Board approves 2025–26 calendar and a package of contracts, grants and personnel actions; asks for details on $400,000 100 Black Men grant

The Mobile County Board of School Commissioners approved the district’s proposed 2025–26 school calendar and a group of contracts, grants and personnel actions at its Jan. 29, 2024 meeting.

During the business portion of the agenda, the board approved Action Item G‑1, the proposed 2025–26 school calendar. The calendar was introduced by district staff and approved following a motion and second; the board’s vote was recorded as carried.

The board also approved several contract and grant revisions presented as Action Items. Action Item G‑2 was a budget revision for AltaPoint in West Mobile to provide educational services in a therapeutic setting; the revision added beds and drew $517,998.80 from IDA funds, according to the staff presentation. Action Item G‑4 revised a stormwater and mapping improvement project contract (presented under Albert Bryant) and extended the contract to October 2025 for $20,000 from the specified grant fund. The board approved a larger bundle of action items (G‑4 through G‑25) and separately approved personnel items listed under G‑26 through G‑34 (with G‑28 and G‑29 pulled for separate handling).

Action Item G‑3 proposed a $400,000 award to the 100 Black Men of Greater Mobile to “assist students in developing the skills and habits necessary for meaningful and productive lives,” funded from district local funds, according to the staff summary. That item prompted substantive board discussion: a board member asked staff to provide data on the students served, current grades and end‑of‑year outcomes, program enrollment and how many campuses the organization will serve. The board asked for information on membership and campus presence “to make sure we’re getting what we’re paying for,” and staff said they would provide the requested details.

The board approved several consent and flow‑through items, including a $4,477.10 purchase from Renaissance Learning (Consent H‑1) paid from state funds and multiple flow‑through items that direct federal funds to private schools. The board also received information items K‑1 (monthly financials) and K‑2 (purchase orders over $5,000).

Where the transcript recorded roll‑call style approval without individual named votes, the board chair called for “aye” and the motions were recorded as carried. The meeting minutes indicate these were approved by the board during the open session; no budget‑changing amendments were reported on the floor other than the contract and grant revisions presented.

Board members did not finalize G‑28 and G‑29 (assignments of principals and assistant principals) at the time of the motion to pull those items; the board approved the remaining personnel items listed under separate cover.