The state’s education standards can change often, but West Elementary School’s principal says his school is doing a good job of keeping pace. 

West Elementary Principal Jay Page gave a presentation to the Cullman City School Board Monday night about some of the work that faculty and students have done over the past year and some of the school’s future goals.

Page presented the school’s ALSDE school report card results, and said West Elementary was one of only three schools in the county to receive an A- score, joining Cullman Middle School and East Elementary.

“We’re extremely proud of that,” he said. 

A large part of the school’s success is due to the faculty and staff, who have worked to meet any new standards that are given to them by the state, Page said. 

“I can’t say enough about what they did and what they’ve done,” he said. 

Page said the school’s students have also done a good job responding to the standards and have performed well on tests.

“Our students have really stepped up,” he said. 

Schools are moving more and more towards individualized paths for students, and one of the school’s goals is to let students become more involved in tracking their progress.

To follow that goal, the school has already begun letting students lead their own conferences with parents, he said. 

The goal is to let students understand the standards that they are supposed to be meeting and be actively involved in what they are doing and why they are doing it, Page said.

The school has begun using the #weststory hashtag, which allows parents and the rest of the community to follow along with the progress that students have made over the school year, Page said.

“We’re very proud of our school,” he said. “I can’t say enough about the faculty.”

In other business, the board: 

Approved March 2018 financial statements and bank reconciliations.

Approved April 2018 payroll of $1,937,348.55, invoices paid of $418,880.41, financial statements and bank reconciliations. 

Approved the following Head Start items:

  Expenditures report for April 2018.

  Health/Nutrition/Disabilities/Enrollment report for April 2018.

  SF425 second quarter report

  SF425 semi-annual report

Approved the nonresident fees for the 2018-19 school year. The fee for one student will increase from $750 to $800, and the fee for two or more students will increase from $1,300 to $1,400.

Gave permission to surplus a Star Meal Center vending machine model HF-111 from CNP at Cullman Middle School.

Gave permission for the CHS band to travel to Orlando, Fla. on Nov. 10-14 to participate in the “Stars Performance Program” at Universal Studios during the Veterans Day celebration week.

Gave permission for the CHS fishing team to travel to Paris, Tenn. for the 2018 Bassmaster High School National Championship Tournament Aug. 2-4.

Gave permission to surplus/salvage the following items from the Technology Department: Telesensory system, eight Dell laptops, five computer monitors, three printers, two Dell projectors and 60 Dell Model 630 laptops.

Gave permission for CHS HOSA Future Health Professionals to travel to the International Leadership Conference and Competition in Dallas, Texas June 27-30.

Approved a memorandum of understanding between the Cullman City School Board of Education and the Cullman City Council to provide police officers at each school.

Gave permission to contract with Bridges Therapy and Consulting for behavior analytic services beginning April 25 through May 24.

Gave permission to enter into a lease agreement with Xerox Corporation to provide four B8055H copy machines and services at East Elementary School for a 48-month period.

Gave permission for Cullman City Primary School to contract with Covington Flooring Company, Inc. to install Pulastic flooring in the gym (EDP funds).

Approved the following recommendations from an organizational review of the Instructional Technology Department:

  Revised Computer Technician I job description.

  Revised Computer Technician II job description.

  Revised Computer Technician III job description.

  Revised Data Communications Assistant job description.

  Revised District Network Administrator job description.

  Revised Technology Integration Specialist job description.

  Information Technology Manager job description.

  Information Technology Manager salary schedule.

Gave permission for Head Start to enter a partnership agreement with Dr. James Thomas of Urgent Care Center of Cullman to provide TB screenings.

Approved the Health Services Advisor Agreement between Cullman City Child Development Center and Dr. Mark Addison.

Approved the following Cullman City Head Start Community Partnership Agreements for the 2018-19 school year: Cullman Housing Authority, Cullman County Department of Human Resources, Cullman City Parks and Recreation, Cullman Caring for Kids, The Crossing, Good Samaritan Health Clinic, The Link, United Way of Cullman and Brook’s Place.

