The Franklin County Board of Education elected Terry Welborn as board president and Kacey Johnston as vice-president for the next year at the board's November 19th meeting.
Additionally, Johnston and Superintendent of Education Greg Hamilton were sworn-in prior by Franklin County Circuit Judge Brian Hamilton before Tuesday's meeting.
Hamilton expressed his appreciation to Franklin County citizens for the tremendous support they gave Amendment One on the November 5, 2024, general election ballot. The amendment passed overwhelmingly, allowing Franklin County Schools to move forward with the sale or lease of Section 16 lands the school system owns in Walker and Fayette Counties. The land is located at the intersection of I-22 and AL-13, the primary corridor from the Shoals area to Tuscaloosa.
“I want to thank everyone who supported Amendment One and we're excited about what we see happening in the future with this revenue from our Section 16 land,” Hamilton said. “I appreciate the support locally and statewide as well. I'm excited about a revenue stream never seen before for a rural school system.”
Rep. Jamie Kiel attended the November 19th meeting and presented the board with a grant for $71,686, representing supplemental funds from the Education Trust Fund. This year was one where more money was taken in than was budgeted for education, so the result was legislators had discretionary funds to be distributed for educational purposes.
Kiel allocated more than $71,600 for Franklin County Schools as it is the largest school system entirely in his House District 18.
In other agenda items, the board:
--approved setting board members' monthly salaries at $850, as mandated by the Alabama Legislature's Act 331, which requires boards of education to set salaries that will take effect when the next board member comes into office, which will be 2026. The increase to $850/month, less than the maximum $900/month compensation set by the state, is the first for the Franklin County BOE in more than 17 years, Hamilton said.
--received recognition from Hamilton for each board member completing all required training hours for the 2023-24 academic year.
--approved compensation of $1,500 to Emily Taylor, yearbook sponsor at Red Bay High School, for yearbook supplement for the 2024-25 school year, with RBHS to reimburse the board for the $1,500 plus applicable benefits.
--approved out-of-state trips including Red Bay boys' basketball to Baldwyn, Miss., on December 7, Dyersburg, Tenn., December 20-21, and girls' and boys' basketball to Belmont, Miss., December 10, RBHS seniors to Toyota Experience Center, Blue Springs, Miss., January 29, 2025 and Belgreen High School softball to Belmont, Miss., on March 3, 2025.
--approved personnel moves including: Resignation for Patricia Nix, special education aide, PCES and Kamri Fleming, head volleyball coach, Tharptown High School. Retirement for Delores Hester, bus driver, Vina. Transfer for Dollie King, from special education aide at Belgreen to Pre-K special education teacher at Belgreen, Keslie Scott, from elementary teacher at Tharptown to library media specialist at PCES. FMLA leave for Drenda Holland, child nutrition assistant, Belgreen High School, September 16, 2024 through December 19, 2024. Personal Leave of Absence for Teresa Simmons, child nutrition assistant, Belgreen, with return September 30, 2024. Teacher substitutes including Teresa Murner Miller, Emma Whitfield, Alexandra Greer, William Bonner, Sabryna Conner, Jeramy Sibley, Bryan Ramirez and Sarah Mosley. Superintendent's contract for Greg Hamilton and volunteers Andrew Heath, rocketry, THS, and Kristy Vandiver and Tyrone Lowry, volunteer assistant softball coaches at Belgreen.
