The Cullman County Board of Education approved a $3.3 million bid for an addition to Hanceville Middle School that will include additional classroom and meeting spaces and a new library.

The new building will replace one of the district’s oldest facilities, Edmonson Hall, which was demolished earlier in the school year after teachers reported finding mold as they prepared to return from summer vacation. Superintendent Shane Barnette said the mold had been the result of a faulty air conditioning unit during a CCBOE meeting in August 2024 and that mobile classrooms had been immediately put in place to avoid exposure.

The board also approved plans for a similar addition at the Child Development Center and a new Good Hope Elementary School building in August but placed priority on the replacement of Edmonson Hall.

During the CCBOE meeting Thursday, March 13, Barnette said funding for the project would come from a combination of state funding and grant programs and would not require an additional loan.

A groundbreaking ceremony is being planned but no date has been announced.

In other business the board:

— Accepted the resignation of Vinemont computer technician Chandler Nunn.

— Approved the conditional employment of the following personnel:

• Johnny Huffstutler – Part-time custodian at Cold Springs High School.
• Mary Hardin – Temporary K-2 auxiliary teacher at Fairview Elementary.
• Allison Sinclair – Systemwide school nurse.

— Approved the following non-faculty coaches:

• Destry Stone – Holly Pond High School baseball.
• Morgan Arbet – West Point Middle School football cheerleading.
• Michael Wray – West Point Middle School softball.

— Approved to pay Chandler Nunn for up to five unused annual leave days.

— Approved a request from Hanceville High School to pay Levi Estes $1,500 for field maintenance.

— Approved a request from Hanceville High School and Hanceville Middle School to pay Zane Barnette $1,500 to complete after-hours work on the locker room addition to the baseball dugout.

— Approved a request from Holly Pond High School to pay the following to complete additional volleyball-related duties

• Lori Baggett – $40
• Crystal Laney – $40
• Elizabeth Metcalfe – $80
• Emily Ryan – $940
• Angela Allbright – $80

— Approve a request from the following schools to offer Summer Driver’s Education courses:

• Good Hope High School – Samuel Dingler
• Holly Pond High School – James Neal
• Vinemont High School – Jason Teichmiller
• West Point High School – Kevin McCravy

— Approved a request from the Cullman County Education Association for two days professional leave for members to attend a professional rights and responsibility conference in Montgomery, AL on April 3 and 4. Attending members will include:

• Sabrina Gilbreath
• Marlene Hancock
• Jennifer James
• Lynn Bradford

— Approved a request from the Child Development Center to dispose of outdated and broken hearing and vision equipment and Braille books.

— Approve a contract with Centegix to purchase Safety Platform and Alert System.

— Approved the purchase of the IXL supplemental Math program fro grades 3 – 8.

— Approved for the contract for Dr. Janet Turner, director of Workforce Education, not be renewed or extended beyond June 30.

Patrick Camp may be reached by email at patrick.camp@cullmantimes.com or by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 238.