A LABAMA L EDGER
PAGE 2 www.AlabamaLedger.com
JULY 2023
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has announced that the state will receive $1.4 billion from the U.S. Department of Commerce to boost ongoing efforts to expand broadband. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has released the state allocations from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, which oversees state broadband initiatives, will be the administering agency for the grant funds. “My priority is for Alabama to gain full ability to be connected to high-speed internet,” said Governor Ivey. “We have taken several significant strides toward this goal, and today’s announcement provides a tremendous boost in the journey toward full broadband access no matter where you live in Alabama.” States receiving the funds have 180 days to prepare and submit plans to the NTIA for use of the funds. ADECA’s Alabama Digital Expansion Division will complete Alabama’s required proposal. The division is also managing funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund for grant programs to help internet service providers extend service to previously unserved or underserved areas. “Thanks to the leadership of Governor Ivey and a strong team effort among the Legislature, internet service providers and many others, Alabama is continuing to make great progress in broadband mapping, planning and deployment,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “These efforts have put us in good position with the BEAD program to accelerate our work to close the digital divide in Alabama," added Boswell Since 2018, Alabama has invested $88.6 million of state dollars through grant awards supporting 109 projects through the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund. According to officials, once all Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund projects awarded to date have been completed, access to broadband service will be available to more than 82,000 Alabama households, businesses and community institutions that currently have no option to subscribe. The agency has also developed a statewide broadband map and the Alabama Connectivity Plan, which guide the state’s expansion efforts into unserved areas. In September 2022, Governor Ivey announced a grant to support broadband “middle-mile” network infrastructure to improve access for last-mile projects. In May, ADECA completed community broadband meetings in each of Alabama’s 67 counties. Alabama set to receive 1.4 billion to expand access to broadband
The Albertville Board of Education approved several personnel changes during July 2023 meeting. This includes Retirements/Resignations for five individuals. These include: 1. Makita Jones, speech language pathologist at AKPK, effective June 27. 2. Kassadi Cotton, kindergarten teacher at AKPK, effective June 28. Albertville BOE approves several items at July board meeting The board also approved the resignation of Independent Contractor Billy Pollard, who is resigning from providing support for the attendance officer and student registration address verifications, effective July 31. Additionally, Stacey Turner has resigned from AggieVision at AHS, effective July 10. The following transfers were approved and Effective as of Aug. 1, 2023. 1. Emily Huntington, Jade Townsend, Donna Tabor, Pamela Fortner, Misty Brogdon, and Dana Sanders, 182-day system-wide LPNs to 187-day systemwide LPNs. 2. Cole Bowling, migrant graduation specialist at AHS to ELL teacher at AHS. 3. Anthony Knight, CNP worker at AIS to CNP assistant manager at AES. 4. Jodi McClendon, elementary teacher at AES to ELL teacher at AIS. 5. Caitlin Smith, elementary teacher at AES to kindergarten teacher at AKPK. The board also approved the following Employments (Effective Aug. 1) 5. Kara Garmany, elementary teacher at AES. 6. Shannon Graves, elementary teacher at AES. 7. Justin Price, social studies teacher at AMS. 8. Brileigh Noles, elementary teacher at AIS. 9. Torre Aaron, secondary education teacher at AHS. 10. Krystal Mayo, CNP worker at AIS. The following Supplement Assignments were approved and effective as of Aug. 1 1. Ashby Frazier, leadership team at AHS. 2. Billy Dunn, AggieVision at AHS. 3. Torre Aaron, head varsity softball coach at AHS. 4. Courtney Hallford, leadership team at AES. 5. Aimee Jung, leadership team at AES. 6. Kassadie Bailey, assistant auxiliary band at AHS. 1. Kristen Brown, elementary teacher at APS. 2. Elizabeth Webb, elementary teacher at APS. 3. Kriscenda Aaron, business education teacher at AHS. 4. Maegan Bell, CNP worker at AES. In other business Alexandra Mullinax (APS), Courtney Young (AES), Makenzi Golden (AHS), Jesse Hemphill (AHS), Pamela Ancelet (AMS), Kimberly Ables (AKPK) were approved to be paid $10 for 30 minutes for the early morning bridge program for ACS employees, effective Aug. 8, 2023 – May 23, 2024. Meredith Moore (AKPK), Nancy Greer (AKPK), Melia Minor (AKPK) were approved to be paid $20 for one hour for the afternoon bridge program for ACS employees, effective Aug. 8, 2023 – May 23, 2024. Cathy Ballentine was approved as a federal program liaison at AES, and will be paid $2,5000 with Title V funds, effective Aug. 1. Megan Law as named an assistant softball coach at AHS, to be paid $3,000 by the softball boosters, effective July 19, 2023 – May 31, 2024. Cole Bowling was approved as a summer migrant program teacher. He will be paid at his daily rate by migrant funds, effective July 26. Brian Harris and Monica Roesner were approved to hold a daily math lab at AHS and will be paid $20 for one hour from Title I funds, effective Aug. 8, 2023 – May 23, 2024. The following Independent Contracts were approved. 