The Cullman City School Board approved a contract extension with Birmingham, Alabama, based Milestones Behavior Group to provide Applied Behavioral Analysis services through the upcoming school year Tuesday, July 16, effectively terminating a similar agreement with local provider Imagine ABA.

The goal of in-school ABA therapy is to help students develop skills to maximize their learning potential. The board has previously contracted both providers to work with educators to help identify and support students with autism or other behavioral challenges. However, following the meeting, Imagine representatives said they had been told the board would only be able to extend a single contract moving forward.

Lauren McMinn told the board her oldest child was a non-verbal autistic student who has greatly benefitted from ABA therapy. She urged the board to vote no to extending its contract with Milestones and continue its relationship with Imagine as it is the only local ABA provider available to parents.

McMinn said continuity of care is especially important for those on the autism spectrum who typically struggle to adjust to sudden changes in their routines and environments. She said having Imagine available in the city school system allowed families who may be unable to commute for treatments, to have the same care provider when school is not in session.

“Imagine is the only company available to give therapy to our kids outside of the school environment. To lose that continuity of care would be detrimental for [my son] and several others. I’ve spoken to several other autism-moms in the community and they are just as devastated as I have been that we may be changing providers,” McMinn said.

The board also recognized two of its educators, Blakeley Burns and Melony Edwards, for the recent completion of their Certified Academic Language Therapist training. Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff said the dedication required to completing the 700 hours of clinical hours of clinical teaching required to achieve the CALT certification was not easily understated.

“Achieving this certification is not only a testament to their expertise, but also to their passion for making a difference in the lives of their students. This will undoubtedly enhance the educational support provided to our students, particularly those with dyslexia and related language based learning differences,” Kallhoff said.

In other business the board:

— Approved a probationary, two year assistant principal contract with Tyler Skinner.

— Approved the job description for director of academic affairs.

— Approved a contract with Encore Rehabilitation to provide consultation services in physical and occupational therapy.

— Approved a contract for CNP manager move setup with Amy Emmert and Donna Avery.

— Renewed the milk and milk products bid with DFA Dairy Brand/Purity Dairy.

— Approved the produce bid with Forestwood Farm, Inc.

— Extended the Cullman City School CNP contract with Ice Cream Warehouse.

— Approved a stipend for medical training for Stephanie Childers.

— Approved a contract with Megan Hackbarth to provide early childhood physical education services to Head Start.

— Approved the contract with Jenna Bates, Tiffany Johnson, Tiffany James and Savanna Guthrie for workdays in the classroom.

— Approved a joint purchase agreement with Sand Mountain CNP Cooperative.

— Approved the Cullman High School cross country team camp at Tallulah Gorge State Park, Georgia July 24-27 and retreat at Bardstown, Kentucky September 26-28.

— Approved for the Cullman High School band to travel to Orlando, Florida November 10-14.

— Approved the retirement of Lori McGough, instructional assistant at West Elementary.

— Accepted the following resignations: Leslie Dawson, Child Nutrition Coordinator at Cullman City Schools; Jade Fitzgerald: Head Start teacher at Cullman City Primary; Jason Johnsey: Cullman High School teacher; Tonja Kay: CNP worker at Cullman City Schools; Susan Sharpe: Cullman City Primary School teacher.

— Approved the following transfers: Hannah Giambrone, Head Start teacher at Cullman City Primary to special education teacher at Cullman City Primary; Tiffany Johnson: Special Education teacher at Cullman City Primary to Head Start teacher at Cullman City Primary.

— Approved the conditional employment of the following personnel: Cayla Allen, PreK teacher at Cullman City Primary; Kristen Edge, Instructional assistant at Cullman City Primary; Will Jochum, Head Start teacher at Cullman City Primary; Brittney Shaddix, Teacher at Cullman City Primary; Adrienne Simmons, Secretary at West Elementary; Emily Smith: Special Education instructional assistant at East Elementary; Garrett Wade, teacher at Cullman High School.