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PAGE 3A December 2023
Albertville BOE Removes Unnecessary E-Learning Days Albertville Schools
News and Announcements GERMAN APPLIANCE MAKER COMING TO ALABAMA - Miele, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium domestic appliances, has selected Opelika as the location for a U.S. manufacturing hub that will employ hundreds of workers. According to a press release from Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Miele is launching a long-term growth project that ultimately will create several hundred jobs and see the company build a major production facility serving multiple business units as its U.S. business expands. Initially, Miele plans to occupy an existing facility in Opelika to jump start production of appliances, creating over 150 jobs by 2026. In Phase II of the growth project, Miele plans to build a large facility that will serve as the company’s major U.S. production center, creating an additional workforce by 2030. Miele is the world’s leading manufacturer of premium domestic appliances including cooking, baking and steam-cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and laundry and floor care products. SPRING REGISTRATION - Registration at Gadsden State Community College for the upcoming spring semester is ongoing through Jan. 12. Classes begin Jan. 8 for the full spring semester and spring mini 1 term. Classes begin March 1 for the spring mini 2 term. Visit www.gadsdenstate.edu and click on the link to “ONEACCS” at the top of the page to begin the registration process. To be admitted, go to gadsdenstate.edu/apply. For more info regarding admission or registration, email admissions@gadsdenstate.edu. Also Gadsden State Community College is extending its Buy One Get One Free Scholarship program to the Spring Semester for members of the Chambers of Commerce in Calhoun, Cherokee and Etowah counties. ELECTION DATES SET FOR SENATE DISTRICT 9 - Governor Kay Ivey has set special election dates for Alabama Senate District 9. This seat was previously held by Clay Scofield, who resigned on October 30, 2023. The special primary election is set for Tuesday, January 9, 2024. The special primary runoff, if necessary, is set for Tuesday, February 6, 2024. The special general election will be on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Senate District 9 represents portions of Blount, Madison and Marshall Counties. EAGLE AWARENESS WEEKEND - America’s national symbol, the bald eagle, will be celebrated in January and February when Lake Guntersville State Park hosts the annual Eagle Awareness Weekends, giving wildlife enthusiasts a chance to learn more about the magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. The popular Friday through Sunday event attracts people of all ages from all over the United States who come here to spend a winter getaway in one of Alabama’s most popular state parks immersed in nature-based learning. In 2024, Eagle Awareness will be held every weekend from January 19 through February 4. The 2024 dates are Jan. 19-21, Jan. 26-28 and Feb. 2-4. Activities get underway at 5:30 p.m. Friday, with activities throughout the day on Saturday and wraps up Sunday following the 9 a.m. guided field trips. Sessions typically fill up quickly and participants are encouraged to reserve a weekend by calling 256-571-5440 for lodge reservations or 256-571-5455 for campground reservations. Lodging packages start at $348 and include lodging, two breakfasts, one dinner, a welcome packet, VIP access to presentations, discounts at the restaurant and gift shop, photo opportunities with birds of prey, activities for children, engagement with featured sponsors and one-on-one access with the naturalists. Day passes will be sold first come, first serve each Saturday morning of Eagle Awareness Weekends. These will include the guided tours to the eagle nests and live bird programs only. A day pass is $25/adult and $10/child under 12 years old. For a complete list of scheduled events, speakers and lodging packages, visit https://www.alapark.com/EagleAwarenessWeekends. US POVERTY RATE - The U.S. official poverty rate as measured by the American Community Survey (ACS), was 12.6% in 2022 but the rate was significantly different for the nation’s oldest and youngest populations, according to a recent Census Bureau report. The ACS shows that in 2022 the child (people under age 18) poverty rate was 16.3%, 3.7 percentage points higher than the overall rate. But the poverty rate among those age 65 and over was 10.9%, 1.6 percentage points lower than the overall rate. The poverty rate for those ages 18 to 64 was 11.7%. Although lower than the child poverty rate, the poverty rate of those 65 and older rose 0.7 percentage points while the child poverty