Following the State Board of Education and other school districts around Alabama, the Cullman City School Board named October Dyslexia Awareness Month at its meeting on Tuesday.

Superintendent Susan Patterson noted the need for awareness of dyslexia and the importance of training for teachers to support students who have dyslexia. 

“It’s important to raise awareness of dyslexia, recognizing that statistics tell us that as much as 15-20 percent of our students can be affected in their learning by Dyslexia,” she said. “Through our school-based reading specialists, we are ensuring all students receive the support needed to be successful readers and learners.”

Patterson also thanked the City of Cullman for helping provide training to teachers that is better than the state has provided, and for partnering with City Schools to bring in specialized personnel to help students with dyslexia. 

“I’m not aware of any other system in our state that has a dedicated person to just work with dyslexia,” she said at Tuesday’s meeting. “So we definitely need to thank our City Council for working with us and helping our students be ahead of the curve.” 

The Board also recognized the High School Fishing Team for their 2017 Alabama BASS Nation State Championship, and the Middle School FFA Chapter for finishing first place in County Forestry Judging. 

The City School Board and a few of its members also received a few accolades, with the board being awarded the 2017 School Board Member Academy President’s Award, and board members Chris Branham, Joey Orr and Lee Powell receiving recognition for attaining Achievement Level 1 from the School Board Member Academy. 

The board also selected new officers for the year, with Suzanne Harbin remaining president of the board, and Lee Powell being chosen to serve as vice-president. 

 

In other business, the board: 

 

* Approved the Sept. 14, 2017 minutes

* Approved the Sept. 14, 2017 second budget hearing minutes

* Approved September 2017 payroll of 1,860,430.56, invoices paid of $1,038,597.37 and financial statements

* Approved Head Start Expenditures Report for September 2017

* Approved Head Start Health/Nutrition/Disabilities/Enrollment Report for September 2017

* Approved surplus/salvage of items from the Technology department

* Approved surplus/salvage of items from Head Start

* Approved surplus/salvage of items from PrimarySchool

* Gave permission for Middle School FFA members to attend National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN on Oct. 24-27

* Approved the LEA Consolidated Plan for Federal Programs within Cullman City Schools

* Approved the Cullman City Primary School CIP plan

* Gave permission to contract with Dr. Gayle Morrison to provide guidance to teachers pursuing their National Board Certification for the 2017-2018 fiscal year

* Approved revised FY 2018 Head Start Grandfathered Salary Schedule 

* Approved the following personnel considerations:

 * Resignations

  – Susan Watts, kindergarten teacher at Cullman City Primary School, effective May 26

  – Peggy Swann, CNP worker at West Elementary, effective Oct. 16

 * Transfer 

  – Jessie Nash, transfer from CNP worker (4-hour) to CNP (6.5 hour)

 * Leaves of absence

  – Stephanie Conner, math teacher at Cullman High School, FMLA beginning Dec. 20, 2017 through April 8, 2018

  – Elizabeth Pylant, math teacher at Cullman High School, maternity leave tentatively beginning Dec. 18, 2017 through Feb. 25, 2018 

  – Kristen Walker, English teacher at Cullman Middle School, FMLA tentatively beginning Feb. 21, 2018 through the remainder of the 2017-2018 school year 

  – Brooke Kelley, kindergarten teacher at Cullman City Primary School, FMLA beginning Feb. 2, 2018 through the remainder of the 2017-2018 school year

  – Keri Bates, instructional assistant at Cullman City Primary School, maternity leave tentatively beginning Feb. 11, 2018 through April 1, 2018

  – James Bell, custodian at Cullman Middle School, four days unpaid leave

 * Modification of employment

  – Sarah Martin, modify temporary employment from third grade teacher at East Elementary to temporary fifth grade teacher at East Elementary to fill a leave of absence beginning Oct. 16 through May 25

 * Employments

  – Mary Beth Moss, temporary third grade teacher at East Elementary School to fill a leave of absence, tentatively beginning Nov. 2 through May 25

 * Supplement resignation

  – Priscilla Henshaw, resignation of Head Start web page, effective Sept. 29

 * Supplement

  – Ragan Baumheckel, Head Start web page supplement, effective Oct. 1. 

 

Tyler Hanes can be reached at 256-734-2131 ext. 138.