In light of recent school tragedies and to show support for the work they do to keep students safe, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office’s school resource officers were recognized during Thursday’s meeting of the Cullman County School Board.  

Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette introduced and thanked each of the county’s school resource officers and Sheriff Matt Gentry, who each received gift bags from the school system. 

“I can’t brag enough on our resource officers and Sheriff Gentry,” he said. “I’m really proud that you guys are there, and I know you have our backs. I don’t want to ever think that we don’t appreciate you because we do.”

The board also approved a change in the 2018-19 school calendar, taking away a few of the system’s early release days. 

“I haven’t been real pleased with the level of instruction that’s been going on in the mornings of our early release,” Barnette said. “And I’m not sure, across our system, how well we’ve been using the professional development days”

The change to the calendar means that the next school year will have four early release days, and the previously scheduled early release days in October, March and May will now be full days. 

Barnette said further consideration of the early release days may be needed in the future. 

“If those are not more effective than what they’ve been this past year, we’ll cut those out completely,” he said. 

In other business, the board:

Recognized the transportation department for receiving the goal of excellence award in school bus safety inspections for having less than 10 percent major deficiencies in the school bus fleet. 

Approved Kim Kanaday at Hanceville Middle School as a 2017-18 tutor, after school part-time as needed, paid $25 per hour by local school Title 1 funds. 

Approved a request from Cold Springs Elementary to pay Daniel Moore $800 for Athletic Director and managing C2C, paid by local school funds. 

Approved a request from Fairview High School to pay Robert Strane and Geoff McGukin (non-faculty coach) $260 for keeping the clock at home basketball games, paid by Fairview High basketball boosters. 

Approved a request from Parkside School to pay Jacy Douglas a $750 stipend as the yearbook sponsor, paid by local school funds. 

Approved a request from Vinemont Elementary School to pay Josh Drake $500 for coaching the elementary archery program, paid by local school funds. 

Approved to pay Rebecca Rodriguez $100 a day for four days, June 26-29, 2017, to attend “Failure is Not an Option” workshop, paid by the Alabama State Department of Education Contract #X700554. 

Approved January 2018 financial statements. 

Approved January 2018 bills and salaries totaling $8,116,533.60. 

Approved request from CNP program to declare the following as surplus and authorized the disposal or sale: Garden City School- hot/cold bar, Hanceville High School- hobart mixer, Good Hope High School- pass through warmer, pass through cooler. 

Approved the following maintenance department bids: 

Child Development Center- electrical, HVAC upgrades and renovations- $213,800 by A&S Electrical. 

Fairview High School- roofing and renovations- $68,792- Miller Roofing. 

Cullman Area Technology Academy- re-roof, HVAC, electrical upgrades and renovations- $1,884,497- KC Construction. 

Hanceville High School- cafeteria electrical upgrade- $58,750- A&S Electrical. 

Approved the following out-of-state field trips:

Fairview High School physics and AP chemistry – April 20, Math and Science Day at Six Flags, Atlanta, GA.

Good Hope High School math department- April 20, Math and Science Day at Six Flags, Atlanta, GA.

West Point High School softball team- April 20, tournament in Fayetteville, TN. 

Fairview High School anatomy class- April 23, Bodies Exhibit in Atlanta, GA. 

West Point scholar’s bowl- May 10, Middle School National Scholar’s Bowl Championship Tournament in Rosemont, IL. 

Approved a request from the Cullman County Education Support Professionals for one day professional leave for Lavonne Osborne to attend the Statewide AEA ESP Annual Conference in Birmingham on April 27. Other attendees are Becki Klein, Ann Maddox, Rena Watson, Emily Blankenship and Patti Hasenbein. 

Approved the revised 2018-19 school calendar, changing Fair Day from Sept. 24 to Oct. 8. 

The Cullman County School Board will next meet in the Good Hope High School lunchroom on April 19 at 6 p.m., with a board work session preceding the meeting at 5:30 p.m.