rate decreased by 0.7 percentage points from 2021 to 2022 — the first time since 2018 the rates changed in opposite directions. Twice before (2009 and 2010), the reverse happened; that is, child poverty went up and poverty among those age 65 and over went down. MORE EVENING COURSES - Gadsden State Community College is offering more flexibility for students in Cherokee County and the surrounding area by offering evening classes on its campus in Centre. The new evening course offerings will be available in the spring semester, which will begin Jan. 8. Spring registration is currently open at gadsdenstate.edu/register. “These classes are available to our current students and dual enrollment students,” she said. “All of the credits earned in these classes will go towards a student’s credential at Gadsden State or it will seamlessly transfer to a four-year university for students.” Some of the evening classes include: English Composition II, Microcomputer Applications, Precalculus Algebra, Fundamentals of Oral Communication, Human Anatomy and Physiology II, and U.S. History II The courses are also offered during the day. Other daytime academic courses offered at Gadsden State Cherokee are General Microbiology, Introduction to Humanities, Intermediate College Algebra, Orientation to College, General Psychology and Human Growth and Development. Programs that can be completed at Gadsden State Cherokee are Nursing and the Poultry Science 2+2 Program with Auburn University. Students living in the following bordering counties in Georgia are eligible for instate tuition at Gadsden State Cherokee: Floyd, Chattooga, Polk, Carroll, Heard and Paulding. For more info visit www.gadsdenstate.edu/cherokee. PLANE CRASH - A plane crash occurred at approximately 11:57 a.m. Monday, December 4, 2023 in Limestone County near Elkmont. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was notified and Alabama State Troopers were also assisting to securing the scene at the time of the press release. Nothing further is available as the investigation is ongoing.
and expenditures totaled $6,186,360.60. The BOE approved fundraising requests and a surplus sports medicine sideline cart to be sold to Arab City Schools. Additionally, a surplus of 150 retired Aggie Band uniforms will be placed on Gov Deals at a minimum bid of $10,000. An out of state field trip for Albertville Elementary third grade students was approved at the meeting. Students will be going to the Tennessee Aquarium in February. Additionally, the board members approved the deletion of the Use of Board Facilities Manual Policy. An updated version will be added as a procedure. The following personnel actions were approved at the November meeting. • Nancy Satterfield, a teacher at AMS, is on a medical leave of absence due to an on the job injury. This is effective from Oct. 4, 2023 - Dec. 27, 2023. • Walter Van Sims is retiring as an ACS bus driver, effective January 1, 2024. • Natasha Calhoun is resigning as a 12-month bookkeeper at APS, effective November 3. • Danett Taylor is resigning as a 12-month human resources clerk at the CO, effective November 21, 2023. • Zoraima Padilla is transferring from 10-month attendance/ enrollment secretary to 12-month enrollment office receptionist/secretary (new position) at ACS, effective December. 1. • Tammy Patterson is transferring from 10-month bookkeeper at AKPK to 12-month human resources clerk at the CO, effective November 29, 2023. • Martha Miguel Juan will be a 12-month enrollment office receptionist/secretary (new position), effective January 3, 2024. • Amanda Walker will be an elementary teacher at AES (class reduction unit, new position), effective December 11, 2023. • Ashlee Mahan, 12-month bookkeeper at AKPK, is replacing Tammy Patterson, effective January 3, 2024. • Autumn Fox will be a softball assistant at AMS, replacing Erika Amos, effective November 29, 2023. • Carin Johnson has been given temporary assignment of curriculum duties of the retiring curriculum director. She will to be paid $6,000, effective January 1 to June 30, 2024. • Kristi Rains has been given temporary assignment of curriculum duties of the retiring curriculum director. She will be paid $6,000, effective January 1, to June 30, 2024. • Donna Tabor will work the after-school program three days per week for 1.5 hours per day, to be paid $45 per hour by ARP ESSER State Reserve
