February is Career and Technical Education Month, and the Cullman City School Board heard a presentation on the system’s CTE programs during Tuesday night’s meeting.

Mike Donaldson, coordinator of Career and Technical Education for Cullman City Schools, spoke about some of what the program has to offer for the system’s students.

“At Cullman City Schools, they are a very valuable and viable part of our learning process for all of our students,” he said.

Donaldson said the system offers 30 CTE courses that are taught by eight certified instructors, and there are currently more than 900 students enrolled in those courses.

Gov. Kay Ivey has been making a strong push for workforce development across the state, and the CTE program is leading the way for the city school system to graduate students that are college or career ready, he said.

Donaldson said the system’s Career and Technical Education offers 13 industry-recognized credentials that students can earn in high school and graduate with marketable skills to enter the workforce, he said.

Another large component of the program is the number of career technical student organizations, such as FFA and FCCLA, which allow students to develop leadership skills and get more practical experience with what they are learning through competitions, he said.

Donaldson said the CTE program is also ahead of the curve in adapting to the one of the more recent methods of teaching that is beginning to take root in schools — project-based learning.

When you walk into a classroom today, you won’t always see the traditional lecturing in front of rows of desks, but you will see groups gathered at tables and working on projects.

“In Career and Technical Education, we’ve been doing this for many, many years, because there’s no better learning that hands-on learning,” he said.

In other business, the board:

• Approved January 28, 2020 minutes.
• Approved January, 2020 payroll of $2,149,977.80, invoices paid of $455,941.84, financial statements and bank reconciliations.

Approved the following Head Start Items:

• Expenditures Report for January 2020.
• Health/Nutrition/Disabilities/Enrollment Report for January 2020.
• SF-425 Federal Financial Report – 1st Quarter.
• Approved advanced permission on Jan. 29 for CHS Dance Team travel to Orlando, Florida for the UDA Dance Competition on Jan. 30 through Feb. 4.
• Gave permission for CHS Jazz Band to travel to Atlanta, Georgia to perform at the Georgia Aquarium on May 1-2.
• Gave permission to surplus a 15” MacBook (Asset #06352) and an iPhone 8 (Serial #C8PW1ONCJC6P) from Central Office.
• Gave permission to bid Network Switch Replacement and Installation for Cullman High School for the 2019-2020 academic year and accept the lowest responsible bidder according to specifications of Bid #02-18-20-01. USAC Erate discount funded project.
• Approved the four day summer work schedule beginning June 1 through July 31.
• Superintendent’s Office schedule may vary to include Friday work as needed.
• Approved the revised Instructional Assistant Job Description. This item was brought back from the Policy Review Committee.
• Approved the 2019-2020 Textbook Committee Members – Mathematics, Health and Physical Education for Cullman City Primary School, East Elementary School, West Elementary School,
• Cullman Middle School, and Cullman High School.
• Gave permission to contract with M’Kori Johnson to assist with clerical duties, CCPS and Head Start enrollment during June and July, 2020 (CCPS funds).
• Gave permission to contract with Julie Murphree to clean floors and various duties during the summer of 2020 to prepare for the 2020-2021 school year (CCPS/Head Start Funds).
• Gave permission to contract with Sabrina Allen to clean floors and various duties during the summer of 2020 to prepare for the 2020-2021 school year (CCPS/Head Start Funds).
• Gave permission to contract with Rafael Reynoso to clean floors and various other duties during the summer of 2020 to prepare for the upcoming school year (CCPS Funds).
• Gave permission to contract with Tera Cabri during the summer of 2020 to update Title 1 Plan, conduct screenings/placement for kindergarten and 1st Grade (Title 1 Funds).
• Gave permission to contract with Amanda Tanner during summer 2020 to assist with Title 1 Continuing Improvement Plan, Professional Development (Title 1 Funds).
• Gave permission to contract with Jennifer Sparkman during the summer of 2020 to conduct kindergarten screenings and process new enrollment (Local School funds).
• Gave permission to contract with Stacie Owen to provide homebound instruction, based on individual student need, beginning Feb. 6 through Sept. 30 (General Fund).
• Gave permission to contract with Lori Andrews to provide homebound instruction, based on individual student need, beginning Feb. 14 through Sept. 30 (General Fund).
• Gave permission to contract with Ann Davis, Sabrina Allen, and Jessica Williams to clean, strip, wax and buff the floors at Central Office during the summer of 2020.
• Gave permission to contract with Tera Cabri to provide early childhood education services for Cullman City Head Start beginning Aug. 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021 (Head Start Funds).
• Proposed approved revised Head Start Policies and Procedure PG-PCPC02 Policy Council Structure and Formation. This item will be send out to the Policy Review Committee.
• Approved the Clinical Agreement between Wallace State Community College and Cullman City Head Start/Cullman City Primary School.
• Approved the LEA Interagency Agreement between Cullman City Child Development Center (Cullman City Head Start) and Cullman City Board of Education.
• Approved the Occupancy Agreement between Cullman City Head Start and Cullman City Board of Education beginning Aug. 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021.
• Approved the 2020-2021 Breakfast-Lunch Agreement between Cullman City Head Start and Cullman City Primary School.
• Approved Cullman City Head Start Eligibility Priority Criteria.

Approved the following personnel considerations:

Retirement:

Melonie Hanson, Science teacher at Cullman High School, effective June 1.

Resignation:

Michelle Nix, CNP Manager at Cullman High School, effective May 22.

Transfer:

Katie Free, temporary transfer from instructional assistant at West Elementary School to fifth grade Math and Science teacher (to fill a leave of absence) at West Elementary School, beginning Feb. 18 through May 11. Pending ALSDE Certification.

Employments:

Sara Williams, Extended Day Program teacher, East Elementary School, effective Jan. 30.

Unused Vacation Days:

Russell Raney, requesting payment of unused vacation days (not to exceed 9 days).

Supplement:

Elizabeth Pylant – 2020-2021 Varsity Cheer Sponsor.

The Cullman City School Board will next meet on March 17 at 5 p.m. in the Central Office Board Room.