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Colbert County Schools board unanimously approves personnel actions, matching funds and $169,635 construction bid
Summary
At its Jan. 15 meeting in Tuscumbia, the Colbert County Schools board approved hiring and leave requests, a settlement agreement, matching funds for two elementary schools, a declaration of surplus furniture, the 2026–27 school calendar and a $169,635 negotiated bid for a canopy and sidewalk at Colbert Heights Middle School.
The Colbert County Schools Board met Jan. 15 in Tuscumbia and unanimously approved a set of routine and capital items, including personnel moves, two matching-fund requests for equipment, a surplus declaration and a negotiated construction bid.
Superintendent Nathan Fuller recommended the docket of items. The board approved hiring Raven Qualls as a contract reading interventionist at Cherokee Elementary School effective Jan. 20, 2026, through May 22, 2026, and placed teacher Rebekah Burleson on catastrophic leave beginning Jan. 20, 2026. The personnel recommendations passed on a unanimous vote after motions from Jacqueline Witt and David Yarber.
The board approved a Settlement Agreement & Mutual Release as presented; the motion was moved by David Yarber and seconded by Thomas Burgess and passed unanimously. The minutes record approval of the agreement; specific settlement terms were not read into the minutes.
Two matching-fund requests were approved. Leighton Elementary School will receive $4,474 in matching funds toward a wheelchair lift (total cost $8,948). Hatton Elementary School will receive $3,330 in matching funds toward student desks and chairs (total cost $20,120). Both recommendations were moved by Jacqueline Witt, seconded by David Yarber and approved unanimously.
The board declared as surplus at Hatton Elementary School 73 student chairs, 94 student desks and assorted broken furniture items the district identified as no longer usable; Thomas Burgess moved the declaration and Steve Stayton seconded.
The district approved the 2026–27 school year calendar on a unanimous vote after a motion by David Yarber and a second from Steve Stayton.
For capital work, the board approved awarding Butler Construction (DCM #2025701) Package B — canopy and sidewalk at Colbert Heights Middle School — in the amount of $169,635. The recommendation was moved by Jacqueline Witt, seconded by Thomas Burgess and carried unanimously.
Information items included family medical leave notices for Sherry Richie, Rebekah Burleson and Ida Leigh Trousdale and a notice that the district’s monthly financial reports for October and November 2025 will be on the February agenda. Thomas Burgess moved to adjourn; the meeting ended at 6:10 p.m.
Votes at a glance - Approval of agenda: moved David Yarber; second Steve Stayton; outcome: unanimously approved. - Consent agenda (minutes, field trips): moved David Yarber; second Jacqueline Witt; outcome: unanimously approved. Field trips included PACE students to Disney Educational Programs (Sept. 21–25, 2026) and Colbert Heights High School HOSA competitors to HOSA State Competition (Feb. 25–27, 2026). - Personnel approvals (hire Raven Qualls; catastrophic leave for Rebekah Burleson): moved Jacqueline Witt; second David Yarber; outcome: unanimously approved. - Settlement Agreement & Mutual Release: moved David Yarber; second Thomas Burgess; outcome: unanimously approved. - Matching funds (Leighton Elementary $4,474; Hatton Elementary $3,330): moved Jacqueline Witt; second David Yarber; outcome: unanimously approved. - Surplus declaration (Hatton Elementary furniture): moved Thomas Burgess; second Steve Stayton; outcome: unanimously approved. - 2026–27 school calendar: moved David Yarber; second Steve Stayton; outcome: unanimously approved. - Negotiated bid — Butler Construction Package B for Colbert Heights Middle School (canopy & sidewalk) $169,635: moved Jacqueline Witt; second Thomas Burgess; outcome: unanimously approved.
The meeting minutes note that detailed documents (settlement agreement text, bid documents, and vendor contract identifiers) are retained in district records; no additional public hearings or votes on these items were recorded at the meeting.
