Huntsville board approves $2.64 million baseball-softball building, adopts school-choice policy and approves staff hires

Huntsville School District trustees approved a $2,644,778 contract to construct a 12,000-square-foot baseball and softball building and voted to adopt updated school-choice policies required by the Learners Act. The board also approved a slate of personnel hires, accepted resignations and a district transfer.

District staff said the building’s planned mezzanine was being removed to avoid triggering a sprinkler requirement that applies at 12,001 square feet. The staff member who presented the item said the mezzanine had been intended for storage but was not easily accessible; eliminating it avoids what staff estimated could be an $80,000 to $140,000 expense to install a wet or dry sprinkler system. "You can never have enough storage," the presenter said, adding that the mezzanine was the least accessible place for routine storage.

The board approved the contract, which staff said would be paid by the Buck Vaughn Group Foundation rather than the school district’s general funds. The presenter said the district expects to return with an additional contract amendment request for roughly $145,000 to create a leveled grass practice field for baseball and softball, including backstops, to be used as a practice facility as soon as next year.

The presenter said the original contractor bid through GEMCO came in better than anticipated and that the district had consulted with Shelby’s group, the project architects and Kimco before recommending the mezzanine be removed.

On policy, the board adopted policy 4.5 and 4.5f to align the district’s school-choice procedures with provisions of the Learners Act. The presenter told trustees the law requires districts to respond within 15 days when a parent requests an immediate interdistrict school-choice transfer — a change from the district’s previous deadlines. The presenter said the district will use the model letters provided in the policy packet for provisional acceptance and rejection notices.

Trustees also discussed building access and security. Staff reported repeated unauthorized entry and said a scoreboard panel in one gym was hanging by a safety chain after an incident the prior night. The presenter said the district has been reviewing keys and fobs and plans to tighten access, noting the district previously used about $115,000 from a school-safety grant to rekey doors and is relying on fob systems and exterior cameras to limit unauthorized duplication of keys.

Board members approved personnel items listed in the packet. The meeting record names hires as Shanna Stevens, Jennifer Dodson, Savannah Staggs and Christina Bollinger; the record lists resignations by Casey Julich and Shareem Meeks, and notes a transfer of Heather Greenfield within the district. A board member asked whether a newly listed band hire was a replacement for a teacher on active military duty; the presenter confirmed that the band teacher was on active duty.

Votes at a glance: - Contract award: approve contract to construct a 12,000-square-foot baseball/softball building, $2,644,778, funding source: Buck Vaughn Group Foundation — approved (motion and verbal vote recorded; mover not specified in transcript). Staff said the district expects to request a $145,000 amendment for the leveled practice field — no vote recorded on the amendment at this meeting. - Policy adoption: adopt policy 4.5 and 4.5f (school choice) to comply with the Learners Act — approved (motion: unnamed board member; second: Natalie; verbal unanimous consent recorded). - Personnel actions: approve hires, resignations and a transfer as listed above — approved (motion by Bobby; second not specified; verbal unanimous consent recorded).

What trustees said and what happens next District staff characterized the building changes as a cost-saving choice to avoid sprinkler-trigger thresholds and said eliminating the mezzanine would allow the project to proceed without the additional sprinkler expense. The presenter also noted ongoing space shortages for sports and extracurricular programs and said the new facility, plus the planned field work, would provide practice space and relieve pressure on other athletic facilities next year.

On school choice, the presenter said current requests in the district were for transfers next school year, not immediate transfers; still, the district wanted the updated policy in place to respond if an immediate request arrives.

On security, staff said the district is evaluating additional measures to limit unauthorized access and protect equipment, and will report back as plans are developed. No formal vote on new security hardware or expenditures was recorded.

The meeting concluded after the personnel votes and customary closing procedures.