With the start of school set for Monday, the Cullman County Board of Education recently made some last minute moves and hirings in preparation for the new year.

Three teachers, five temporary teachers, one transfer, two funding transfers and a handful of support personnel were all approved by the school board.

Federal Programs Director Don McPherson said the five temporary teachers were listed that way because the system is in dire financial shape.

“We list them with an ending date simply because we’re not sure about the funding,” McPherson said.

“It just makes things simpler than having a non-renewal,” Superintendent Hank Allen added.

Allen said the three new teachers that were hired were all necessary to begin the school year.

“Those were subject specific, so we had to have them,” he said.

The two funding transfers moved teachers to federal Title I teacher units, which takes the salary burden off of the general fund.

“The advantage of that is it allows you to reduce class size and things like that,” McPherson said.

The one teacher transfer, at Harmony School, occurred because of enrollment numbers.

Two resignations and a leave of absence was also approved.

The Cullman County Board of Education non-renewed 45 teachers earlier this summer, caused largely by the state education budget being prorated by 9 percent last year. As the economy has continued to decline, the cuts have gotten worse.

Following the recent transfers, hirings and resignations, the system will be down approximately 35 teachers when compared to last year.



Hirings Included:

‰ The appointment of Phamie Jo Brown, eighth grade math teacher at Hanceville Middle School.

‰ The re-appointment of Melissa Humphrey, teacher at Holly Pond Middle School.

‰ The appointment of Lea Scott, library media specialist at Harmony School.

‰ The temporary appointment of Reid Hinkle, seventh grade science teacher at Good Hope Middle School, effective August 5, 2009 – May 28, 2010.

‰ The temporary appointment of Susan Cofer, kindergarten teacher at Good Hope Primary School., effective August 5, 2009 – May 28, 2010.

‰ The temporary appointment of Robert Kusz, fifth grade teacher at Holly Pond Elementary School.

‰ The temporary appointment of Savannah Wood, library media specialist at the Child Development Center.

‰ The temporary appointment of Sandra Harris, special education teacher at C.A.R.E.

‰ The part-time, temporary appointment of Wade Knight, P.E. Teacher (1/7 day) at Harmony School.

‰ The temporary appointment of Holly Tolbert Bogard, special education aide at the Child Development Center.

‰ The appointment of John Wesley McSwain, special education aide at Good Hope High School.

‰ The appointment of Dana Creel, school bus driver at Parkside School and Fairview School.

‰ The appointment of Kerry Thompson, custodian at Vinemont School.



Resignations included:

‰ The resignation — due to retirement — of Melissa Ellenburg, counselor at the career center.

‰ The resignation of Johnny Van Scott, custodian at Good Hope Middle School.

‰ The resignation of Brittany Sams, cross country coach at West Point High School.



Other moves included:

‰ The maternity leave of absence for Beth Ann Daniel, teacher at Good Hope Primary School.

‰ The voluntary transfer of April Burgess from fourth grade teacher at Harmony School to third grade teacher at Harmony School. The transfer is due to enrollment numbers.

‰ The funding transfer of Good Hope Middle School history teacher Nathan McCluskey from Foundation funding to Title I funding.

‰ The funding transfer of Hacneville Middle School teacher Cathi Bradford from Foundation funding to Title I funding.



In other business the school board:

‰ Approved substitute teachers Sarah Anderson, Karen Bachelor, Ashlee Bailey, Tonya Ballenger, Judy Bell, Shannon Black, Mac Buttram, Christina Cagle, Steven Calvert, Jennifer Clay, Shelley Creel, Jamie Crook, Donna Drake, Donna Dunn, Annette Edge, Sabrina Gilbreath, Burmie Graves, Chanda Guthery, Connie Guthrie, Diane Hamrick, Christine Hardin, Shanna Hays, John Hill, Lara Lee Hood, Meaghen Howard, Charlene Isbell, Rita Jones, Alice King, Lacey Lemley, Amanda Light, Ashley Lochridge, Janean Lopez, Julie Malone, Dennis McAnnally, John Trent Meherg, Jared Miner, Stacie Owen, Laura Ponder, Lola Ponder, Alyssa Puckett, Cassy Quinn, Kelley Richey, Heaven Rivers, Brooke Rutherford, Gary Smith, Tina Smith, Jacob Sotherland, Tammie Stanley, Valerie Stephenson, Brittany Stricklin, Anthony Swindall, Bethany Welch, Melia Whaley, Tammie Williams, Patricia Wise, Connie Jacobs, Pat Doherty, Patti Bostick, Annaliese Murray, Cole Bice and Ashley Wilkins.

‰ Approved child nutrition substitutes: Dean Frances, Angela Burgett, Debra Confer, Jamie Crook, Betty Day, Vicky Hancock, Peggy Hardman, Darlene Harrison, Shelia Holley, Louise Light, Lola Ponder, Cassy Quinn, Kristie Roaden, Tina Smith.

‰ Approved a contract change for Carol Duncan, library aide (part-time) at Cold Springs High School. Her schedule was changed from 17.5 hours per week to 22.5 hours per week

‰ Approved a contract change for Savannah Wood, upgrade to Master’s degree.

‰ Approved principal contracts for all current prinicpals.

‰ Approved a maintenance department bid to pay $1.085 per gallon for LP Gas with Dowdle Gas Company.

‰ Approved a maintenace department bid for $6,573 with Walke Brothers for building material for the bus barn at Good Hope School.

‰ Approved a maintenance department bid for $6,574 with Walker Brothers for building materials for a storage building at Good Hope School.

Building materials for Good Hope Storage Building

‰ Approved a maintenance department bid for $14,640 with WWB Contracting for labor to frame the Good Hope School bus barn and storage building.

‰ Approved June 2009 bills, salaries and financial statements.

‰ Approved a food service agreement between West Point Middle School and West Point Prep School to serve lunches.

‰ Approved a request from Holly Pond Elementary School for Kay Sparks, Trina Walker, Cynthia Hawkins, Jan Pierce and Shawna Finley to work on the Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP).

‰ Approved a request from Hanceville Elementary School to hold a public sale.

‰ Approved the July 16 meeting minutes.



‰ Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.