Summer Walker receives the Educator of the Year Award from Vocational Rehabilitation from Superintendent Shane Barnette.

The Cullman County Board of Education (CCBOE) held a brief work session and board meeting Thursday night where they recognized several school employees for outstanding work, and Superintendent Shane Barnette noted the school district’s recent performance on the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) report card. 

“Over the last few years we’ve moved from an 80 to an 85 to a 90,” he said. “Only two county school districts in Alabama scored better than we did.” 

Barnette said later that the improved scores are the result of schools following individual improvement plans, instructional coaches working with teachers and better student attendance. “Overall, our student growth [how a student improves from the beginning of the school year to the end] is one of the things that risen a lot.”

The CCBOE fiscal year ended Sept. 30 and the financial report was distributed, showing 2019 annual revenue exceeded the previous year by $5 million. Total general revenue for 2019 was $81.5 million compared to $76.5 million in 2018. Total expenditures for the fiscal year 2019 were $4.6 million over what was projected, due to a large amount of maintenance projects at the schools. Total expenditures for the 2019 budget year were $78.9 million.

The board recognized school employees Michael Lindsey of West Point Elementary and Mark Camp of Cullman Area Technology Academy for their exceptional service. Summer Walker of the Child Development Center received the Educator of the Year Award from Vocational Rehabilitation.

The next meeting of the board will be on Thursday, Dec. 19 in the Central Office Board Room, with a work session beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting immediately following.