Story By John Mann
The Marshall County Board of Education met for their first November meeting last Thursday, where they named a new board president and vice-president. On a unanimous vote Mark Rains has taken over as board president, with Terry Kennemer moving into the role of vice president.
After approving the minutes from meetings that took place on September 26, September 30 and October 9 Superintendent Dr. Cindy Wigley recognized the board for several Alabama Association of School Board achievements, which included a team training award.
“Congratulations to our Marshall County School Board of Education for demonstrating a commitment to excellence in education through boardman ship training,” Wigley said. “The Marshall County Board of Education was the only board in our district (District 9) to receive this award.”
Wigley also noted that the board had received a notification from the Alabama State Department of Education, noting that the Special Education department has met all federal and state requirements as defined by the State Performance Report. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Annie Spike was in attendance at the meeting to give her thoughts.
“I wish I could take credit for that but this is solely our teachers,” Spike said. “It’s getting evaluations completely time wise, not having errors on IEP, all the things Special Education and you have to meet it one hundred percent and they did. They did a great job and I’m so proud of them. We’re blessed in Marshall county to have a tremendous staff.”
The board would go on to approve several action items for the remainder of the meeting. A contract agreement was approved with Double Duty commercial cleaning through September 30, as well as five supplements for Douglas High School. Two will go toward band duties and will be funded by the Band Boosters with the remaining three going towards football coaching duties, funded by the Quarterback Club.
Additional duties were approved for SRO Sierra Bishop, as well as for five KDS-DAR faculty for the Extended Day program at the elementary and primary school. There were three transfers approved during the meeting, CNP Worker Ilene Swinney will be moving from DAR Middle to Brindlee Mountain Elementary effective November 7, Lora Hanson will move from Douglas High School Registrar to Brindlee Mountain Primary Counselor pending certification effective December 8 and LeAnn Willson will move from Douglas Elementary teacher to Douglas Elementary Special Education teacher effective December 1.
Finally, the board approved six new hires in the school system. Two CNP Workers for Douglas High School and KDS-DAR High School effective November 7, Meridith Short as the new Band Director at Brindlee Mountain High School effective January 2, Gracie Hunter as a teacher at KDS-DAR Primary effective December 8, an instructional assistant at Brindlee Elementary effective (pending WorkKeys) on November 7 and Virginia Francisco Mesino as an EL Auxiliary Teacher for Sloman Primary effective November 7.
The next meeting of the Marshall County Board of Education will take place on November 20, with another meeting on December 18. Both meetings will begin at 4 pm at the Board of Education building located at 12380 US-431 in Guntersville.
