[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6291632,"mediaKeyId","2529627-29cabe7bb5373a1defa2803744a5eff2","parentId",2529627,"title","Board approves agenda, wellness policy, scheduling rules, bonds and routine financial and personnel items in special session","audioSeconds",1293,"startMs",8178000,"endMs",9471000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529627-29cabe7bb5373a1defa2803744a5eff2&start=8178&end=9471","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529627-29cabe7bb5373a1defa2803744a5eff2/thumbnail_8178000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6291632/Alabama/Board-approves-agenda-wellness-policy-scheduling-rules-bonds-and-routine-financial-and-personnel-items-in-special-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291632-19d9b03e1cd6fa38c39871f2f7ffd1bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775093733&Signature=KBm1hKigNDdb2OC9vIJvM1nXq52AGvoUYzf~greVvJYDxQaMtRM6Fi5yblaVEbrIzcl0PrfR1PqIXvKqLBcose-CzhnPfLBvwsgmcS7~k5EXJc9I5uVkEncN3xPm0qPNJIflxRb4LcQAHvJMjzJx~L7e1EHO03CyrZk2f2ldRzow~4xmWhmzba17qDcAvcjozoAvuxE97f2s8R9Jqf0r8KyVFznfJFPN9cHBNAhHdyNOPsVDdbKJkC2YH7wjKpF4YEmcvZOD41lmp42EYBU257-0OffiZ-kLv4vf9ZI6g4-MH5EUX~olXZSlyZWnSZFWS1iiWBHCn91-iWxan7CGMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Madison County Schools Alabama","date","2025-03-07T13:42:24Z","article","The Madison County Board of Education held a brief special session March 7 and approved multiple agenda and consent items including a wellness policy, an academic scheduling component, the district’s financing resolution, and standard financial and personnel items.

Votes at a glance (each item was approved by voice vote unless noted):

- Agenda: The board approved the March 7 agenda with the removal of administrative item A (moved to the March 25 meeting). Motion: board member (mover) not specified; seconded by Board member Byrd. Outcome: approved.

- MCSS School Wellness Policy 7.09: The board approved the district wellness policy as submitted. Motion by Board member Vest; second by Board member Burr. Outcome: approved.

- Academic guide scheduling component: The board approved an academic scheduling component to standardize course times and reporting; motion by Board member Vest; second by Board member Jones. Outcome: approved. During discussion board members asked that any move to standards‑based or 1–4 grading be presented to the board as a formal proposal before changes are implemented.

- Final warrant resolution/series 2025 (bonds): The board adopted a final warrant resolution authorizing the district’s 2025 bond issuance. Staff reported that bonds were sold February 25 and the district received a favorable credit rating upgrade (double‑A). The final closing was scheduled in March. Motion and seconder not specified on the transcript prior to voice vote; outcome: approved.

- January financial statements and payments of bills: The board approved the January financial statements and payment of bills. Motion by Board member Vest; second by Board member Jones. Outcome: approved.

- Contracts for services: The board approved contracts for services as submitted. Motion by Board member Jones; second by Board member Vest. Outcome: approved.

- Personnel items and addendum: The board approved recommended personnel actions and the addendum. Motion by Board member Vest; second by Board member Burr. Outcome: approved.

- Supplemental contracts and discontinued contracts: The board approved supplemental contracts as presented. Motion by Board member Vest; second by Board member Jones. Outcome: approved.

What the votes mean

The final warrant resolution authorizes the district’s financing structure and followed district staff and underwriter work that, according to meeting presenters, led to a strong market response and a double‑A rating. Staff said the sale produced net proceeds intended for planned capital projects; the underwriter briefed the board and said the bonds sold rapidly because of the district’s upgraded rating and financial policies.

