Franklin County Schools saw the retirement of two veteran administrators this week with the retirements of Belgreen High School principal Myra Frederick and Red Bay High School principal Kenny Sparks.
The retirements were approved by the Franklin County Board of Education at its June 25th meeting.
Franklin County Superintendent of Education Greg Hamilton said the jobs would be posted this week and he hopes to have new principals in place as soon as possible.
While the retirements didn't come as a surprise to Hamilton, he was disappointed to see both principals leave the system.
“I've worked closely with both of them and understand their reasoning and wish them nothing but the best. Both of them have done a great job for our system,” Hamilton said.
Consistent with his campaign pledge, Hamilton said he and the board would look to promote current Franklin County Schools employees into the positions if possible.
“The first priority is to look from within and promote excellence and we'll do that if at all possible,” Hamilton said. “We've got some people who have done an excellent job for us.”
In other action, the board:
--heard a presentation from Jessica Williams with Glimpse, a consulting company that works with school systems to review their return of investment of resources, products, programs and services, about how her company could help Franklin County Schools.
--received an audit report for fiscal year 2016 from Robin Lakey with the State Examiner of Public Accounts. The audit for Franklin County Schools was clean with the exception of a situation at Vina High School where employees were allowed to cash checks from the school's snack fund. One employee, on two occasions, bounced a check but later paid the money back to the fund. Board members approved an amendment to the Accounting Policies and Procedures Manual that mandates no money shall be left in school rooms or offices except in a safe-guarded place approved by the principal. At no time shall more than $100 be left after hours.
Additionally, the board approved language that restricts any check cashing for employees or students from the change fund as a result of the problem noted in the audit.
--awarded the system's paper bid to American Paper and Twine Company for 8.5” x 11” paper per case at $25.50 and 8.5” x 14” paper at $35.50 per case, awarded LP gas bid to Bear Creek Propane at bid price of $.989 per gallon and bid for diesel to Tatum Oil Company at bid of $1.5715 per gallon.
--approved out of state trips for Vina High School cheerleaders to Panama City Beach Summer Camp from July 23-26.
--approved the 2017-18 Student Code of Conduct Handbook, including a provision that gives teachers discretion to collect and store cell phones during class.
--approved giving the superintendent authority to approve out of state trip requests that come too late to be placed on a meeting agenda.
--approved an extensive list of personnel action, including:
Renewals: Jackie Ergle, principal, Phil Campbell Elementary (three year contract at present rate of pay) and Scott Wiginton, Career/Technical Education Program Director (three year contract at present rate of pay).
Retirement: Andy Cansler, maintenance worker; Juanita Martin, payroll officer, effective August 1, 2017; Sissy Moore, librarian, PCHS, effective September 1, 2017.
Resignation: Juanita Martin, central office custodian, effective July 31, 2017 and Carrie Rickman, third grade teacher PCES.
Transfers: Alicia Duncan from special education teacher at PCHS to special education teacher at PCES; Amber Mahurin transfer from English teacher, half-time Franklin County Career Teach Center/half-time East Franklin Junior High to full-time English teacher EFJH and Andrea Sornberger, transfer from half-time nurse/half-time health science teacher to full-time health science teacher.
Employment: Paul Humphres, half-time assistant principal at Vina High School; William Stacy, music teacher/band director at PCHS; Simon Mak, math teacher at Vina; Jason Cooper, math teacher half-time EFJH/half-time Tharptown; Jake Ward, elementary teacher Tharptown; Joseph Brown, physical education teacher Tharptown; Tasha Zills, elementary teacher Tharptown; Callie Henderson, music teacher/band director THS; Jason Harris, head varsity football coach Vina; Jonathan Raper, in school suspension teacher at PCHS; Abbey Rea, special education teacher Tharptown; Bethany Tracy, speech language pathologist; April Simpson, special education aide PCES; Debra Spillers, part-time temporary gifted teacher; Sonya Marks, physical education/math teacher at Red Bay; Greg Swinney, bus driver and Paula Jackson, reading coach, half-time Red Bay/half-time Vina.
Change in Contract: Chris Cantrell, custodian, Vina, from 9 ½ month contract to 11 month contract.
The next regular meeting of the Franklin County Board of Education will be Tuesday, July 25, at 5:15 p.m., with work session at 5 p.m.
