to be paid $40 an hour from local school funds
- Approved the Out of State field trip requests from Cold Springs Elementary, Hanceville High School and West Point High School all to be held in April
- Approved a request for the renewal of the contract with Edmentum (digital content licensing for diagnostic testing, remediation, credit recovery, and virtual school) Funding- ESSER
- Approved a request for the purchase Do the Math intervention materials and kits from Heinemann- Funding-ESSER
- Approved the sale of technology equipment purchased for a specific student to assist with her unique needs and transferred, new school system will purchase it from Cullman County for her
- Approved December 2023’s bills and financials
- Approved a bid for repaving the track at Cold Springs High School for $84,850 from ASC Paving and Seal Coating
- Approved CATA to sell or dispose of a wood chipper and six Precision Machining Manual Lathes
Barnette closed the meeting with his superintendent’s report, highlighting important upcoming dates and information for students and families in the county school system.
- March 8, 2023, is the end of the third nine weeks
- Spring break will be observed March 25-29
- Free tuition is available to Cullman County Schools students who choose to enroll in a Dual Enrollment program
The next regular CCBOE meeting will be held Thursday, March 14. The work session begins at 3:30 p.m. with the meeting immediately following.
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