Funds, effective November 2, 2023 - May 23, 2024. • Nancy Satterfield, requested sick leave be reinstated from October 4, 2023 - November 3, 2023, due to an injury on the job. • Jimmy Umphrey will receive a supplement of $7,700 to perform additional duties for transportation for the after-school program during the 2023-2024 school year. • Justin Price will be a tennis assistant at AHS, to be paid $2,000 by tennis boosters, effective Nov. 29, 2023 - May 31, 2024. • Brittanee Johnson will manage the concession stand for the Marshall County Basketball Tournament and will be paid $1,000 by AHS basketball, effective January 13-20 2024. Timothy Duckett will serve as a trainer and assist with health classes. He is not to exceed 28 hours per week and the pay will not exceed $36,000, effective January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024. • Jonathan Bright will provide services as a boys basketball assistant at AHS, to be paid and not to exceed $3,000 by the BOE, effective November 29, 2023 - February 14, 2024. • Jordan Younghouse will provide services as tennis assistant at AHS, to be paid and not to exceed $2,000 by tennis boosters, effective January 8, 2024 - May 31, 2024. • Richard Smith, Jr., will provide services as a public announcer for the Marshall County Basketball Tournament, to be paid and not to exceed $300 by AHS basketball, effective January 15-20, 2024. • Mike Gentry will provide services as the official scorebook keeper for the Marshall County Basketball Tournament, to be paid and not to exceed $300 by AHS basketball, effective January 15-20, 2024. • Timothy Henderson will provide services as a DJ for the winter dance at AMS, to be paid and not to exceed $300 by AMS, effective December 1, 2023. • Tyler Peek, Daniel Pall and Mary Fletcher will provide services as accompanists for VocalPoint band for the 2024 competition show, to be paid and not to exceed $1,800 each by VocalPoint, effective January 1, 2024 - May 20, 2024. • Kenneth Stewart will provide services as band organizer and logistics coordinator for the 2024 competition show, to be paid and not to exceed $1,000 each by VocalPoint, effective January 1, 2024 - May 20, 2024. • Wendell Smith will provide services as a piano tuner for the AHS band, to be paid and not to exceed $500 by AHS, effective November 29, 2023 - May 30, 2024. • William Griswold will provide services as a clinician for the AHS A Capella Ensemble and VocalEase, to be paid and not to exceed $900 by AHS, effective January 1, 2024 - February 29, 2024. • Hersel Cremeans will provide services as a judge for the Diamond Classic, to be paid and not to exceed $1,400 by AHS, effective February 1-5, 2024. The next regular monthly Albertville City School Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 12.
Superintendent Dr. Bart Reeves announced at the November 2023 school board meeting that the system will soon complete its academic calendar for the next two years. The calendar committee, which includes representatives from each school and the central office, is in the final stages of creating two proposed calendars for the 2024- 2025 and 2025-2026 school years. All employees of Albertville City Schools will vote on the calendars prior to Christmas break. The calendars chosen will then be presented at the Jan. 16 board meeting for approval. Once approved, the calendars will be posted to the system website and on social media. To maximize student days, a decision was made to remove E-Learning days from the calendars. Dr. Reeves reminded the board that E-Learning days could still be necessary for state assessments due to state monitoring requirements, school building capacity and coordination. Dr. Reeves also announced at the meeting that Albertville will be moving away from the staggered start approach when school starts back in August 2024 for all schools except for Albertville Kindergarten and Pre-K. Reeves said doing so is to place emphasis on protecting instructional time and to maximize the number of student days. The board voted to change the date of an E-Learning Day originally scheduled in March for some students at Albertville High School. Originally slated for March 12, juniors at Albertville High School will now take the ACT on April 9. Per the Alabama State Department of Education Student Assessment Department, the date was changed due to Albertville’s spring break falling in the middle of ACT accommodations and the makeup window. April 9 will now be an E-Learning Day for freshmen, sophomores, and seniors. All students will attend school on March 12. Additionally the board approved the financials and reconciliations for September. The beginning fund balance for September was $47,511,235.04. The ending fund balance was $54,472,269.49. The general fund balance was $19,403,184.51. Revenue for the month totaled $9,832,883.02, and expenditures totaled $11,069,872.38. They also approved the financials and reconciliations for October. The beginning fund balance for October was $54,472,269.49. The ending fund balance was $53,404,589.95. The general fund balance was $18,711,824.30. Revenue for the month totaled $5,122,991.70,
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