Sandy Schofield, a teacher at Danville-Neel Elementary School, was recently recognized by the Tennessee Valley Reading Council as “Outstanding Reading Teacher of the Year.” She received a plaque from Morgan County Superintendent Bill Hopkins Jr. to commemorate the honor at a school board meting December 10.
| Special to the Enquirer

Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

Morgan County Board of Education hired an architect to provide construction administration services leading to the completion of the new Priceville High School at a regular meeting Thursday night.

McKee & Associates is replacing GBW Architects of Decatur, the firm responsible for the project’s design. The school board terminated GBW’s contract November 10 after it was unsuccessful  resolving differences between GBW and Baggette Construction, the general contractor, over how  certain parts the school were constructed and whether or not the building was safe.

“The primary role of McKee is to confirm that the project is constructed in accordance with code requirements,” said Superintendent Bill Hopkins Jr. “The safety of our students has been a primary concern all along.”

McKee’s scope of work consists of weekly visits to the work site through January 2016, above ceiling inspections and final inspections. Not included are engineering inspections, structural, electrical, HVAC and plumbing.

McKee will receive $29,992 for its work. Its liability is limited to the amount of compensation it receives.

The new school was originally targeted for completion in July 2015 , then December.

“Our tentative plan to open the school after spring break in 2016,” Hopkins said.

The board acted on other matters as follows:

•Approved $12,900 and $68,000 bids from Dixie Store Fixtures  for a steam cooker for Brewer High School and serving lines for Falkville High School, respectively

•Approved field trip request from the Morgan County Schools FIRST Technical Challenge Robotics Team for out of state travel on March 9-11, 2016.  The team members (8 to 12) will travel to the Henry Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio TX for the purpose of participating in the FIRST Technical Challenge South Super Regional Competition

•Approved field trip request from Falkville High School for out of state travel on April 11-14, 2016.  Approximately 25 10th-11th grade students will travel to Charleston, SC to visit the Fort Sumter National Monument, the Rice Plantation, the USS Yorktown and Patriots Point Naval Museum and other locations of historic importance in the area

•Approved  field trip request from the Albert P. Brewer Adventurer Explorer Club for out of state travel May 3-6, 2016.  The 40 club members will travel to the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, MS for the purpose of participating in the Marine Education Center’s Costal Science Camp

•Approved field trip request from Danville Middle School, Cotaco School, West Morgan Middle School and Lacey’s Spring School for out of state travel June 7-12, 2016.  Approximately 14 TAG students from these schools will travel to New York City, NY to study the historical aspect of the city and tour historical landmarks

•Approved bid for food items and food processing supplies for the Child Nutrition Program from U.S. Foods for the 2015-2016 school year

•Approved the Morgan County School Strategic Plan as presented

•Approved Memorandum of Understanding between the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office and the MCBOE for a school resource officer program, effective Aug. 1, 2015, through July 31, 2016.

•Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between MCS and PACT to implement the Family Assistance through Community Ties (FACT) Project in Title I Schools, effective Aug. 4, 2015, through May 27, 2016

•Approved 2016-2017 Morgan County Schools Calendar (Option Number 1) as presented

•Approved 36-month copier lease agreement between Falkville High School and Berney Office Solutions

•Approved a request from Priceville High School to host a Pee Wee basketball cheer clinic in the small gym at Priceville High School on Dec. 21, 2015

Personnel items were recommended by the superintendent and acted on by the board as follows:

•Approved within school reassignment of Kali Woodall from second grade to first grade teacher at Priceville Elementary School, effective school year 2015-2016

•Approved within school reassignment of Meredith Easton Eubanks from second grade to third grade teacher at Priceville Elementary School, effective school year 2015-2016

•Approved within school reassignment of Kasey Davis from K-5 teacher to third grade teacher at Priceville Elementary School, effective school year 2015-2016

•Approved within school reassignment of Lauren Adams from K-5 teacher to fifth grade teacher at Priceville Elementary School effective school year 2015-2016

•Approved application for continued salary in lieu of sick leave from Donna Smith, countywide SPE teacher, effective for one day Nov. 11. Ms. Smith was injured while on the job

•Accepted notice of retirement from Darlene Lambert, countywide bus aide and countywide SPE aide, effective Dec. 31, 2015

•Approved the employment of Alissa Dutton as a custodian at Priceville Junior High School, effective Dec. 11.  Ms. Dutton will be replacing Kenneth Thomas who resigned

•Approved a catastrophic leave request from Amy Ellis, countywide teacher, effective Dec. 9 and Dec. 11 and returning Dec. 14

•Approved unpaid leave request from Stacy Beavers, teacher at Falkville Elementary School, effective Nov. 18, through Dec. 9

•Approved a maternity leave of absence request from Carrie Aultman, teacher at Priceville Elementary School, effective Feb. 18, through May 2, 2016

•Approved a catastrophic leave of absence request from Cam Harris, countywide classroom and bus aide, effective Jan. 4, through Feb. 1, 2016

•Accepted notice of retirement from David Taylor, teacher at Brewer High School, effective March 1, 2015

•Accepted notice of retirement from Donna Banks, teacher at Brewer High School, effective December 31, 2015

•Approved revising effective hire date of Justin Wunch, Morgan County Schools mechanic, from Oct. 16, to Nov. 2.  This revision is made at the request of the payroll department

•Accepted notice of retirement from Amelia Canon, teacher at Lacey’s Spring School and Union Hill School, effective Jan. 1, 2016

•Approved employment of Marianela De Los Angeles Hall as CNP worker at Falkville High School effective Dec. 11.  Ms. Hall will be replacing Pat Miller who retired

•Approved employment of Michelle Adkins Prince as kindergarten teacher at West Morgan Elementary School effective Jan. 4, 2016.  Ms. Prince will be replacing Laura Hultman who retired

•Accepted the resignation of Dylan Thompson, a custodian at Brewer High School, effective Jan. 3, 2016

•Approved a family medical leave of absence for Jennifer White, counselor at Sparkman School, effective Oct. 29 through Nov. 12, 2015

•Approved leave of absence request from Dwane Bowen, countywide bus driver, effective Nov. 24, through January 8, 2016

•Approved application for continued salary in lieu of sick leave from Mechelle Crowe, countywide SPE aide, effective for a total of 10 days Dec. 7 through Dec. 18.  Ms. Crowe was injured while on the job