1. Teresa Andres, girls assistant soccer coach at AHS, to be paid and not to exceed $2,000 by the BOE, effective June 18, 2023 – May 31, 2024. 2. Matthew Endres, clinic work with Censations/Center Stage, to be paid and not to exceed $1,500 by AHS, effective Jan. 2 – Jan. 31, 2024. 3. Megan Rudolph and Rebecca Walker, judges for the Diamond Classic Show Choir Competition, to be paid and not to exceed $1,000 by AHS, effective Feb. 1 – Feb. 5, 2024. 4. Kenneth Stewart, show choir services, to be paid and not to exceed $2,000 by AHS, effective Aug. 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024. 5. Larry Davis, show choir services, to be paid and not to exceed $2,500 by AHS, effective Aug. 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024. 6. Karen Fancher, show choir services, to be paid and not to exceed $3,500 by AHS, effective Aug. 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024. 3. Scarlett Hyman, elementary teacher at AIS, effective July 14. 4. Lisa Williams, 9-month counselor at AES, effective July 13. 5. Karlee Mashburn, elementary teacher at APS, effective July 14. 7. Jacob Tyler May, public service announcing services for football and basketball, and to build/manage LED advertising graphics for the football boosters, to be paid and not to exceed $7,500 from football and basketball funds, effective July 19, 2023 – March 1, 2024. 8. Leia Shaver, assistant cheer coach at AMS, to be paid and not to exceed $1,000 by the BOE, effective Aug. 1, 2023 – Feb. 1, 2024. The Board also voted to continue their membership with the Alabama Association of School Boards for the 2023-2024 school year for the amount of $15,424. The following professional service contracts were approved and all of these contracts will be paid with IDEA funds. 1. Agreement with Dr. William Ford, a clinical psychologist, and ACS to provide our system with required observations and/or evaluations that are necessary to determine whether a student has an Autism Spectrum Disorder and provide feedback to the teachers and admin on methods being used in the classroom with these students. The rate of pay will be $1,550 and should not exceed $15,500. 2. Agreement with North Alabama Occupational Therapy, LLC and ACS, to provide contractual occupational therapy services beginning October 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2024. Charges during this period will not exceed a total of $115,100. 3. Agreement with Twin Acres Physical Therapy and ACS to provide skilled pediatric physical therapy services to identified students requiring intervention. The amount of the contract shall not exceed $32,000. 4. Agreement with WISE (Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education) and ACS to provide Auditory Verbal Therapy and Educational Audiology services to identified students. Auditory Verbal Therapy services will not exceed $7,000 and Educational Audiology services will not exceed $10,000. The Board also approved several FY23 and FY24 fundraising requests. They include: • The low bid of $42,532 by Flowers Baking Co., for the bread bid #23-07. • An out of state field trip for the AHS choral department to travel to Tift County High School in Georgia on March 9-10, 2024, to compete in the Peach State Invitational. • The minutes from June 27 meeting, fundraising revenue for June, the listing of inventory to be recycled and deleted, and the job description for a migrant auxiliary teacher. • Interim Superintendent Todd Watkins to apply for federal funds for ACS. • A FY24 salary schedule revision to reflect the addition of an assistant band director, the state-required $15 per hour minimum, and the AggieVision supplement. In his superintendent’s report, Mr. Watkins informed the board that all schools have now turned in their updated student handbooks, and that in-service is being held at individual schools this year. He also spoke about a mentor program for new teachers at ACS. He also announced that virtual school applications are now being accepted. The deadline to apply is Aug. 4. Orientation and staggered start schedules are also available at albertk12.org.
IT'S TIME TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL It's almost August and time for students and teachers to return to school for the 2023-24 academic year. The following is a list of start times for area school systems: Aug 3 - Calhoun County Aug 4 - Cornerstone Aug 4 - DeKalb County Aug 4 - Jackson County Aug 7 - Fort Payne City Aug 8 - Albertville City Aug 8 - Marshall County Aug 9 - Cherokee County Aug 9 - Guntersville City Aug 9 - Etowah County Aug 9 - Gadsden City S chool N otes - Scott Timmons has been named the new principal of Fort Payne High School. - Dr. Vohn Enloe has been named the new principal of Guntersville High School and Kortney Johnson will serve as the new principal at the Guntersville Middle School. - Heather Headrick is the new counselor at Valley Head High School. Mrs. Headrick is replacing former Valley Head counselor Brandy Dupree, who has been named the new K-4 Counselor at Plainview Elementary School in Rainsville.
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