Scottsboro City Schools board approves staffing changes, contracts and $201,162 playground grant

The Scottsboro City Schools Board of Education met Oct. 3 and unanimously approved a slate of personnel actions, contracts and grants recommended by Superintendent Amy Childress.

Mr. Jason Williams, Board President, presided over the meeting. The board recognized two National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, Josh Laney and Ethan Evetts, and noted several board members met required training hours for the 2023–24 academy year.

On formal action, Mr. Patrick Woosley moved to approve the meeting agenda; Mr. Patrick Dicus seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The board then approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from August and September 2024 meetings, the August 2024 financial statement and bank reconciliation, and attached fundraisers.

The board approved a comprehensive personnel agenda that included the resignation of Karen Wilhelm (CNP Worker, Scottsboro High School) effective Sept. 30, 2024; multiple transfers and TEAMS contract changes for certified staff retroactive to Aug. 1, 2024; and long-term substitute employments for Niessa Brandon (Computer Science, Scottsboro Junior High School) and Meredith Black (Second Grade, Caldwell Elementary School). Motions to approve personnel items were made and seconded and carried unanimously.

Board members approved several contracts and service agreements recommended by the superintendent, including Title I staff contracts, after-school tutoring contracts, gym cleaning services for Scottsboro High School and Scottsboro Junior High School, and lawn care service contracts.

The board approved the FY25 salary schedule and authorized submission of a GameTime playground grant application in the amount of $201,162.06 to be paid with FY25 ATF funds and Club Wildcat funds. The board also authorized the purchase of two new buses from Southland Transportation Group for $317,290.50, funded with FY25 ATF funds and ALSDE fleet renewal funds.

Other approved items included out-of-state travel and leave requests for athletics and band groups, the 2024–25 System and School Continuous Improvement Plans, and a series of memorandums of understanding and agreements with external partners: Health Connect America; The Bridge; Extended Families; the NACC Wellstone Launch Program; a dual-enrollment agreement with Northeast Alabama Community College; the Alabama Supercomputer Authority agreement; and internship MOAs with the American College of Education, Athens State University and Troy University.

Mr. Jason Williams recommended and the board elected Dr. Gary Speers as the Scottsboro City Schools delegate to the Alabama Association of School Boards 2024 convention. The board set a work session for Oct. 17, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. and the next board meeting for Nov. 7, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. The meeting was adjourned by unanimous vote.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions in the provided transcript were approved unanimously. Notable approvals recorded in the meeting record include: the meeting agenda; the consent items; the personnel agenda (resignations, transfers, TEAMS contract changes, substitutes); supplemental positions; additions to the substitute list; Title I contracts; after-school tutoring contracts; gym cleaning and lawn care contracts; FY25 salary schedule; GameTime playground grant application ($201,162.06); purchase of two buses ($317,290.50); out-of-state travel requests; continuous improvement plans; multiple MOUs/MOAs and agreements; selection of Dr. Gary Speers as AASB delegate; and adjournment.

The transcript excerpt provided does not include substantive text from the Continuous Improvement Plan presentation by Mr. Jason Hass; the item is recorded on the agenda with presenter name but without presentation details in the excerpt.