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Tuscaloosa County Board unanimously approves student discipline action, multiple vendor privacy agreements and $772,522 in contracts
Summary
At its Oct. 7 meeting the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education approved a student discipline recommendation, five student-data/privacy agreements, a $168,000 special-education contract and a $604,522 K–8 software renewal; all votes were unanimous.
The Tuscaloosa County Board of Education met Oct. 7, 2025, and unanimously approved a set of action items including a student-discipline recommendation and multiple vendor agreements and contracts.
The board voted to follow the superintendent’s recommendation for an 11th-grade Brookwood High School student charged under offense 414 (Terrorist Threat). The student was to attend virtual school for the remainder of the 2025–26 school year, transition through an alternative program for one semester and provide proof of counseling. Mr. Randy Smalley moved to approve and Mr. Joey Hocutt seconded; the motion carried unanimously.
In a package of provider agreements, the board approved Standard Student Data Privacy Agreements with Accelerate Learning (math curriculum, secondary level), Progress Learning (secondary standardized testing prep), CodeHS (secondary computer science curriculum) and MathFactLab (elementary math curriculum). The minutes record these agreements as being paid with local school funds; each was approved by a unanimous vote after motion and second.
The board approved a contract with the University of Alabama RISE Program to deliver education and related services to up to 12 preschool children (ages 3–5) referred by Tuscaloosa County Schools special education personnel. The contract amount is $168,000 and is to be paid with Federal IDEA funds. Mr. Neal Guy moved to approve the contract and Mrs. Portia Jones seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
Separately, the board approved a renewal agreement with Curriculum Associates for districtwide K–8 Math and Reading i‑Ready assessment and instructional software licenses totaling $604,522. The renewal is paid with RAISE grant funding. Mr. Joey Hocutt moved to approve; Mrs. Portia Jones seconded and the vote was unanimous.
Votes at a glance - Action A — Student recommendation (Brookwood HS, offense 414): Motion to place the student in virtual school for the remainder of 2025–26, alternative program for one semester, and require proof of counseling. Moved: Mr. Randy Smalley. Second: Mr. Joey Hocutt. Vote: 7–0–0 (yes–no–abstain). - Action B — AASB delegates: Approved Don Presley, Neal Guy, Lance Bailey, Joey Hocutt, Portia Jones; Randy Smalley as alternate. Moved: Mrs. Portia Jones. Second: Mr. Neal Guy. Vote: 7–0–0. - Action C — Accelerate Learning data privacy agreement (secondary math curriculum): Moved: Mr. Joey Hocutt. Second: Mr. Neal Guy. Vote: 7–0–0. Funding: local school funds. - Action D — Progress Learning data privacy agreement (secondary test prep): Moved: Mrs. Portia Jones. Second: Mr. Joey Hocutt. Vote: 7–0–0. Funding: local school funds. - Action E — CodeHS data privacy agreement (secondary computer science): Moved: Mrs. Portia Jones. Second: Mr. Neal Guy. Vote: 7–0–0. Funding: local school funds. - Action F — MathFactLab data privacy agreement (elementary math): Moved: Mr. Joey Hocutt. Second: Mr. Neal Guy. Vote: 7–0–0. Funding: local school funds. - Action G — University of Alabama RISE Program contract: $168,000 (Federal IDEA funds) to serve up to 12 preschool children; Moved: Mr. Neal Guy. Second: Mrs. Portia Jones. Vote: 7–0–0. - Action H — Curriculum Associates i‑Ready renewal: $604,522 (RAISE grant). Moved: Mr. Joey Hocutt. Second: Mrs. Portia Jones. Vote: 7–0–0.
Board procedure and next steps The board approved the financial report reconciled through Aug. 31, 2025, consent items A–aa and the certified/classified human resources recommendations during the meeting. No items were tabled or sent back to committee; the minutes indicate no further business before the board and the meeting adjourned at 5:58 p.m.
