Muscle Shoals Board honors Superintendent Dr. Chad Holden, approves personnel and elects new officers

The Muscle Shoals Board of Education met in regular session and adopted a resolution recognizing Superintendent Dr. Chad Holden for 24 years with the district and his upcoming statewide appointment, approved routine business including the consent agenda and personnel report, and elected new board officers for the coming year.

Board President opened the meeting and, after a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the evening's agenda and minutes from prior meetings. The consent agenda — which included financial statements and the check register, audit findings, an owner-architect agreement for athletic facility upgrades at the airport complex, activity and athletic supplements, an updated five-year capital plan, an out-of-state field trip request, CNP cooperative agreements, and test-prep services — was approved without items being pulled for separate consideration.

The board then approved the personnel report. Superintendent Dr. Chad Holden summarized personnel actions included in the packet: retirements and resignations (including Tracy Richter), one rescinded resignation (Emma Armstrong), a termination noted in the packet (Jamie Reitinger), and multiple hires and contract renewals. He listed named hires and renewals including Kelly Benson (paraprofessional), Caitlin Cornelius (elementary teacher), Joshua Faust (assistant director of bands), Graceland Habata (elementary teacher), Matthew Hunter Hill (secondary science), and others; contract principal renewals included Diana Ritter and West Pounders. Dr. Holden also noted summer learning and community education staffing (the summer program runs June 1–July 10) and said the district is close to being fully staffed for the 2026–27 school year. "It's been a blessing to be a part of this," Dr. Holden said, thanking staff and the community.

Board member Miss Allman presented resolutions of appreciation recognizing Sherry Langley for seven years of service in the district's finance role and formally honoring Dr. Chad Holden. The board read the resolution aloud, noting Holden's service as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and superintendent, and his selection as the incoming executive director of the Alabama Association of School Boards. The resolution directs that a copy be entered into the board minutes and presented to Dr. Holden.

Speaking after the resolution was read, Dr. Holden said he did not have prepared remarks but called his time in Muscle Shoals "a tremendous honor" and said he intends to remain a member of the community and a supporter of the district. "I'm gonna be one of the biggest cheerleaders for this school system," he said.

The board then conducted nominations for board president and vice president for the coming year. Miss Allman nominated Clayton Wood for president and Dr. Jamie Stoddard for vice president; nominations were closed and both officers were elected by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: the agenda, minutes, consent agenda and personnel report were approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded; nominations for board president and vice president were closed and the nominees were elected by voice vote.

The meeting concluded with the president adjourning the session.

(Reporting note: all quotes and attributions are drawn from the board meeting transcript.)