As if there were any doubt, Cullman City Schools is growing.

It seems the large-scale renovation project planned at Cullman High School couldn’t have come at a better time, as officials received confirmation this week that the system will definitely need the capacity within the next decade.

Demographer Dr. Jerome McKibben has released some preliminary data from his study on the system, which shows enrollment is expected to trend up in the next 10 years by approximately 100 total students — which would be more than enough to force an overflow at the current high school facility.

The high school expansion currently in the works will increase capacity to about 1,300 students, and will incorporate some larger classrooms and a more streamlined design.

McKibben’s forecast models shows the high school will likely increase to approximately 1,080 students, and after factoring in usability principals, should be just under the new campus’ capacity by 2021.

“An architect may say something is designed for 1,200 or 1,300 students, but you have to have a little leeway there,” McKibben said. “We’ve found it’s typically around 90 percent of the operational, designed capacity. I definitely wouldn’t think 1,200-1,300 is too much to plan for.”

Superintendent Dr. Jan Harris said the numbers show the school board has made the right call in the planning stages for the new high school, which is expected to break ground early next year.

“We’re in good shape with our plans, and our plan is in concert with the demographers projected enrollment,” she said.

The data model factors in population projections and keeps the drop-out rate and out-of-district rate level with the current stats.

Harris said she expects those two variables to stay relatively level for the next 10 years (the system has one of the lowest drop out rates in the state already), but notes some things could change in regards to the amount of out-of-district students accepted into the system.

Approximately 30 percent of city school enrollment is out-of-district, though demand has continued to climb for admission into the high-performing system.

“We still have that challenge, of how do we meet the needs of the community,” Harris said. “Schools should serve the citizens of the community, so we have to be receptive to what the citizens want and make plans accordingly. We need to be receptive to what the community expects from us.”

The board also:

* Recognized Outstanding Conservation Teacher of the Year, Secondary Division, CMS – Lucas McCollum.

* Recognized Cullman Area Workforce Solutions Educator Exchange Program – DeAnn Schaffer, Susan Sellers, Anita Forrest.

* Approved July 17, 2012 minutes.

* Approved July 2012 payroll of $1,718,522.23 invoices paid of $512,182.79 and financial statements.

* Approved Agenda.

* Granted permission to salvage old band instruments, music books and equipment to include a rolling chalk/bulletin board.

* Granted permission to surplus/salvage parallel bars from the gymnasium East Elementary School

* Granted permission to surplus/salvage 7 students chairs, 4 student desks and one teacher desk, as each is in disrepair from East Elementary School.

* Granted permission to surplus/salvage one eye-washing station previously housed in the East Elementary Science Lab.

* Granted permission to surplus/salvage two computer tables from East Elementary School.

* Granted permission to surplus/salvage one inoperable television from East Elementary School.

* Granted permission to surplus/salvage a John Deere lawnmower at East Elementary.

* Granted permission to surplus/salvage obsolete playground equipment at East Elementary.

* Granted permission to surplus/salvage the following items from the technology department:  twenty-three Dell desktop computers, three HP desktops, one Compaq desktop, two NEC projectors and one 3M Monitor.

* Granted permission to surplus/salvage one metal filing cabinet that is in disrepair from Cullman City Primary School.

* Approved FY 2013 Annual Budget.

* Approved Head Start June 2012 Expenditures/Downloads – $70,435.27.

* Approved the Corrective Action Plan for Cullman City Child Development Center.

* Approved the SF-425 Quarterly Report period ending 6/30/12 for Head Start.

* Approved revised 2012-2013 school calendar due to the Alabama Department of Education change in testing dates.

* Granted permission to bid and accept the lowest responsible bidder meeting specifications for diesel fuel and unleaded fuel for the Fiscal Year 2013

* Granted permission for the Cullman Middle School to pay Susan Sellers $950.00 for conducting a summer math camp at CMS.  Payment will be made using camp fees.

* Granted permission to contract with Penny Adair to teach violin class for two periods per school day for 2012-2013 school year.

