Mobile County school board approves student code, software licenses, stadium rental and personnel items

Mobile County Public Schools board members approved the district's 2025 student code of conduct and a series of contracts, licenses and personnel items during a regular meeting. The board also approved a two-day rental of Ladd Stadium to BuzzFeed for a movie production at a cost of $8,000 per day ($16,000 total).

The actions came through a set of grouped motions that the board moved and approved during the meeting. Greg Gill, who presented several action items to the board, asked members to approve the annual student code of conduct and later asked that the board approve action items G16 through G22, which included software and site licenses for district schools.

Why it matters: The code of conduct governs student discipline and school procedures for the coming school year. The contracts approved commit limited district funds, including Title I and Title II federal funds, and the stadium rental approves the district facility's use for a commercial film production.

Most significant actions - Student code of conduct (Action G1): The board voted to adopt the district's 2025 student code of conduct. Greg Gill asked the board to approve action item G1 as part of a larger motion covering items G1–G15; the board approved those items.

- IXL Learning site license (Action G16): The board approved a site license subscription for IXL Learning for Holloway Elementary covering 500 students in grades K–5. The presenter stated the purchase will be paid from Title I funds and the cost is $9,375.

- Ladd Stadium rental to BuzzFeed (Action G32): The board approved a two-day rental of Ladd Stadium to BuzzFeed for use in a movie production, at $8,000 per day ($16,000 total). When asked for details, the superintendent said the production is a soccer-centered athletic movie and that a casting call is underway.

- Broadcast agreements (Consent H8 and H9): The board added and approved two broadcast agreements to the consent agenda — one with Balling Down South and one with Deerfield Media — each to broadcast the 2025–26 football season at $250 per home game per school.

- Riverview Plaza rental for a high school homecoming (Consent H1): The board approved a facility rental for Riverview Plaza for a high school's homecoming dance at a cost of $4,250 from local school funds.

- Flow-through and private/parochial items: The board approved three flow-through payments to private and parochial schools: two Brainfuse contracts (each $990 from Title I funds) and one $500 Title II payment to Little Flower.

- Personnel (Actions G23–G31): Personnel items listed under separate cover were approved as a grouped motion.

- Attorney-client settlement proposals: The board approved proposed settlements described by the district attorney; those items were presented under attorney-client privilege.

Discussion and qualifications Board members discussed one facilities item — a chiller placement at Dixon — in the context of bids and approvals. A presenter cautioned that an affirmative vote for that bid would be conditional on state approval because the bid exceeded 10% of the contract price; the superintendent and the presenter must sign if the state approves. The transcript records the board was informed of the conditional nature of the approval prior to voting.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - Approve adjusted agenda as amended — motion carried (unanimous voice vote recorded as "aye"). - Adopt 2025 student code of conduct (Action G1; part of motion covering G1–G15) — approved. - Approve IXL site license for Holloway Elementary (Action G16; part of motion covering G16–G22) — approved; funding: Title I, $9,375. - Approve personnel items G23–G31 (listed under separate cover) — approved. - Approve Ladd Stadium rental to BuzzFeed for two days (Action G32) — approved; $8,000/day, $16,000 total. - Approve consent items H1–H17 including broadcast agreements H8 (Balling Down South) and H9 (Deerfield Media) — approved; broadcast fee $250 per home game per school; Riverview Plaza homecoming rental $4,250 (local school funds). - Approve flow-through items 1–3 (Brainfuse and Amy DeHart payments) — approved; amounts: $990, $990 (Title I) and $500 (Title II). - Approve proposed attorney-client settlements (dates sent to board 08/13 and 08/14) — approved.

What the board did not act on The meeting record notes there were no student expulsions to consider under the expulsions item. No votes to deny or postpone the listed actions appear in the transcript.

Attributions and direct quotes - "I ask that you approve action item G1," Greg Gill said when presenting the student code of conduct and related items. - When asked about the film project, the superintendent said: "It's about a soccer player. So the movie would be centered around a, I believe, a female soccer player. So it's an athletic movie." The superintendent also said casting calls are being held.

Next steps and scheduling The board set future scheduling and noted the monthly financials and purchase orders over $5,000 were listed as information items. No effective dates, contract numbers or additional reporting requirements were specified in the meeting record for the approved items.