Several non‑controversial policy and administrative items were handled by unanimous voice vote; where board members asked for follow‑up they requested formal proposals and conversion formulas be returned to the board (for example, any move to standards‑based K–3 grading or a 1–4 conversion to the 0–100 report card scale).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MCSS Board of Education Work Session and Special Session March 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","In a short special session March 7 the Madison County Board of Education approved the meeting agenda (with a scheduling change), adopted a wellness policy, approved an academic scheduling component, authorized a final warrant resolution for bonds, and approved multiple routine financial, contract and personnel recommendations.","taxTitle","Madison County Schools, School Districts, Alabama","taxId",13590,"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},6291636,"Madison County Schools Foundation awards $23,275 to help teachers pursue national board certification",29,295000,324000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529627-29cabe7bb5373a1defa2803744a5eff2&start=295&end=324","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529627-29cabe7bb5373a1defa2803744a5eff2/thumbnail_295000.jpg","/articles/6291636/Alabama/Madison-County-Schools-Foundation-awards-23275-to-help-teachers-pursue-national-board-certification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291636-08dc44a9d23e4bcd6c5399383a7fbc96/orig.mp4?Expires=1775093733&Signature=QsIPSpeY0KB3sr06scGv--aubuF8PMrJwPLhW3~0OJlgdyzl5-OSNGQlT~PNtIoUTMVnei-vyfy4M-xTT7CWuEa-EXgggpU5-nL-Kp0aT4ouoKK-~vLQPjfbBMda1HgeqbMOCyZjPrq0YmpLMJ4yeuQvlfftmbLCTHirBf4xBwt~6DJ-o-qvmdsvkCRkxiq9l7YMhYzVBQnYyxqKusjVhpwQNSLnIMuVwyvzBt~Gv9ejUmS5PHJ0QB4e37BBUIaXcfgcYbNQyhgFIs~Mupopowu9tn8LJTH~82Bzs3hCC5l67TfaKcZQknM22ZXnqUdA4whtaFrDK5oinJiPfDPQPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Madison County Schools Foundation presented a check for $23,275 to Madison County Schools on March 7 to help district teachers pursuing National Board Certification.

\"My name is Jeannie Greer. I'm the director at the school's foundation, and I'm very excited today to present a check from our Raise Your Hand initiative for teachers who are pursuing national board certification,\" Greer told the board. She said the funds will assist teachers working through National Board modules.

District leaders thanked the foundation for the gift and for its ongoing partnership. No board action was required for the presentation.","The Madison County Schools Foundation presented a $23,275 check from its Raise Your Hand initiative to support teachers pursuing National Board Certification.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6291641,"Madison County Board reviews sewer easement and land proposals for McKee Road and Hazel Green sites",1526,5955000,7481000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529627-29cabe7bb5373a1defa2803744a5eff2&start=5955&end=7481","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529627-29cabe7bb5373a1defa2803744a5eff2/thumbnail_5955000.jpg","/articles/6291641/Alabama/Madison-County-Board-reviews-sewer-easement-and-land-proposals-for-McKee-Road-and-Hazel-Green-sites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291641-33ec7d94d3a5513d062523c6e0876b79/orig.mp4?Expires=1775093733&Signature=QYuvKX4c~xmjQ3m-D5sPK6oqmPp4X9~iGptAiIzMRkFZUDd3saChcJawWlANymdF-Cza3MjFW1vxz1f3OFxwQOo4tKNSQxejjhfeuDQAxEFDh6o4j5bzkon2eIdOp0aMkKPUhfP4l-Pd8aClC1e1n~su0pwnyo94JZR0Phhj57ZVpUOlDFuVALpz2JdE1MB~lRC6BH2x0mrrRPgefBU69VFyGsPnnE4sXYqW3zf1N3ooxCwlWUKgvgSuwKuth4Xetn7pSV8Wd95OhXQ-ksDy5aUuUsIqlmv3rUSxnaj5l0WcjwsvhoLjsF8WCabGUCYX8x0BJKoOnjsIqr~035pMhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District facilities staff updated the board March 7 on two separate property matters tied to ongoing construction: a request from the sewer authority for an easement across the McKee Road/Sparkman Intermediate site and a separate offer covering 4.1 acres near Hazel Green High School that contains a small sewer plant. Staff presented options, legal considerations and draft financial terms and asked the board for direction on next steps.

Why it matters: both matters affect current construction, future site plans (athletic fields, parking and road access) and potential revenue or costs tied to tap fees, easements and property acquisition.

McKee Road / Sparkman Intermediate sewer easement

- The county’s sewer authority (referred to as OSDS in the presentation) has proposed an 8‑inch sewer alignment across Madison County property to reach McKee Road with a lift station and maintenance easement. The district was shown a proposed corridor that aims to avoid wetlands and minimize disturbance to the school site.

- Financial terms discussed in the meeting included a district tap/reservation fee figure cited at $157,000 and a current OSDS reduction offer of $27,000 (described in the presentation as a potential reduction on the fee to facilitate the easement). Staff said the legal description and final easement verbiage would be drafted and returned to the board for final approval; staff recommended they authorize OSDS to proceed with initial engineering and surveying so a formal package could be presented later.

- Board members asked about construction easements and potential temporary access needs; staff said much of the installation would be bored rather than open‑cut, reducing interference with ongoing school construction.

McKee Road adjacent parcels and right‑of‑way requests

- A neighboring landowner/developer offered a counterproposal that would shift the district’s planned right‑of‑way. Facilities staff and the superintendent expressed concerns about re‑routing the road, including re‑engineering costs, wetland impacts and schedule delay. Staff said reengineering could add three to six months and “easily be six figures” to the project, and recommended against moving the finalized right‑of‑way. The board agreed the likely delays and added costs made the developer’s rerouting proposal unattractive and directed staff to follow up with the realtor about the availability of the 33‑acre parcel on the original terms.

