[{"_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",6602418,"mediaKeyId","3001363-587d120ceb10a97419a85004a33fb2de","parentId",3001363,"title","Votes at a glance: Board approves agenda, personnel actions, McGraw Hill science adoption, pre‑K training and school competition trip","audioSeconds",2560,"startMs",45000,"endMs",2605000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001363-587d120ceb10a97419a85004a33fb2de&start=45&end=2605","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001363-587d120ceb10a97419a85004a33fb2de/thumbnail_45000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6602418/Alabama/Votes-at-a-glance-Board-approves-agenda-personnel-actions-McGraw-Hill-science-adoption-preK-training-and-school-competition-trip","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602418-5174ce46067d3d31e550ac66d94322af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171084&Signature=CWCWJBcn~eVGbE6uVgRsuUlMZWP7bqvB5P7TGujMqWmgDeknewSz5hGbv3KTcMK7cnjJbNMsa~MquVo2FXiIFS7PfOJxLyBQwwrlCheQmwUAzd5dhgIqNucfLZ1UZYslJd~YzzqwHu6luLoWWXjcgmxQNsUyILb9Mhvz00SuWr5gVgrjIttnjxe53kmTfIeVwHfqjRbqn0rjJhDP9zxAJUZQDgx5X8Q0VI3d-x01Y9AmxYmxy3TthVkVgFXi11b0QzCYQalNi~EVr8crJmWiWdZBqiNflm7wSwTEHVcaisa3vP44Bvq2YfNn5ZpRz~6zh7C8wntMptLA84XyysRrjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tuscaloosa City Schools, Alabama","date","2025-04-15T23:28:37.14Z","article","At its meeting, the Tuscaloosa City Schools Board of Education approved multiple motions by voice vote, including the meeting agenda, minutes, personnel actions, a K–12 science textbook adoption, pre‑K professional development dates and a school trip to a robotics world competition.

Key outcomes:

- Agenda and minutes: The board approved the April 15 meeting agenda and approved minutes from the April 1 regular board meeting/board training retreat by voice vote.

- Personnel: The board approved the superintendent's personnel recommendations and a supplemental personnel list that included retirements, resignations, new certified and support personnel, transfers and temporary summer assignments. Board members set aside item numbers noted in the packet for separate consideration, then approved the remainder by voice vote. Specifics in the packet included multiple retirements (including at least one with 40-plus years of service), resignations and new hires; the board accepted motions to approve the listed personnel actions.

- Textbook adoption: The board approved the 2025 Tuscaloosa City Schools science textbook adoption, selecting McGraw Hill (Spire Science) for grades K–12. Presenters said the selection followed teacher and principal review and that adoption would be revisited in six years.

- Pre‑K professional development: The board approved state‑mandated pre‑K professional development scheduled Oct. 28–30, which will require pre‑K students to be released from school on those dates.

- School trip: The board approved Rockport Elementary School’s request to attend a world robotics competition in Dallas (dates in May were announced at the meeting).

Votes were taken by voice; where recorded the chair called \"All in favor. Aye.\" No roll-call tallies were recorded in the public transcript for these items.

Motions and outcomes are summarized below with sourcing from the meeting transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuscaloosa City Schools Regular Board Meeting - April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Tuscaloosa City Schools Board approved routine agenda items, personnel recommendations, the 2025 science textbook adoption (McGraw Hill/Spire Science), pre‑K professional development dates that will require student absences, and a Rockport Elementary robotics trip to Dallas.","taxTitle","Tuscaloosa City Schools, School Districts, Alabama","taxId",13593,"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},6602422,"Finance department wins bond certificate of excellence; CSFO presents January financials showing flat sales tax and planned bus purchases",885,1536000,2421000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001363-587d120ceb10a97419a85004a33fb2de&start=1536&end=2421","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001363-587d120ceb10a97419a85004a33fb2de/thumbnail_1536000.jpg","/articles/6602422/Alabama/Finance-department-wins-bond-certificate-of-excellence-CSFO-presents-January-financials-showing-flat-sales-tax-and-planned-bus-purchases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602422-5e6fcb0e351623af418a65c773f4a562/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171084&Signature=V6CTb5Lq-FaCLaOzhxJgRnE3sfpPjzGqHd5VWNOAfZesYO89MEfrg7w4Rb9GD1B1ThvYgmgwTt4cfiPr~2nO3eoHjgHUUHo6wDH5n9e8EOax2q7Aw~m2WGrPa7ypO7K3io~m~40WpvHkg-WoSC4Vz2LaD-49LZQiFEfaM6C~lJhZSslaV2u7tYBvkji1sbkUWwj4ME875OXrvaumIGdc9QVi1g88r5fVhi7SYjRTmP9YcJe~~ctQsTfF7hj41XIkAUBbbC5G~2mkxfzAp7nI9APruUetmW7SHMIYIH1c~l2yzbWMi5osiQNzjOCrHiK72C0xQtQpvACgkitCQdlT3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tuscaloosa City Schools board members presented the district finance and accounting team with a digital assurance certificate and a bond certificate of excellence in recognition of an audit with zero findings, then heard a financial update from Chief School Financial Officer Jay Duke.

