Pelham City Board approves FY2026 budget, personnel actions and stadium concessions contract

PELHAM, Ala. — The Pelham City Board of Education on Sept. 8 approved the district—s FY2026 budget and a slate of personnel, contract and capital items at a special-called meeting at the Central Office.

Lauren (staff member) told the board the updated budget reflects only minor changes since the previous hearing: Title II professional-development funding rose by about $25,000, Title III English-learner allocations increased about $6,000, and two elementary-school robotics grants of roughly $3,000 each were added. The district also received an approximately $56,000 pass-through payment from the state that must be forwarded monthly to a specialized treatment center in Pelham called the Learning Tree, Lauren said.

The biggest adjustment was to the general fund balance. The district had previously projected roughly $200,000 in excess revenues; staff reported increasing that figure to roughly $426,000 in order to hold the district—s reserve steady at about 3.4 months of operating expenses rather than allowing it to slip toward 3.3 months. As a result of those and other line-item edits, Superintendent Dr. Johnson recommended board approval of the FY2026 budget. The board approved the budget by voice vote; members signified "aye," with no votes opposed.

Board members discussed one staffing change in special education: the district—s occupational therapy (OT) contractor accepted another position and indicated it will not continue contracting. Staff recommended posting a new full-time occupational therapist position rather than continuing with costlier contractors; staff estimated a contractor—s rate would have represented about a 40% increase versus hiring an employee. The board approved a new job description titled "occupational therapist" and added one full-time position in personnel actions.

The board also approved four personnel items presented at the meeting: one resignation and three hires (two custodians and a lead teacher for the after-school program). Those four items were approved by voice vote.

Other approvals included a part-time contract for Jeff Vick to serve as an interventionist from Sept. 9, 2025, through May 22, 2026; a team contract for Patrick McDonald with salary to be determined under the district—s team-salary matrix; and a renewal agreement between Glenwood Incorporated, Allan Cott School, and Pelham City Schools to serve students with severe special needs. The board approved a professional services agreement with Sign Language Interpreting Services LLC to provide on-site or remote sign-language services.

The five-year capital plan presented by district staff was approved. Separately, the board accepted the low bid of $1,493,533 from Willeford Ormond Construction LLC for a new stadium concessions building at Kellum High School; the contract passed on a voice vote with no opposition.

Board members and staff noted the district remains on track building capital reserves for a potential future high school, and that recent bid and staffing changes were being managed to avoid lowering the capital reserve target.

Votes at a glance: all items listed below were approved by voice vote with "aye" from the board and no opposed votes recorded during the meeting.

- FY2026 budget: approved (superintendent—s recommendation). Reason given: updated allocations and reserve adjustment to maintain a 3.4-month fund balance.

- Personnel (4 items): approved (one resignation; hires include two custodians and one lead after-school teacher).

- Job description: "Occupational therapist": approved (first read given at prior meeting; position added to personnel).

- Part-time contract: Jeff Vick, interventionist, 09/09/2025—05/22/2026: approved.

- Team contract: Patrick McDonald (2025-26): approved; salary to be set under team-salary matrix.

- Renewal agreement: Glenwood Incorporated/Allan Cott School (students with severe special needs): approved.

- Professional services agreement: Sign Language Interpreting Services LLC (on-site/remote interpreting): approved.

- Five-year capital plan: approved.

- Construction contract: Willeford Ormond Construction LLC, $1,493,533, new stadium concessions building for Kellum High School: approved.

Discussion vs. action: most items were introduced by central-office staff with brief questions from board members and were carried by voice vote without recorded roll-call tallies. Where staff clarified funding sources or the reason for line-item changes (for example, state pass-through funds for the Learning Tree and the decision to post an OT position after contractor departure), the board accepted those explanations prior to voting. Several board members expressed appreciation to central-office staff for the budget work.

The board moved into an executive session to discuss personnel matters at the end of the public meeting and adjourned without returning to open session.