Hazel Green High School: 4.1‑acre HEICO parcel and land‑lease proposal

- Staff reviewed a 2010 agreement that left a 4.1‑acre parcel (described in the presentation as tied to HEICO) containing a small sewer plant and noted the district received the parcel in exchange for a then‑assessed reservation/tap fee value of $390,000.

- HEICO representatives proposed a land‑lease‑to‑own arrangement to return the 4.1 acres to district control, with staff quoting an example payment schedule of $78,000 per year over five years (interest‑free in the example) based on the $390,000 figure from 2010. Staff said the plant would need to be addressed (removed or relocated) and that the district’s current design work for Hazel Green is proceeding without the parcel in hand.

- Board members asked whether the sewer plant had market value and whether the district should pursue an upfront purchase discount; staff said the likely value of the plant is low given relocation costs and that the parcel’s utility depends on whether the district wants added space for fields or parking.

Board direction and next steps

- For the McKee Road easement staff were asked to pursue a formal legal description and to work with counsel on deed verbiage that would protect the district (exclusive‑use language, approval for future taps onto the easement and prohibition on unauthorized connections); staff will return the easement package for board approval once drafted.

- On the developer’s right‑of‑way rerouting proposal, the board signaled it would not accept delays or extra costs and directed staff to continue outreach to determine whether acquisition of the 33‑acre parcel remains an option on the prior terms.

- On the Hazel Green 4.1 acres, staff will continue negotiations with the owner; no acquisition vote occurred March 7 and the board did not commit to the five‑year payment example.

Ending

No land purchases or easement deeds were approved at the March 7 meeting. Staff said they will return with formal legal descriptions, proposed deed language and any recommended purchase or lease agreements for board action.","District staff briefed the board on a proposed sewer easement for McKee Road/Sparkman Intermediate, a neighboring developer’s request to reroute a right‑of‑way, and a possible land lease or purchase of 4.1 acres near Hazel Green High School; no land purchase votes were taken.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6291646,"Madison County plans districtwide MTSS behavioral rollout and proposes five additional school psychologists",5261,398000,5659000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529627-29cabe7bb5373a1defa2803744a5eff2&start=398&end=5659","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529627-29cabe7bb5373a1defa2803744a5eff2/thumbnail_398000.jpg","/articles/6291646/Alabama/Madison-County-plans-districtwide-MTSS-behavioral-rollout-and-proposes-five-additional-school-psychologists","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291646-f57164efa373a8c71929fb7c44d813a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775093733&Signature=isTysAW0Un9M8~M4p8mTBWF8jSqyl0THhlCl5cnQQSutXxAu0xL8bVic3qSgrgFk0kromlN3dc4a~A7zY~qLROHaduH9epPktqMrJkPqat4H6TsOtFJt0oV-U08iJOrOkIvOrd11299fKl2nP8ckp29m~PpuNNzGc~0Ab12K-ZzKHySUcziqmhb2Lh-NqSVFCOLfkaGPorJmHp3hhH4IaAQRj9e7b5YvfZ4llF~o2c8f1n1sQc0QB7w10mYg2uZ7XDgaqw3krj3JIjZ--O7dSwFMcW~a~W7XcMjVGl2mw9kvrPQ9Bz8k3-Rb3TF3kp2V94ZPGK1dT3QpbxlQ2ABr0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Madison County Schools officials presented a districtwide behavioral support plan on March 7, describing steps to expand Multi‑Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for behavior, add at‑risk options and staff the district with more clinical capacity. The presentation outlined phased implementation, training expectations and a staffing proposal for five additional school psychologists.

District staff said the goal is to ensure “100% of every child in our district should get what they need every single day,” and framed MTSS behavioral work as required by the state and necessary to respond to rising student mental‑health and disruptive behavior trends. “What we wanna do is just kinda talk about, a behavioral support plan, and it's comprehensive and it covers multiple areas,” said a staff member leading the presentation. The team said the state Department of Education (ALSDE) is directing districts to implement MTSS and that Madison County is coordinating with ALSDE coaches.

Why it matters: School leaders told the board that large numbers of students are using school mental‑health services and that a comparatively small group of students with severe needs is consuming disproportionate staff time. Presenters said strengthening MTSS will both support students and reduce classroom disruption that contributes to teacher burnout.

Key details and next steps

- Scope of existing services: staff cited 7,293 mental‑health sessions logged from August through January in district support programs (enrichment/NOVA center) and described additional counseling and outside‑agency sessions not captured in that tally.