Gave permission to contract with the following 2018-2019 Leadership Team to work up to three days during the summer of 2018: Kristen Brown, Blakely Burns, Tera Cabri, Caroline Hestley, Emily Hines, Kelly Pinkard, Emily Price, Erica Rutherford and Jennifer Sparkman (stipends from Title 1 funds).

Gave permission to contract with Leigh Hempfling to provide office duties to include student enrollment at West Elementary School during the summer of 2018 (local school funds).

Gave permission to contract with Elizabeth Shaddix to provide student placement and other counseling duties at West Elementary School during the summer of 2018 (Title 1 funds).

Gave permission to contract with Jennifer Shugarts to provide nursing services on an as-needed basis from June 1 to Aug. 1 (general fund).

Gave permission to contract with Amanda Baker, Shan Goodlett, Dori Potter and Kalysha Whittle to provide nursing services on an as-needed basis from June 1- Aug. 1 (general fund).

Gave permission to contract with Annette Barnett to provide clerical assistance as needed for Student Services beginning July 1-July 31 (IDEA funds).

Gave permission to contract with Kristen Gragg to provide counseling duties during the summer of 2018 (Central Office funds).

Gave permission to contract with the following EL teachers for the summer 2018 EL tutoring program: Tera Cabri, Susan NeSmith and Kathy Thornhill.

Gave permission to contract with Joshua Raney and Jonathan Peyton to provide computer/technology maintenance and network support during the summer of 2018.

Gave permission to contract with Ragan Baumheckel to work during the summer of 2018 to prepare for the 2018-19 school year (Head Start funds).

Gave permission to contract with Lorene Howell to clean floors, carpets and various duties during the summer of 2018 to prepare for the 2018-19 school year (Head Start funds).

Gave permission to contract with Shane Cecil to clean floors, carpets, move furniture, maintain landscaping and other various duties to prepare CCPS for the 2018-19 school year (CCPS funds).

Gave permission to contract with Kenneth Gleaton to facilitate Summer School (local school funds).

Approved the following personnel considerations: 

Resignations

Daniel Hassell, computer technician at Central Office, effective May 11.

Austin Mansell, instructional assistant at Cullman High School, effective May 25.

Renata Puckett, special education teacher at Cullman Middle School, effective May 29.

Leaves of absence:

Rita Dean, requesting extension of catastrophic sick leave. 

Elizabeth Shaddix, counselor at West Elementary School, requesting FMLA beginning approximately Aug. 6 through Nov. 25.

Julie Spradlin, sixth grade teacher at West Elementary, requesting one day unpaid leave on April 16.

Morgan Johnson, language arts teacher at Cullman High School, requesting two days unpaid leave on May 24 and 25.

Heather Doyle, fifth grade teacher at West Elementary, requesting one day unpaid leave on April 13.

Holly Murphree, instructional assistant at Cullman City Primary School, requesting two days unpaid leave on May 24 and 25.

Kim Shelton, instructional assistant at Cullman High School, requesting 15 on-the-job injury days.

Roxi Lee, instructional assistant at West Elementary School, requesting on-the-job injury days for May 10-11.

Transfers:

Michelle Nix, transfer from CNP Manager at West Elementary to CNP Manager at Cullman High School, effective June 1.

Employments:

Hannah Shelton Hunt, fifth grade teacher at East Elementary, beginning Aug. 2.

Sadie Gregory, temporary math teacher at Cullman High School, beginning April 16 through May 25.

William David Hannah, instructional assistant at Cullman High School, effective Aug. 2.

Modification of employment: 

Paul Ross, computer technician at Central Office, transfer from step level four to step level five to include prior years of IT experience.

Athletic supplements: 

Austin Mansell, resignation of football, basketball and softball supplements, effective May 25.

Taylor Sasser, resignation of CHS assistant baseball coach supplement, effective April 24.

Remainder of Taylor Sasser’s supplement of $867.30 be portraited towards Maison Goodwin as assistant baseball coach for the remainder of the 2018 season.

The Cullman City School Board will hold a special called meeting at 7:30 a.m. on May 24 in the Central Office Board Room, and its next regularly scheduled meeting will be on June 7 at 7:30 a.m. in the Central Office Board Room.