\"From one championship team that we just recognized a few minutes ago to another championship team — the finance and accounting department,\" Duke said. He described the department’s responsibilities and cited the district’s operating scale: about 1,600 employees and 11,000 students, and a roughly $190,000,000 budget.

Duke presented financial statements through Jan. 31, the fourth month of the fiscal year (33% of the year). He said property-tax receipts are concentrated in December and January and that car-tag and sales-tax receipts are tracking slightly above the prior year but that sales tax shows a flattening trend. Duke cited the state’s SSUT (state-shared/online sales tax) issue and said online sales taxes currently do not flow to the district, which contributes to long-term revenue concerns.

On expenditures, Duke said overall spending is slightly below budget at the reporting point, largely because planned purchases of school buses have not yet posted. He said the district expects to purchase roughly 49 or 50 buses at about $138,000 apiece; buses began arriving the week of the meeting and will increase transportation expenditures as purchases complete.

Duke also noted annual debt service of about $10–11 million tied to prior capital project borrowing. He said there are no major capital projects currently with large draws on the capital projects fund.

Board members thanked the finance team for the audited results and for day‑to‑day work that supports district operations. No new budget actions were taken at the meeting.","Board received a digital assurance and bond certificate of excellence for the finance department and heard a financial report through Jan. 31 covering revenue trends, a flattening of sales tax, planned purchases of approximately 49–50 school buses at about $138,000 each, and annual debt service of about $10–11 million.",{"_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},6602427,"Tuscaloosa City Schools board hears proposal to create Educator Hall of Fame and memorial",359,1718000,2077000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001363-587d120ceb10a97419a85004a33fb2de&start=1718&end=2077","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001363-587d120ceb10a97419a85004a33fb2de/thumbnail_1718000.jpg","/articles/6602427/Alabama/Tuscaloosa-City-Schools-board-hears-proposal-to-create-Educator-Hall-of-Fame-and-memorial","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602427-41f3d8ce4a30b84d5e9619790dd016cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171084&Signature=bQS0jm5aHsRjJgrgo6l62~-kpo1oqWdjPLbzSHjBWqSLNSGwmMJvoOJTJD4JTe9VET4yqlOlpoyvRIqsoFwBRx-RswBhIxy3gRNGAkBDfXhHUmiCs5NFygpKWbQS0hWwClciX2nMSU4vAja-ja9HTMs9eVQLW8BTaUK11MjzSmow95rvCWotbxUvVdBekbUKUnEaNdhMd2r8u181UNagOBpxFR1be1CAG8wF4l0ZRNv0gsJdVXIlFGDYaLFETUKEqMVjJY-EDSr9dCW~WSV5Zo6xJ~UmnMzEKpIKkkEzcuDzdXLR0G2gyp4i~n1e4ec5pzhWyiMIcpoD3z8~jNuPxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tuscaloosa City Schools board received a briefing on a draft plan to establish an Educator Hall of Fame and memorial to honor outstanding district employees across all job categories.

Dr. Childs, identified in the meeting as principal of Tuscaloosa Magnet Middle School, told the board the effort is intended to recognize \"educators\" broadly — including teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, finance staff and others — but that induction would be limited to individuals who meet a high standard of excellence. \"They have to be the best. They have to be exceptional. They have to be excellent in all that they do,\" Childs said.

The proposal envisions a committee to develop nomination and selection criteria, a timeline and physical elements (examples discussed included bricks or benches). Childs said the committee would determine specifics such as minimum years of service — she suggested 25 or 30 years as possibilities — and whether to include a lifetime service recognition or posthumous memorial inductions.

