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Hartselle Enquirer

Morgan County BOE elects new chairman

Billy Rhodes, representing the West Morgan district, will serve as chairman of the Morgan County School Board in 2014-2015.

He assumed the position at Thursday’s regular board meeting after being elected by unanimous vote of fellow board members.  Elected to the board in 2012, he follows in the footsteps of Paul Holmes, who was elected vice chairman.

“I was humbled and honored to serve as board chairman for the past year,” said Holmes.  “I feel like we’ve had a good year and I expect us to have another good year under Mr. Rhodes’ leadership.”

“I’ve known Mr. Hopkins for along time. We’re good friends,” said Rhodes. “I respect him as superintendent and I look forward to working with him and the board members.”

“You did a job as chairman,” superintendent Bill Hopkins Jr. said to Holmes, “and I’m glad you were elected chairman,” he said to Rhodes.

Before the meeting, Adam Glenn took the oath of office from Morgan County Probate Judge Greg Cain to serve as a new board member and board members Tom Earwood and Mike Tarpley were sworn in for new terms.

 

The board acted on other agenda items as follows:

•Out-of-state field trip requests were approved as follows:

Brewer High School to allow 100 band students to travel to Gatlinburg, Tenn. April 23-25 to perform at Dollywood; Danville High School to allow 50 band students to travel to Orlando, Fla. May 29 to participate in the Disney Arts Onstage program; Morgan County Mach Tech (robotics) team to travel to Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Ga. Feb. 26 – Mar. 1, 2015, Ponchartrain Center in Kenner, La. March 18-21, Tennessee Convention Center in Knoxville, Tenn. April 1-4; and Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Mo. April 22-25 to participate in FIRST competitions; and Falkville High School to allow 40 junior and seniors and their chaperones to travel to Williamsburg, Va. March 22-26 to visit William and Mary, Old Williamsburg, Monticello  and Presidents Park

•Approved a base bid of $2,092,630 from Woodard Construction for renovations and alterations to Falkville High School

•Approved a low bid of $31,421 for a dishwasher for the child nutrition program at Union Hill School from Dixie Store Fixtures and Sales Co.

•Approved a lot bid of $30,575 for a dishwasher for the child nutrition program at Sparkman School from Dixie Store Fixtures and Sales Co.

•Approved a list of English language arts textbooks and programs for use in Morgan County Schools

•Approved the 2014-2015 Technology Plan for Morgan County Schools

•Approved the 2015-2016 school calendar for Morgan County Schools

•Approved a contract with Child’s Play Therapy Center LLC to provide occupational therapy services to identified students in the Morgan County School System for the 2014-2015 school year

•Approved a contract for services with Randy Rachel to provide transportation for eligible students from home to school and back each day the student attends school, effective Nov. 3

•Approved the suspension of Policy DJCA to allow payday to be Nov. 25, 2014, and Dec. 19, 2014, instead of the last business day of those two months

•Approved updated Morgan County Schools principals’ and Junior High School principals’ salaries as presented. Both schedules have been updated to include doctorate levels.

•Approved certificates of affirmation pertaining to the election of Adam Glenn as a first term member of the board and the re-election of board members Tom Earwood and Mike Tarpley

•Approved a resolution approving disclosure controls and procedures of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

 

Personnel items recommended by the superintendent and approved by the board are listed as follows:

•Approved an employee supplemental contract with Jacob Wray as assistant baseball coach at Priceville High School, effective for the 2014-2015 contact year.

•Approved a catastrophic leave of absence for Katie Sparkman, teacher at Falkville Elementary, effective Nov. 3, 2014, through Feb. 6, 2015

•Accepted the resignation of Larry Raper, a special education teacher at Brewer High School, effective Jan. 1, 2015

•Accepted the resignation of Kathy Harrity as golf coach at Brewer High School, effective Oct. 8

•Accepted the resignation of Patrick Dean as a countywide bus driver, effective Nov. 13

•Approved an application for continued salary in lieu of sick leave for Rhonda Carter, a teacher at Sparkman School, effective for 18.5 days. She was injured on the job.

•Approved notice of retirement from Rita Graham, bus driver at Eva School, effective Feb. 1, 2015

•Approved a contract for services with Carrie Abercrombie to provide after school and/or summer tutoring services for Morgan County Schools, effective Nov. 14, 2014, through Sept. 30, 2015

•Approved termination of contract with Heath Saint as head football coach at West Morgan High School, effective Nov. 13

•Approved the transfer of Roderick S. Terry from SPE bus driver to bus driver, countywide, effective Nov. 14 He is replacing Diane Thompson who resigned

•Approved a catastrophic leave of absence for Angela Clark, a teacher at Brewer High School, effective Oct. 20 through Dec. 19.

•Approved a family medical leave request from Renate Galyean, a bus driver at Sparkman School, effective Oct. 16 through Nov.10

•Approved the employment of Katie Cumbaa as a preschool teacher assistant at Lacey’s Spring School, effective Nov. 14. She is replacing Alaina Raper who was promoted.

•Approved the employment of Brandy Nichole Borden as a countywide bus aide, effective Nov. 14. She is replacing Penny Jo Robinson who was promoted.

•Approved a catastrophic leave of absence request from William Boyer, a custodian at Brewer High School, effective Sept 25, 2014, through Jan. 5, 2015

•Approved an employee supplemental contract with Matt Hutto as baseball coach at West Morgan High School for the 2014-2015 contract year.

•Approved a contract for services with Savannas Dutton to provide after school and/or summer tutoring services for Morgan County Schools, effective Nov. 14, 2014, through Sept. 30, 2015

•Approved a contract for services with Jennifer Blocker to provide after school and summer tutoring services for Morgan County Schools, effective Nov. 14, 2014, through Sept 30, 2015

•Approved a school to school transfer for Amelia Canon from EL teacher at Lacey’s Spring School and Brewer High School to EL teacher to Lacey’s Spring School and Union Hill School, effective for the 2014-2015 school year

•Approved the employment of Kim Smith as a special education aide, countywide, for Morgan County Schools, effective Nov. 14. This is a new position

•Approved the employment of Jonathan Barron as a countywide instructional coach for Morgan County Schools, effective Nov. 14. He is replacing Honi Smith who was promoted

•Accepted notice of retirement from Jimmy Wayne Speegle as a bus driver at Brewer High School, effective Dec. 19

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