- Discipline and referrals: staff reported data including 234 referrals for assault, 953 referrals for disorderly conduct, 719 instances labeled ISS (in‑school suspension), 234 out‑of‑school suspensions (context varied by category), 745 referrals for defiance and additional totals for ISS/out‑of‑school suspensions cited during the presentation. The presenters said these figures reflect early‑grade and district‑wide problems as well as higher‑severity cases concentrated among a smaller number of students.

- MTSS rollout: staff laid out a multi‑phase timeline. Phase 0 (current): district MTSS team is working with ALSDE coaches to create shared language and foundational work; local schools are asked to form MTSS work teams (about five members, including an administrator, nurse, counselor/social worker and strategically chosen educators). Phase 1 (next school year): local MTSS teams will meet three times with ALSDE coaches; Phase 2 will expand tier‑2 interventions and coaching; Phase 3 will continue tier‑1 and tier‑2 work and develop tier‑3 structures for a small cohort of students.

- Training and staffing: the district proposed focused training for MTSS teams (ALSDE‑led sessions dispersed over the next year), coaching for teachers and aides, and voluntary short instructional modules (\"make and take\" strategy clips) for classroom staff. District staff emphasized that MTSS work teams, not every classroom teacher, will take the lead in building infrastructure intended to reduce long‑term classroom workload.

- At‑risk program expansion: staff reviewed current temporary placements (PACE) and homebound services for students who need short‑term or medically‑driven support and outlined a proposed MCVA LEAP pathway (Learning, Empowerment and Progress) for grades 9–12 that would allow flexible enrollment, virtual or hybrid options and targeted at‑risk supports. MCVA LEAP would be monitored and staffed by district at‑risk personnel and include action plans to reintegrate students.

- Therapeutic day school concept: district staff described an intention to design a narrow, small‑cohort therapeutic day school for students with severe behavioral and emotional needs. Presenters said the program would prioritize intensive structure and mental‑health services, with a goal of reintegrating students into their neighborhood schools when data show improvement.

- Proposal for school psychologists: staff proposed adding five full‑time school psychologists (and converting four current staff who already hold school‑psychologist credentials from psychometrist roles), assigning eight psychologists to the elementary schools with the highest need plus one lead psychologist. Presenters said psychometrist roles would remain for special‑education evaluation work but that adding psychologists would expand capacity for functional behavioral assessments, behavior intervention plans and schoolwide supports. The proposal included an example of different contract lengths (a proposed lead on a 202‑day contract vs. the standard 187‑day schedule for others) and noted salary‑schedule considerations.

What board members asked and cautions

Board members pressed presenters for examples of “expansive opportunities” under tier‑2 interventions, asked how MTSS work teams will avoid adding teacher workload, and sought clarity on how training will be scheduled around testing and other high‑demand periods. Staff responded that the ALSDE requirement specifies MTSS work teams, that the district negotiated to spread ALSDE training across the year to avoid concentrated absences, and that MTSS teams are expected to front‑load work that reduces classroom burden over time.

Direct quotes from presenters included: “An ACE … every time we put into place a teacher, a program, something that positively impacts that child, that positive interaction eliminates the ACE,” and district student‑services staff said plainly, “Restorative comes after the consequence,” to clarify how restorative practices fit alongside discipline.

Funding and approvals

No formal board action was taken at the March 7 meeting on staffing or budget changes tied to the MTSS plan. District staff said they will bring formal personnel requests (job descriptions and budget impacts for the proposed school‑psychologist positions) to the board at a later date for approval. The timeline presented aimed to make new positions effective for the 2025–26 school year if the board approves the requests when they appear.

Community context and partners

The district said it is partnering with ALSDE (Alabama State Department of Education), and identified a Dr. Solis from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) as a technical partner. Staff cited examples of other Alabama districts’ therapeutic programs (including Tuscaloosa) as models under consideration.

Ending

District leaders characterized the MTSS behavioral plan as a multi‑year, state‑aligned effort intended to shift the system from reactive discipline to tiered prevention and to add clinical capacity so that teachers, principals and students can operate in safer, more stable classrooms. Staff emphasized they will return to the board with concrete personnel and budget requests before positions are created or funded.","District leaders outlined a multi-year plan to expand Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for behavior, grow at‑risk program options and pursue up to five additional school psychologists to support mental health and complex behavior needs; staffing and funding requests will come back to the board later.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves agenda, wellness policy, scheduling rules, bonds and routine financial and personnel items in special session

Madison County Schools Foundation awards $23,275 to help teachers pursue national board certification

Madison County Board reviews sewer easement and land proposals for McKee Road and Hazel Green sites

Madison County plans districtwide MTSS behavioral rollout and proposes five additional school psychologists