Lauderdale County Board unanimously approves agenda, staffing changes, trips and a batch of contracts and stipends

The Lauderdale County Board of Education unanimously approved its April 21 agenda and a broad consent packet of routine but consequential items, including personnel actions, travel requests and pay supplements.

The consent packet — moved by Mr. Randy Burns and seconded by Mr. Daniel Patterson — bundled minutes, employee and student overnight travel, personnel leaves and separations, contracts and stipends, certified hires for 2026–27 and transfers. The motion passed with all four voting members recorded as yes.

Why it matters: the approvals set staffing and travel plans for the district ahead of the 2026–27 academic year and authorize expenditures from local school funds for professional development and student activities.

Key approvals and details The board approved minutes from April 8, 2026. It approved multiple employee overnight travel requests to professional events, including Hunter Killen to the NABC Basketball Clinic in Nashville (April 24–26, 2026), Nissi Stansell to the State Track Meet in Gulf Shores (April 28–May 3, 2026), Chrissie Hamner to the Grants 4 Schools Conference in Orange Beach (June 22–24, 2026) and Jessica Herring to the Statewide Math Competition in Montgomery (April 17–18, 2026). The meeting record states those employee travel expenses will be paid from local school funds.

Student travel approvals included the Wilson High School volleyball trip to the Shrimpfest Tournament in Gulf Shores (Oct. 8–11, 2026; 15 students), the Central Elementary robotics team to VEX IQ Worlds in St. Louis (April 27–May 1, 2026; listed as 1 female and 9 male students), Lexington High School math students to the State Ciphering Competition in Montgomery (April 17–18, 2026), Allen Thornton Career Technical business students to the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Indianapolis (June 16–21, 2026) and additional team camps and postseason play as listed in the agenda. The record indicates expenses will be paid from local school funds and that employees will chaperone many trips.

Personnel moves approved included leaves of absence for Kaitlin Thomas (Brooks Elementary, 05/11/2026–09/11/2026), Laine Fincher (Wilson Elementary, 08/03/2026–10/21/2026) and Molly Brown (District social worker, 04/22/2026–05/05/2026). The board accepted resignations effective June 1, 2026, for several employees and approved retirements effective June 1 or July 1, 2026, for others, including Kelly Stanhope (district lead nurse) and staff at multiple school sites.

Contracts and compensation actions approved included credit recovery facilitator contracts (e.g., Alana Springer at Lauderdale County High and Melissa Gunnels at Wilson High), a roster of stipends and supplements (including James “Trey” Lane as an ALSDE mentor teacher for the 2025–2026 academic year) and the list of certified positions for the 2026–2027 school year (Exhibit A). Staffing transfers listed in Exhibit B — such as Daina Smith to Lexington Elementary and Aaron Friend to Wilson High School — were also approved.

Votes at a glance Approve agenda: motion passed unanimously (mover: Mr. Daniel Patterson; seconder: Mrs. Charlotte HIll). Approve consent agenda (minutes, trips, Cameras pilot, leaves, resignations, retirements, contracts, stipends, certified positions, transfers): motion passed unanimously (mover: Mr. Randy Burns; seconder: Mr. Daniel Patterson). Approve leaves of absence: unanimously approved (mover: Mrs. Charlotte HIll; seconder: Mr. Randy Burns). Accept resignations and approve retirements, contracts, stipends, certified positions and transfers: all motions recorded as unanimously approved in the meeting minutes.

Next steps: the board scheduled its next regular meeting for Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. with a work session at 3:00 p.m.

The meeting adjourned following unanimous approval of an adjournment motion.