[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6339162,"mediaKeyId","2264080-f873ef506802f058b1c50268c763e420","parentId",2264080,"title","Hoover City Schools highlights Black History Month, Be Kind Week, GEMS expo, teacher awards and track state titles","audioSeconds",1804,"startMs",104000,"endMs",1908000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2264080-f873ef506802f058b1c50268c763e420&start=104&end=1908","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2264080-f873ef506802f058b1c50268c763e420/thumbnail_104000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6339162/Alabama/Hoover-City-Schools-highlights-Black-History-Month-Be-Kind-Week-GEMS-expo-teacher-awards-and-track-state-titles","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339162-0493acaea2c2b2bcb6e947fa7e567a26/orig.mp4?Expires=1775288417&Signature=m5PilpkPtFP7505aDRYOxqHpTd0Qf5gqPlOLBFDgazOEY5~49Sy~Gf1OInfFoSLRxeePybfuG52rRdlBs04ROruyZ2O7HoZgLPjSrX2~maxNZhZou30Z-~Z8Hmj9soTjFCit7tpoP0Su5hc2fIwnwtAb-UQKD5Y9~03JbRA-TAdXnmtE-wb0P-N3LrdogTpqwphjiqGNOxBxTewfRXTzFyYXF6rNen8JUqxIUdlNSNwEC1qEx97e2E~KkRLfWDuRsWOONYyhn0DdIIcGF2nQiq90atmoVcq3kSvOGvzbdw5zC0phJDPv7bHssASLKfKEwR4v0Ms2Mmh4udYDqMaGHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hoover City Schools, AL","date","2025-02-11T23:00:22Z","article","Hoover City Schools used its Jan. 14 board meeting to highlight student and staff achievements and to announce community events for February, including Black History Month classroom activities, Be Kind Week activities tied to Pink Shirt Day and an upcoming career fair.

Director of communications/administrator Merrick Wilson told the board that schools across the district are marking Black History Month with classroom research projects, student performances and guest speakers, and that several schools plan living history or “living museum” events later in the month. She singled out student projects that used repurposed bottles to present biographies of notable African Americans.

Catherine Stewart, Hoover City Schools mental‑health services specialist, briefed the board on Pink Shirt Day and the district’s Be Kind Week. Stewart described the origin of Pink Shirt Day (an anti‑bullying campaign that began in Canada in 2007) and said the district’s Be Kind Week will take place in late February. Stewart said the district’s service project is “stocking the counselor’s closet” by asking students to bring snacks to share. During the meeting staff mentioned two different specific pink‑shirt days (Feb. 25 and Feb. 26) in separate remarks; the district promoted wearing pink during the Be Kind Week activities.

Megan Neal Bluffhart, assistant principal, and a committee of volunteers summarized the 11th annual GEMS (girls in engineering, math and science) expo. The program drew 657 girls in grades K–8, 79 teams and approximately 15–20 high‑school volunteers; the district credited Hoover Foundation, Signature Homes and U.S. Steel as sponsors and said the event was provided free to participating students.

The board recognized outstanding educators and coaches. The district honored Ashley Dart of Gwen Elementary as a 2024 Presidential Award finalist in mathematics and Melody Green of Berry Middle School as a 2024 Presidential Award finalist in science; the board noted the Presidential Awards are the highest national honor for STEM teachers and are administered on behalf of the White House by the National Science Foundation.

Athletics highlights included recognition of Hoover High School boys’ and girls’ track teams and the Bumpus program for multiple state championships. Coach remarks at the meeting cited state‑record relay performances, a combined total of 10 individual state champions during the indoor season, team indoor scores of 137.5 for the boys and 108.5 for the girls, and a total of 24 all‑state athletes. Board members and district staff praised coaches, student‑athletes and families for sustained success across seasons.

The meeting also included routine scheduling and a public comment on parent fees for the MySchoolBucks payment processor; a community member asked the board to review transaction fees charged by the vendor.

