Board OKs school funding agreement
The last gap separating city and school leaders on the funding of a new $40 million Hartselle High School was closed Monday night when the school board agreed to accept terms already approved by the city council.
The agreement caps the budget for the new school at $40 million, including the cost to provide on-site and off-site infrastructure im-provements and furnishings. In addition,, the school system pledges $300,000 per year toward bond debt retirement and agrees to a 50-50 split of the costs should an earmarked one-cent sales tax fail to generate enough revenue to meet an estimated $2.8 million annual bond payment.
“We have reviewed all of the documents with our attorney and are comfortable with signing them,” said board chairwoman Jennifer Sittason.
Completion of the agreement will enable the city council to move forward on the sale of an $18 million bond issue. The remainder of the project’s financing will come from a $22 million low interest federal loan.
The city expects to have $500,000 accumulated in a school sales tax account prior to the start of interest payments on the loan in June, 2010. Payment s on the principal will begin in 2011.
In a separate but related matter, Martin & Cobey of Athens was approved as program manager for the school project. The firm’s responsibility will be to ensure that the project comes in under budget when it is bid and that workmanship meets high standards and is completed on schedule once construction begins.
The board voted on other matters as follows:
• Approved all textbooks on the state adopted list.
• Authorized the Hartselle High School Tip-off Club to use the gyms at the high school, junior high school and F. E. Burleson Elementary for a youth basketball tournament May 7-8.
• Declared old library books at Crestline Elementary School as surplus property and authorized them to be sold for 50 cents per copy.
• Approved the first reading of a proposed revision of board policy JBCA pertaining to resident students.
• Approved meeting date changes as follows: May 10 meeting to May 24 and June 21 meeting to June 28,
• Approved a budget amendment to take into account the proration of state funds.
• Approved a one-year extension of a contract with MDA Professional Group for the 2009-2010 school system audit.
• Approved an extended agreement to supply meals to Hartselle Head Start.
Personnel items were acted on as follows:
• Approved a request from Cindy Hagemann, reading coach at Barkley Bridge Elementary School, for unpaid family medical leave after all personal leave and sick leave days are depleted through May 21, 2010.
• Approved a request from Janice Terry, custodian at F.E. Burleson Elementary School, for unpaid family medical leave after all personal leave, sick leave and vacation days are depleted, effective April 5 through June 30, 2010.
• Approved a request from Leesia Johnson, special education teacher at Hartselle High School, for unpaid family medical leave after all personal leave, sick leave and vacation days are depleted through May 21, 2010.
• Approved the resignation of Dana Sharp, seventh grade volleyball coach at Hartselle Junior High School, effective March10, 2010.
• Approved the resignation (retirement) of Mitzi Peek, fifth grade teacher at F.E. Burleson Elementary School, effective with the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
• Approved the resignation (retirement) of Franki Burdette, third grade teacher at F.E. Burleson Elementary School, effective with the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
• Approved the resignation (retirement) of Linda Hughes, teacher’s aide at F.E. Burleson Elementary School, effective with the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
• Approved the resignation (retirement) of Linda Wren, kindergarten teacher at Crestline Elementary School, effective with the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
• Approved the resignation (retirement) of Steve Knight, sixth grade math teacher at Hartselle Junior High School, effective with the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
• Approved the resignation (retirement) of Sherry McDaniel, aide at Crestline Elementary School, effective May 31, 2010.
• Approved the employment of Gunnar Praytor, high school student, to work two hours per week, effective April 13, 2010.
