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Cullman County Board to seat new members Jan. 14; honors counseling, sportsmanship programs
Summary
The Cullman County Board of Education announced board members and a superintendent will be seated Jan. 14, 2025, and recognized a counselor for a statewide program distinction and several schools for sportsmanship, including a $500 athletic-program bonus.
The Cullman County Board of Education announced that Larry Duke (District 1), Richard Hayes (District 3) and Wayne Myricks (District 5) will be seated as board members on Jan. 14, 2025, and that Shane Barnett will be seated as superintendent the same day.
The board also recognized Susan Lewis for earning the Alabama School Counseling Program of Distinction, a statewide award that, according to the board, recognizes counseling programs that meet 11 components aligned with Alabama’s comprehensive counseling model and makes counselors eligible for RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program).
The recognition was presented during the meeting; Susan Lewis accepted the award and said, “This is the most incredible trophy I think I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much.”
The board additionally highlighted a sportsmanship initiative tied to coaching supplements. The board said a $500 bonus was added to coaching supplements and that the bonus is paid to the school athletic program that earns a sportsmanship award from the Alabama High School Athletic Association. Fairview High School was present to accept the award and the $500 bonus. The board noted three other schools qualified but were not present: Vinemont, Good Hope and Cold Springs.
The board also used the recognition segment to thank outgoing and current board members; the meeting included brief board-member recognition events at several schools.
Why it matters: seating new members and a superintendent sets governance for the coming term, and the counseling and sportsmanship recognitions signal district priorities in student supports and extracurricular conduct. The $500 bonus ties sportsmanship awards to line-item coaching supplements, affecting how athletic programs may allocate limited resources going forward.
Background and details: The board read a statutory provision covering the Cullman County Commission on Education (citing Act No. 193, Senate Bill No. 396 and an amendment to Section 2 of Act No. 18, First Special Section, Session 1955) and listed the specific schools associated with the incoming members: West Point High School, West Point Middle School, West Point Elementary School, West Point Intermediate and Harmony School (Larry Duke); Holly Pond High School, Holly Pond K-8 School and Coleman Area Technology Academy (Richard Hayes); and Cold Springs High School, Cold Springs K-8 and CARE (Wayne Myricks). The board said those members “shall be seated” Jan. 14, 2025.
Also during the recognition period, the board asked Dr. Stapler to come forward to present the sportsmanship awards and to explain the $500 supplement change added to coaching supplements; the board clarified the $500 is paid to the school athletic program rather than to principals.
The board’s recognitions were presented near the start of the meeting; the formal seating date for the new members and superintendent is Jan. 14, 2025.