Ending: District leaders encouraged staff, families and community partners to participate in Be Kind Week events and the February career fair and said they will continue school visits and outreach into February.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2/11/25 HCS Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","District leaders recognized Black History Month classroom projects, announced Be Kind Week and Pink Shirt Day activities, reported GEMS expo participation and sponsors, honored two Presidential Award finalists and celebrated multiple Hoover High state track championships.","taxTitle","Hoover City Schools, School Districts, Alabama","taxId",13588,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339167,"Hoover City Schools board approves personnel, surplus donation and cheer supplement; rejects R‑22 HVAC bids",322,1946000,2268000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2264080-f873ef506802f058b1c50268c763e420&start=1946&end=2268","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2264080-f873ef506802f058b1c50268c763e420/thumbnail_1946000.jpg","/articles/6339167/Alabama/Hoover-City-Schools-board-approves-personnel-surplus-donation-and-cheer-supplement-rejects-R22-HVAC-bids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339167-27ccc022ac4fe7aa19f6d0717bd73a12/orig.mp4?Expires=1775288417&Signature=INwvmJd8TxvAtT~vVspenA9VB9kh6DIuq-Sj-V9ToZVx~0BS~uKIAEolggXco83jEh6fwxqRZ364JhAUXqQtFr3IkBku-B-W5vomozUjB1QlUOzICShmPRPXn5Sk8jKZeHXCkikt-pkDQL2HZKuBNpewZCNFm7AB43B3eT5ybIB7woLoQD0HUirY3zQVYOHafghXuaIlxLaKcw4pZONI66RJec852zeZm-OIt8oBKkmiP3dGhr74fQXewxojF-cEMe73j5tJaIpAUlRP5OxBEa8YZuP8amuy7C0I~stKhdJr~r~RcKYwnaeQzCwPgVW7FlcqAIrzRObQzjpk2b1Crg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hoover City Schools Board of Education on Jan. 14 approved routine personnel and business actions, authorized donation of obsolete emergency equipment, approved a locally funded middle‑school assistant cheer supplement and rejected all bids for an R‑22 HVAC conversion project after the lowest bids exceeded the project budget.

Board members heard a financial overview from Michelle McKay, chief school financial officer, who said January 2025 payroll totaled $13,829,134.19 and December cash disbursements totaled $9,432,690.55. McKay reported that 25.8% of budgeted revenue for the 2024–25 year had been received as of Dec. 31, 2024, and that general fund expenditures were at about 24.7% of budget. She reported the general fund reserve at 8.94% and noted that property tax collections would increase reported revenue through March.

After McKay’s report the board voted on the business agenda and related personnel and disposition items. Actions approved by unanimous voice vote included adoption of the meeting agenda, approval of the Jan. 14 meeting minutes, the personnel report \"as recommended by the superintendent,\" and routine business items summarized in the meeting packet.

The board approved donating 15 air packs, 15 self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) models and 42 SCBA masks from the district’s fire/emergency science academy (RC3) to the Shelby County Career Tech Technical Center Public Service Academy. The superintendent recommended declaring those noncapitalized items surplus and donating them; the board approved the recommendation.

The board also approved a locally funded supplement for a middle‑school assistant cheer coach. The superintendent said the supplement will be paid at the local‑school level and that the number of assistant positions will depend on participation; the district noted some schools have as many as 31 participants, which prompted the supplemental position.

Board members rejected all bids for the R‑22 HVAC conversion project at South Shadescrest, Hoover Hall and the Central Office after bids totaled $3,165,085 against a project budget of $1,900,000. The superintendent recommended rejecting all bids because they came in significantly over budget; the motion to reject was approved unanimously.

All motions recorded in the meeting were approved by voice vote with no recorded opposing votes in the public transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Adoption of meeting agenda — Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approval of Jan. 14, 2025 meeting minutes — Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Personnel report (as recommended by the superintendent) — Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Business actions (financial report and related routine items) — Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Disposal/donation of obsolete items (15 air packs, 15 SCBA units, 42 SCBA masks) to Shelby County Career Tech Technical Center Public Service Academy — Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Locally funded middle‑school assistant cheer supplement (funded at school level; number dependent on participation) — Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- R‑22 HVAC conversions (South Shadescrest, Hoover Hall, Central Office): reject all bids (project budget $1,900,000; bids received $3,165,085) — Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote) — bid rejection.

Context and next steps

Superintendent and staff will continue procurement and budget work on the HVAC conversions after the board rejected the bids; the transcript does not record a specific follow‑up contract or revised budget. The donated SCBA equipment will be transferred in accordance with district surplus procedures. The locally funded cheer supplement is to be implemented at the school level; the district did not specify exact counts of supplements to be funded in the transcript.

Ending: The board adjourned after public comment and scheduling reminders.","At its Jan. 14 meeting the Hoover City Schools Board of Education approved personnel and business items, authorized disposal/donation of obsolete firefighting equipment, approved a locally funded middle‑school assistant cheer supplement, and unanimously rejected bids for an R‑22 HVAC conversion after bids exceeded the $1.9 million budget.","actionData","errors"]

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Hoover City Schools highlights Black History Month, Be Kind Week, GEMS expo, teacher awards and track state titles

Hoover City Schools board approves personnel, surplus donation and cheer supplement; rejects R‑22 HVAC bids