External review rates district CSFO 'accomplished'; board renews contract for Nicole Allen
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Summary
An AASB-conducted evaluation rated the district's chief school financial officer largely 'accomplished' across fiscal, collaborative and professional categories; the board approved a contract renewal for Nicole Allen covering March 1, 2026–Feb. 28, 2029.
The Bibb County Regular School District board heard an external CSFO evaluation from the Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) and voted to renew Chief School Financial Officer Nicole Allen’s contract, effective March 1, 2026, through Feb. 28, 2029.
Dr. Frank Costanza, presenting the AASB evaluation, said the district’s CSFO earned mostly “accomplished” ratings across three components of the review—board feedback, superintendent feedback and direct reports. “That’s why your score was accomplished,” Costanza said when summarizing the results. He told the board evaluators moved away from raw numeric scores to a rubric that ties numbers to qualification categories: not demonstrated, progressing, proficient and accomplished.
Costanza highlighted areas the board should follow up on, including several survey items marked “NA” and the district’s public posting practices. He reminded the board that the district must meet state budget procedures, including an annual deadline to submit the budget to the state department by Sept. 15. He also noted the district received an unqualified audit from the Department of Examiners, calling it “significant.”
Board discussion after the presentation was brief and positive; members and the presenter recommended follow-up conversations between board members and the CSFO on any items they did not understand in the survey. The superintendent recommended the contract renewal for Nicole Allen and the board approved it by voice vote.
Votes and next steps: The board approved the contract renewal for Nicole Allen, effective 03/01/2026–02/28/2029. Costanza encouraged board members to schedule individual or small-group discussions with the CSFO to clarify NA items and to use the evaluation to set concrete goals tied to the district strategic plan.
The board also agreed to accept further documentation from AASB if members want numeric score detail beyond the qualification categories. The board meeting adjourned after completing the regular agenda.