Board members raised questions about how the hall of fame would differ from the district’s naming policy for buildings and rooms. One board member asked for a clear distinction so that induction into a hall of fame would not be conflated with naming a room or facility. Childs said the committee will address that question and that the proposal will return to the board for further input and formal adoption if the committee and executive team finalize recommendations.

Childs said a separate fund has been opened, with a modest balance, and that donations could be earmarked for the hall-of-fame project to avoid confusion with other fundraising priorities. \"This money goes to the hall of fame. This money goes to the bricks,\" she said, describing the plan to segregate donations into a designated account.

Board members did not take action; the item was informational and part of the district’s planning work to develop the program further.","District staff briefed the board on a draft plan to establish a Tuscaloosa City Schools Educator Hall of Fame and memorial to honor outstanding employees; the proposal would define eligibility, a selection committee, and a separate fundraising account.",{"_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},6602433,"Tuscaloosa City Schools teams take five statewide robotics awards; Paul W. Bryant High posts perfect 300",756,101000,857000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001363-587d120ceb10a97419a85004a33fb2de&start=101&end=857","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001363-587d120ceb10a97419a85004a33fb2de/thumbnail_101000.jpg","/articles/6602433/Alabama/Tuscaloosa-City-Schools-teams-take-five-statewide-robotics-awards-Paul-W-Bryant-High-posts-perfect-300","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602433-c91f51f1ab28a030b3607e822d610c57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171084&Signature=b2cFWNID8vaAde6ZDswiGAmMpdKGtidr4nKcuC4hkAZYgiiKpq4Us48WXzWDZyUDCUVmJts6SoetvlLFna6xAqyz34elSebu5ffYq1c4SlcyjBOfbSU4XOaWXrVnXhFQKrvHoZfKz6pVbLMaVJQcOhF0KUdl5HEYsezN0ZkhUGJfOO66vqTs54uWAWaLsj7feZ8X7mBrGAxW5VsTAC~whepQpgzWz0RauSPIkHE1JpCl6FuyjhJmsJUHFjZ5vX7gRWPHt4bMFOhU6lZUgAIi7PvLSl0FIMWMQnUwLUtk8cahW73f~cqZRSBHfxeoeYdpAWFlcb2KdzK~uH2Vl9Gwyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Tuscaloosa City Schools board meeting, district leaders and University of Alabama partners recognized student robotics teams that competed in a statewide autonomous robotics contest and won five of the 12 statewide awards.

The recognition highlighted a program that district staff say has expanded over the past decade to include teams at all district schools. \"The contest started in 2011 with just 30 students,\" said Dr. Jeff Gray, professor of computer science at the University of Alabama, who runs the contest. \"It's grown to over 300 students, and about 600 overall participants.\" Gray said this year's field included 58 teams and students from across Alabama.

The district noted that Tuscaloosa City Schools teams won five of the 12 awards at the event. Paul W. Bryant High School finished first in the high school division with a perfect score of 300, completing the competition in 52 minutes. \"They scored a perfect 300,\" Gray said, describing the performance as unprecedented in the contest's history.

Katie Sedman, identified at the meeting as a robotics coach at Tuscaloosa Magnet School Elementary, described the elementary program: \"We have 14 fifth graders that are on our robotics team. Ten of them were able to participate in the competition, but all 14 of them have been at practice every month, multiple times throughout the year working so hard, working together really well.\" The board and speakers emphasized teamwork and persistence as program goals alongside technical skills.

Several student competitors addressed the board, including seniors who described multiple years of participation and underclassmen who said they learned from older teammates. A university representative also announced that Paul W. Bryant High School students would be invited to interview for a campus research scholars program.

Board members and district staff thanked coaches, principals, parents and sponsors for supporting the program; Dr. Daria (transcript spelling) noted the program reflects a district strategic goal that every student be connected to a school activity. The board invited students and families to a group photo after the recognition.

The board's recognition was ceremonial; no formal vote or policy change was attached to the presentation.","Board recognized growth of districtwide robotics program and honored student teams after a University of Alabama-hosted statewide contest where Tuscaloosa teams won five of 12 awards, including a record-setting perfect score by Paul W. Bryant High School.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Board approves agenda, personnel actions, McGraw Hill science adoption, pre‑K training and school competition trip

Finance department wins bond certificate of excellence; CSFO presents January financials showing flat sales tax and planned bus purchases

Tuscaloosa City Schools board hears proposal to create Educator Hall of Fame and memorial

Tuscaloosa City Schools teams take five statewide robotics awards; Paul W. Bryant High posts perfect 300