* Granted permission to contract with teachers for the purpose of mentoring new teachers for the 2012-2013 school year.

* Granted permission for the CHS Cross County team to travel out of state and participate in the Brooks Twilight Invitational in Memphis, Tennessee September 1-2, 2012.

* Granted permission for the CHS Cross County team to travel out of state to Rome, GA. To participate in the Berry College Invitational September 7-8, 2012.

* Granted permission to host A+ College Ready Saturday study sessions for north Alabama (Cullman, Hartselle, Muscle Shoals, Arab Douglas and Asbury).

* Granted permission to retroactively contract with Janice Burrows to teach summer school at the rate of $150 per day to be paid with local funds.

* Granted permission to pay Cindy Pass, East Elementary School Media Specialist, 3 additional days worked this summer.

* Proposed approval of the revised organizational chart.  This item will be sent out to the Policy Review Committee and brought back to the Board for consideration.

* Approved the following Cullman City Head Start contracts/agreements:

— Victim’s Services – community partnership.

— United Way of Cullman – community partnership.

— Brook’s Place (Child Advocacy Center) – community partnership.

— Cullman Caring for Kids – community partnership.

— Cullman County Department of Human Resources – community partnership.

* Approved resignations:

— Julie Sellers, Instructional Assistant, effective August 9, 2012

— Janet Chandler, CNP Worker, effective August 13, 2012

* Approved retirement:

— Amy Farr, kindergarten teacher at Cullman City Primary School, effective May 24, 2012

* Approved modification of Employment:

— Annette Barnett, special education instructional assistant/bus aide, modification from 6.5 hours per day to 7.5 hours per day.

— Aimee Bates, Technology Resource Specialist, extend contract 9.5 month to 10 month contract.

* Approved leave of absence:

— Stacey Tankersley, RN nurse at West Elementary School, requests a leave of absence without pay 1st semester of 2012-2013 school year.

— Susan Watts, Head Start teacher is requesting three days of unpaid leave during the mid-fall of 2012 to attend ARI training for her degree.

— Sheila Beth Calvert, Science teacher at Cullman High School, requests Family and Medical Leave (FMLA).

— Cynthia Geisen, Language Arts teacher at Cullman High School, requests Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) followed by catastrophic sick leave.

* Approved employments:

— Ashley Ricketts, first grade teacher at Cullman City Primary School, beginning August 14, 2012 effective for the 2012-2013 school year (JV 12-054)

— Jolanda Hutson, Head Start Instructional Assistance to fill a one year position 2012-2013 school year (JV 12-050)

— Pamela DeBerardinis, Science teacher at Cullman High School to fill a leave of absence beginning August 13, 2012 – TBD (JV 12-067)

— Erica Ball, IDEA teacher at Cullman High School, effective August 14, 2012 (JV 12-062)

— Brittney Miller, Social Studies teacher at Cullman High School, effective August 14, 2012 (JV 12-061)

— Trent Dean, Language Arts teacher at Cullman High School to fill a leave of absence beginning August 13, 2012 – December 21, 2012 (JV 12-064)

— Jenna Mayfield, Science teacher at Cullman High School to fill two leave of absence beginning approximately August 14, 2012 – November 7, 2012        (JV 12-065)

— Stephanie Crandall, IDEA Instructional Aide for West Elementary School, beginning August 14, 2012 effective for the 2012-2013 school year (JV 12-063)

— Sheila Eason, School Nurse at West Elementary School to fill a leave of absence beginning August 15, 2012 – December 21, 2012 (JV 12-066)

— Timothy Aldridge, Data Communication Technician beginning July 23, 2012  (JV 12-060)

* Approved supplements resignation:

— James Johnson, JV Boys Basketball

— Karen Hays, CCPS website

* Granted permission to miss Teacher Institute:

— Jackie Joiner, Executive Secretary to the Superintendent

— Debbie Wright, Student Support Services Coordinator

* Announced the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting for Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the board room.

* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.