Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

Students attending Morgan County High Schools will have the option of enrolling in pre-engineering classes during the 2017-2018 school year, school board members learned during a work session May 11.

Chris Blevins, director of career tech education, said pre-engineering classes would be offered for the first time at Priceville High School, with enrollment open to students attending all five county high schools.

“Project Lead the Way” is a program that we’ve been following for some time,
Blevins said. “We were a little slow buying into it, but now I‘m excited and happy we’re on board.”

In a separate but related move, the board later approved the employment of Alesia Ann Doran to serve as teacher of the course.

“I think we have the teacher who can come in and get the course off to a fast start.” Blevins pointed out. “Our goal is to make it one of the best in the state.”

The Student Leadership Showcase was presented by Priceville Junior High School. Six students gave oral reports to illustrate some of the schools accomplishments during the 2016-2017 school year.

Superintendent Bill Hopkins recognized Brewer High School’s JROTC unitments.

The JROTC was awarded a plaque to commemorate its selection as an Honor Unit in the 2017 JROTC Program assessment.

Brewer’s choral program received a plaque to commemorate its selection as Outstanding Chorus Section in 2016-2017.

Jerry Mercer from the accounting firm of Mercer and Associates presented results of the school system’s 2016 Annual Audit Report. His review of the 49-page financial statement showed no unqualified findings.

The board acted on other matters as follows:

•Approved out-of-state travel requests from Brewer High School to send five students and chaperones to Orlando, FL for the 2017 HOSA National Competition on June 30, to send five students and chaperones to Nashville, TN for the 2017 FCCLA National Competition July 2-6, to send approximately 26 Lady Patriot basketball players and chaperones to Nashville, TN for team camp at Belmont University June 15-17 and to send four CTA students and chaperones to Louisville, KY for the 2017 Skills USA National Competition June 19-24 

•Approved out-of-state travel request from West Morgan High School to send approximately 90 band students and chaperones to Orlando, FL to perform in Disney World’s “Magic Music Days” Mar. 25-30, 2018

•Approved an agreement with Child’s Play Therapy Center LLC to provide occupational therapy services, effective April 17, 2017

•Approved contract for services with Myra Bazzel to provide art instruction for Morgan County Schools/Cotaco School with four dates to be completed by May 25, 2017

•Approved a request from Falkville High School’s boy’s basketball team to use Drake Gym to conduct a shooting camp May 31, 2017

•Approved a request from Priceville High School basketball teams to use its two gyms to conduct a basketball camp June 5-9

•Approved a request from Danville High School’s boy’s basketball team to use the school gym to conduct a basketball camp June 26-29, 2017

•Approved a request from Brewer High School to use the baseball field to conduct a baseball camp June 1-2, 2017

•Approved temporary suspension of Morgan County Schools policy 3.10.1 (Salaries and Pay Rates) for the month of May 2017.The purpose of this temporary suspension is to allow the issuance of the May 2017 paychecks on the last working day for staff.

•Approved a resolution authorizing the acceptance of the conveyance of a residential property for the use of Falkville Schools

•Approved a second reading of selected Morgan County School policies as presented at the May 11, 2017, work session

•Approved a contract for services with Judith Lee to provide translating and interpreting services as needed for Morgan County Schools., effective May 19. 2017, through July 31, 2017.

Superintendent Hopkins recommended and board members approved personnel items follows:

•Notice of retirement from Sylvia Halbrooks, secretary/receptionist at the central office, effective July 1, 2017

•Catastrophic leave of absence (as needed) request from Deborah Bramlett, teacher at Sparkman School, effective Mar. 17, 2017, through May 26, 2017

•Catastrophic leave request from Rhonda Morrow, nurse at Danville-Neel Elementary School, effective April 10, 2017, through May 22, 2017

•Resignation of Mitchell Funk,  band teacher at Eva/Cotaco/Brewer High School, effective May 25, 2017

•Notice of retirement from Jean Ann Montgomery, teacher at Lacey’s Spring School, effective June 1, 2017

•Notice of retirement from Sandra F. Hodges, counselor at West Morgan Elementary School, effective June 1, 2017

•Notice of retirement from Sheryl Brock, Title 1 teacher at Falkville Elementary School, effective June 1, 2017

•Notice of retirement from Rebecca Eidson, countywide SPE aide and box driver at Brewer High School, effective June 1, 2017

•Notice of retirement from Melvie Holmes, teacher at Eva School, effective June 1, 2017

•Notice of retirement from Rita Childers, teacher at Eva School, effective June 1, 2017

•Notice of retirement from Anthony Brown, teacher at Eva School, effective June 1, 2017

•Notice of retirement from Lila Johnson, teacher at Priceville Elementary School, effective June 1, 2017

•Notice of retirement from Neil Estes, teacher at Falkville High School, effective June 1, 2017

•Employment of Stanley E. Robinson as custodian at Cotaco School, effective May 12, 2017. He is replacing Cortez who resigned.

•Promotion of Emily L. Sparks from CNP worker to bookkeeper at Danville-Neel Elementary School, effective May 12, 2017. She is replacing Charity Goodwin who resigned.

•Request to hire Jeffrey Alan Lorance as bus shop assistant/utility driver for Morgan County Schools, effective July 15, 2017

•Request to hire Harless Whisante as a mechanic for Morgan County Schools, effective May 12, 2017. He is replacing Brian Langham who resigned.

•Notice of retirement from Karen Wilemon, teacher at Falkville High School, effective May 26, 2017

•Contract for services with Brittany King as van driver and textbook processor on an as needed basis for Morgan County Schools, effective May 20-Aug. 6, 2017

•Notice of resignation from Patrick Sularian, media specialist at Priceville High School, effective May 27, 2017

•Notice of resignation form Robin Ward as office/ISS aide at Falkville Elementary School, effective May 216, 2017

•Employment of Alesia Ann Doran as Project Lead the Way teacher at Priceville High School, effective Aug. 1. 2017