The Cullman City School board approved the preemptive transfer of nearly a dozen elementary school teachers in preparation for the 2025-2026 school year, when 6th-grade students begin transferring to Cullman Middle School.

The grade level shift has been a key component in the district’s years-long, multi-campus capital improvement campaign and will occur upon the completion of construction currently ongoing at Cullman Middle School — currently expected to occur during the next school year.

The transfer includes an equal mix of teachers from both East and West Elementary Schools and will not take place until students from each respective school transfer to the middle school campus.

Teachers from East Elementary include:

• Beth Collins
• Nina Jones
• LaFonda Sherill
• Laura Tokar
• Allison Bates

Teachers from West Elementary include:

• Kelly Hayes
• Sharyn Hollingworth
• Julie Spradlin
• Kristy White
• Meaghan Britton

In other business the board:

— Approved a contract with Stephanie Palisay to provide early childhood education consultation services.

— Approved a community partnership agreement with Wallace State Community College to provide adult education services.

— Approved an agreement with Dr. Emily Wilson to provide vision screening services for the 2025-2026 school year.

— Approved a health services advisor agreement with Dr. Heidi Blair.

— Established a Cullman Middle School majorette team.

— Terminated a contract with Brooke Desnoes for her responsibilities associated with the dance team for the remainder of the school year.

— Approved a contract between Timepiece Treasures Photography and Cullman High School.

— Approved for the Cullman High School band to travel to Washington D.C. between Nov. 5 and Nov. 12 to march in the National Veterans Parade.

— Approved the following retirements:

• Miranda Gunter – West Elementary School teacher.
• Jonathan Hayes – East Elementary School teacher.
• April Jochum – Cullman City Primary School special education teacher.
• Danna Putman – Cullman High School teacher.
• Amanda Tanner – Cullman City Primary School teacher.
• Kathy Thornhill – West Elementary School teacher.
• Bama Turner – Cullman City Alternative School teacher.

— Accepted the following resignations:

• Rachel Fondren – Central Office mental health specialist.
• Claudia Graves – Cullman High School teacher.
• Hannah Lafavor – Cullman City Primary School teacher.

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