The Franklin County Board of Education received a progress report on a number of repairs and renovations at several county schools at the board's April 23rd meeting.
Superintendent of Education Greg Hamilton told board members repairs at Phil Campbell High School from flood damage early this year were now complete and they are in the process of finalizing payment.
The school gym received extensive damage when the sprinkler system lines broke during the January 2024 ice storm. This resulted in the entire gym being flooded, including the concession stand, lobby, gym and a portion of the band room and library.
“They turned this around very quickly. It was a terrible mess and two-and-a-half months later, they've basically rebuilt the entire gym,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton said a roofing project at Vina High School was progressing on schedule. This involves reroofing the outdoor facility and batting facility that were damaged by serious storms. The school's outdoor classroom is also getting a new roof and it should be installed by month's end.
East Franklin Junior High School's gym project is underway and Hamilton said he hopes it will be completed by August 12th.
In other agenda items, the board:
--approved an agreement with the University of North Alabama to collaboratively participate in the development, implementation and assessment of teacher education for teacher candidates, as well as to increase P-12 student assessment.
--approved resurfacing the softball fields at Vina High School, Belgreen High School and Tharptown High School with artificial turf. The projet will be paid for using PSCA leveraged Capital Outlay Funds, so there will be no out-of-pocket cost to the system.
--approved compensation agreements for Ashley Grimes (Phil Campbell Elementary) and Ariel Lawhead (Phil Campbell High School) to serve as yearbook sponsors. Each teacher will receive $500, to be reimbursed by the schools to the Franklin County Board of Education, along with applicable benefits.
--approved an out-of-state trip for the Tharptown High School Rocketry team to travel to Washington, D.C., from May 16-20, for the American Rocketry Challenge.
--awarded the bid for internal connections to Clearwinds for $73,896.24, contingent on E-rate funding.
--awarded the bid for SAN (Storage Array Network) to Intra-Core for $103,533, to be paid 40% by insurance (Risk Management) and the rest from the system's Technology Fund.
--approved the following personnel moves:
--Resignation: Karen Gilbert, part-time math teacher, PCHS, effective May 30th and Stacia Vandiver, Child Nutrition Program Assistant, Tharptown, effective April 1, 2024.
--Retirement: Sherri Stancil, Reading Specialist, PCHS and Charlotte Thomas, Child Nutrition Program Assistant, EFJH, effective June 1, 2024.
--Rescinded the board's action of approving retirement for Edwin Crane, bus driver.
--Employment: Brady Ramey, head girls' varsity basketball coach, Red Bay High School.
--Transfers: Ashley Palmer, from Special Education Aide at TES to Pre-K Auxiliary Teacher at TES.
--New Teacher Substitutes: Skyler Madden, Tracy Pace.
The next regular meeting of the Franklin County BOE will be May 21, 2024, with work session at 4 p.m., and meeting to follow.
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