April Tucker has been approved as the new Good Hope Middle School principal, following the recent retirement of longtime principal Wayne Weissend.

Tucker has been the assistant principal at the school for nearly four years and has worked at the school for more than 14 years. She has also served as an elementary special education teacher, middle school special education teacher and varsity cheerleading sponsor.

“I’m just thrilled to continue being a part of the Good Hope School and community,” Tucker said. “My child goes here and this place really feels like my home.”

Tucker said she hopes to continue the success started during Weissend’s tenure.

“I’m very excited and want to continue pushing the school in the right direction with quality teaching and continue to promote student learning,” she said. “I have a great faculty, staff and community to work with out here … We just want to continue seeing improvements with all our students.”

Jerry Schuman, the Good Hope School board representative, said he believes Tucker will be a perfect fit for her new role.

“I think Ms. Tucker will do a great job,” he said. “She knows the faculty and students really well.”

Superintendent Hank Allen agreed Tucker was the best selection for the job.

“She’s a quality person and a great educator,” he said. “She really cares for the students.”

Tucker received her education at Jacksonville State University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in special education, a master’s degree in administration and an EDS in administration.

In other business, the school board:

‰ Approved the minutes from October 8 and October 28.

‰ Approved the resignation of Steve Miller, head varsity football coach at Holly Pond High School.

‰ Approved the resignation of Tommy Youngblood, head varsity football coach at Cold Springs High School.

‰ Approved a leave of absence for Melissa Johnson, Hayley Drake and Matt Heaton.

‰ Approved the voluntary transfer of Katrina Putman from book room worker (part-time) at the central office to book room and inventory support at the central office.

‰ Approved the appointment of temporary support employees:

— Tammie Stanley, special education aide at the Child Development Center.

— Cassy Quinn, special education aide at the Child Development Center.

— Benny Guthrie, Fairview High School in-school suspension teacher (after school detention) for the 2009-2010 school year.

‰ Approved substitutes: custodian Angel Carnell – custodian and teacher Tamra Files.

‰ Approved substitute teachers: Leigha Abbott, Nick Adamson, Delores Bailey, Leah Barnes, Penny Billings, Ashley Brown, Katherine Brown, Angela Burks, Jan Carter, Stephen Chandler, Nikki Cleghorn, Christina Crider, Adam Duke, Tony Echols, Brandy Fields, Joshua Freeman, Jamie Gandy, Candice Gerstman, Whitney Hall, Darlene Harrison, Emily Hines, Sandra Howlett, Kenneth Kilgo, Karen Knop, Michael Lay, Sherry Lucas, Beverly Malone, Leslie Marks, Shelley McAfee, Christi Meadows, Valecia Mustgrove, Taylor Novara, Cody Rasco, Lyndsey Rasco, Latisha Redmond, Jennie Reid, Rodney Rice, Teri Sandlin, Brandy Shadix, Ann Smith, Karla Speegle, Sara Stone, Megnia Terry, Tara Thrasher, Heather Tucker, Emily Watson, Kelly Weaver, Nikki Wood, Vickie Wood, Megan Wright and Paul Yarbrough.

‰ Approved after-school program substitutes: Suzi Clayton, Cole Bice, Lindsey Sweatmon, Tyler Mitchell, Donna Drake, Leah White and Ashley Wilkins.

‰ Approved out-of-state field trip requests from Fairview High School to attend an FCCLA meeting in Washington, DC, a cheerleader competition in Nashville, TN, and a trip to Six Flags for the Physics, Math and academic teams.

‰ Approved an $11,642 change order for the Holly Pond Elementary School addition. The work will tie in the six roof drains on the north side of the existing classrooms, with the intent of draining the small grassy area near the new flagpole. A 6-inch concrete paving will be used in lieu of asphalt paving on a strip 12-feet wide and 205-feet long due to unsuitable soil conditions in this area.

‰ Approved August and September 2009 bills, financial statements and salaries.

‰ Approved a request from the transportation director to hire Mary Lawrence and Rodney Hays as school bus driver trainers, as needed.

‰ Approved a request from the transportation director to add Dennis McAnnally to the active drivers list as a substitute bus driver for special needs routes and special needs field trips.

‰ Approved a request from the Cullman County Education Support Professionals (CCESP) for one-and-a-half days of professional leave for delegates: Gwen Purifoy, Mary Jane Leverett, Shirley Sowell, Connie Baker, Beth Brock, Roland Gay, Dual Mayfield, Susan Gay, Debbie Reed, Mary Lawrence, Virginia Rhoades (alternate) and Kristy Harris (alternate).

‰ Approved a request from the Cullman County Education Association for three Hanceville Elementary School teachers chosen as emerging leaders by the A.E.A. to be granted one-day professional leave to attend an assembly in Montgomery. The teachers are: David Miller, Susan Fulmer and Ashley Jernigan.

‰ Approved the 2007-2012 technology plan update.

‰ Approved the Cullman County Partnership for Children as the 20  percent partner for Cullman County Schools At-Risk program. Funds are required to come from the at-risk budget. Programs include:

— KARS (Kids at Risk), Cullman Caring for Kids, $10,000. KARS is a guidance program that targets middle school students (students in grades 6-8).  It assists teachers and students in identifying, avoiding, and correcting behavior associated with bullying.  It also helps build conflict resolution and anger management skills.

— Individual and small group counseling from Day Star, $7,968. These classes will be conducted at CARE and will address topics such as anger management, conflict resolution, and developing a healthy self-esteem.

— Volunteers in Public Schools, United Way, $1,000. This program provides volunteer mentors to local at-risk elementary school students.

— Cullman County Partnership for Children, $28,000. Will provide funds for STI Assessment, a program that stores, analyzes, and identifies student mastery/non-mastery skills. This is used to identify students who are at-risk in math, but can also be used in all academic areas to identify students who are at-risk.  This can also be used to measure student mastery according to the Alabama Course of Study.  Also, FAST MATH a program that will focus on comp K-8 math skills. The program will track individual, student progress and mastery of subject matter and skills.  The program will help students gain mastery of computation skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) in grades K-8.

‰ Approved an agreement between the Cullman County Board of Education, Cullman County Commission and the VAW Water System to provide Harmony School with water that will provide sufficient pressure for the school.

‰ Considered revision to Board Policy F.OO3.

‰ Elected Danny Alldredge as board president and Sheila Kretzschmar as vice-president.

‰ Announced the next meeting for December 10, at 6:30 p.m., in the central office board room.

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