Vestavia Hills board approves budget amendment, contracts, textbooks and multiple personnel items

The Vestavia Hills City Schools Board of Education on March 2 approved a package of routine and time‑sensitive items, including a budget amendment, construction and repair contracts, adoption of new science textbooks and multiple principal contracts.

The board moved quickly through consent and business items, voting to approve the February financial statement and check register, a budget amendment to reconcile actual fund balances, a licensing agreement with Alabama Campus Pro (Herff Jones) and the adoption of new science textbooks. The superintendent presented the recommendations; motions were made and seconded and the board responded “Aye” on roll calls or voice votes on each item as listed in the meeting record.

Key approvals and formal actions taken during the meeting included: the February financial statements; a budget amendment to true up fund balance and incorporate late state allocations; acceptance of an emergency declaration for plumbing work at Vestavia Hills High School; rescission of a prior technology equipment bid approval after outside review; award of a $629,347 contract for parking and driveway improvements at Vestavia Hills High School; approval of a contract to repair dry storage at Pizitz Middle School (amounts reported in the transcript were inconsistent and not clarified on the record); adoption of science textbooks recommended by the district textbook committee; a licensing agreement with Alabama Campus Pro (Herff Jones); and principal contracts for Cynthia Echols, Doreen Hardy, Susan McCall and Kim/ Ken Polson (as named on the agenda). The board also approved routine personnel items submitted by the superintendent.

Several actions were presented as superintendent recommendations and recorded as moved and seconded; the meeting minutes record voice votes (“Aye”) but do not include a roll‑call tally in the transcript excerpt. Where the transcript did not record a motion maker, second, or a numeric tally, those details are listed as not specified in the meeting record.

Background and context: Finance staff reported that as of Feb. 28 the district had collected 82.1% of budgeted ad valorem tax revenues (noted as 100.4% of last year’s receipts at the same date) and earned $114,580 in interest in February. The budget amendment was described as a technical adjustment to align the budget with actual September 30, 2024 fund balances and to include state allocations that arrived after the initial budget. The board noted a goal to maintain roughly a two‑month reserve.

Several construction and repair projects were funded from supplemental state allocations. The record shows the board approved a contract of $629,347 to Duncan Deerman Building Company for parking and drive improvements adjacent to the high‑school tennis courts; the project is expected to add about 52 parking spaces and includes storm drainage work. The transcript records approval of a contract to repair dry storage at Pizitz Middle School but contains inconsistent dollar amounts ($224,214 and $2,224,214 appear in different readbacks); the district did not clarify the discrepancy during the recorded discussion.

The board approved adoption of new science textbooks after the district’s textbook committee (teachers, parents and school representatives) reviewed state‑approved lists and sample materials. The superintendent said the state pays a portion of textbook costs but not the full amount.

The meeting included several personnel actions: the board approved principal contracts listed on the agenda. The superintendent noted that, under state law, principals who complete a probationary year move to a three‑year contract term at board approval.

Ending: The board adjourned after completing the posted business and a superintendent report. Additional documents cited in the meeting (financial check registers, textbook vendor information and personnel files) are available on the district website per the superintendent’s remarks.