Cullman City Schools received a clean audit of its 2016 financials as the school board prepares to draft the upcoming 2018 budget.

The Cullman City Board of Education met Monday morning to review the audit which received an unmodified opinion — meaning no issues were found. The school system was commended for maintaining a two-and-a-half month reserve fund — greater than the state requirement.

Superintendent Susan Patterson said one of the school board’s strategic plan goals was to maintain the efficient use of its funds along with improving our internal controls.

“Having no findings or issues in our audit is confirmation of success in our work,” she said. “I appreciate the work of our board and leaders in implementing the processes successfully to make sure we remain good stewards of the funds provided to our school system.”

The board also welcomed three new employees to its meeting. Jessica Key will instruct kindergarten at Cullman Primary, Kim Davis will join East Elementary as a custodian, and Jennifer Hill will teach third grade at East Elementary.

Patterson said recruiting and retaining high quality personnel to work with the district’s students is a top priority.

“I am excited about the new staff members we have joining the outstanding employees of Cullman City Schools, and look forward to seeing their success in promoting student achievement,” she said. “We are blessed to have such a dedicated group of professionals to work with our children in Cullman City Schools.”

A personnel approval meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 2. A budget hearing to discuss the FY 2018 budget is set for 4:30 p.m. Aug. 15, followed by its next regular meeting in the Central Office Board Room at 5 p.m.

In other business, the Cullman City Board of Education

* Approved June 26 meeting minutes.

* Approved June payroll of $1,936,698.58, invoices paid of $379,275.14, financial statements and bank reconciliations.

* Approved the following Head Start items: June expenditures report and SF425 quarterly federal financial report ending June 30.

* Permitted salvage of the following textbooks from West Elementary School: Write Source: A Book for Writing, Thinking, and Learning, 2009, 130 copies and Write Source: A Book for Writing, Thinking, and Learning, 2009, 133 copies.

* Permitted surplus/salvage of two televisions and one computer table from Cullman City Primary School.

* Permitted surplus/salvage old wresting mats from Cullman High School.

* Permitted to salvage one writing center from Cullman City Head Start.

* Permitted changing report card dates on the 2017-2018 Cullman City Schools Calendar for Cullman Middle School from February 16 to February 23 and April 6 to April 13.

* Approved of the 2017-2018 Cullman City Schools Salary Schedules. There are no changes from last year.

* Approved revised Board Policy 3.10.4 Salary Deductions. This item will be sent out to the Policy Review Committee for review and brought back for consideration.

* Approved dual enrollment/dual credit agreement with Wallace State Community College for the 2017-2018 school year.

* Renewed contract with Champion Sports Medicine to be the exclusive provider of athletic training services for Cullman High School’s athletic programs.

* Approved exploring formation of 4-H Skeet Shooting Club at Cullman High School.

* Approved contract with Xerox Corporation to provide the following four B8055H copy machines and services at Cullman City Primary School/Head Start for a 48 month period.

* Approved health services advisor agreement between Cullman City Child Development Center and Dr. Mark Addison.

* Approved Cullman City Head Start 2017-2018 pre-K Head Start Calendar. This item was approved by Policy Council Committee.

* Approved contract with the 2017-2018 mentor teachers.

* Permitted to providing stipends of $100 per day for each new teacher attending New Teacher Induction on July 24-28.

* Permitted providing a $100 stipend to teachers at West Elementary School for required AMSTI training funded in part by one day of job-embedded PD allowances for the 2017-2018 school year.

* Permitted providing stipends to teachers to train Tier II and Tier III Intervention for students with characteristics of Dyslexia at Cullman Middle School and Cullman High School.

* Approved contract with Stacey Tankersley to provide summer instructional work for students in health science, effective July 18, which will be funded by course fees.

* Approved contract with Lori Adams to provide special education services on an as-needed basis from May 29- August 2, to be funded with IDEA funds.

* Approved contract with Mendy Grimmett to provide Section 504 support services for Cullman Middle School Band Camp beginning July 10 – August 2, to be paid with general fund.

* Approved contract with Debbie Mann to attend medication training on July 20, to be paid with Head Start funds.

* Approved the following personnel considerations:

Resignations: Amanda Stidham, kindergarten teacher at Cullman City Primary School, effective June 26; Whitney Young, English teacher at Cullman High School, effective July 10; Patrick Britton, special education instructional assistant at Cullman High School, effective July 11; Gail Miller, extended day program monitor – early morning at East Elementary School, effective July 10; Meaghan Britton, extended day program worker at East Elementary School, effective July 14 and Crystal Murphree, Spanish interpreter/rranslator for all schools, effective July 18.

Leave of absence: Joe Duke, custodian at West Elementary School, extended catastrophic leave of absence — Transfers: Fran Brown, from Head Start teacher to Head Start pre-K teacher at Cullman City Primary School; Marcia Stringer, from Head Start teacher to Head Start pre-K teacher at Cullman City Primary School; and Lucero Michaus-Lejarazo, transfer from Head Start interpreter to Head Start pre-K auxiliary teacher at Cullman City Primary School.

Modification of employment: Kelli Hughes, modification of employment from 10 months to 12 months, effective August 1 for the 2017-2018 school year.

Employments: Samuel Long, special education instructional assistant at West Elementary School, effective August 3; Kim Davis, custodian at East Elementary School, effective July 24; Jennifer Hill, third grade teacher at East Elementary School, beginning August 3 and at Cullman City Primary School — Harris Crumbley, instructional assistant, beginning August 8; Kassandra Cox, special education instructional assistant, effective August 3; Jessica Key, teacher (grade to be determined), effective August 3; Kayla Annette Aaron, Head Start instructional assistant, effective August 3; Cassity Dawn Campbell, Head Start disabilities assistant, effective August 3; Carmen Nicole Dunbar, Head Start pre-K teacher, effective August 3; Genevieve Praytor, Head Start pre-K auxiliary teacher, effective August 3 and Ginger Wood, Head Start pre-K auxiliary teacher, effective August 3.

Supplements: 2017-2018 athletic/ band supplement schedule.

Modification of administrative supplement: Patricia Culpepper, modify supplement from administrative level 2 supplement to administrative level 3 supplement, effective October 1, paid with Head Start funds.

Supplement resignations: Patrick Britton, varsity football assistant coach and varsity baseball assistant coach, effective July 11.

* Approved carryover of unused vacation leave days for Superintendent Susan Patterson.

* Permitted to miss Institute Day: Student Services Coordinator Dr. Richard Templeton and Cullman Middle School Secretary/ Bookkeeper Sonya Marinakas.