School board meeting
The Hoover School Board met on Monday, May 14. All members were present except Tom Defnall.
Gary Bond, a parent, spoke to the board in support of Hoover High wrestling Coach Campbell. Mr. Bond was accompanied by Hoover wrestlers and their parents. Mr. Bond detailed the contribution to the sport that Coach Campbell has made. He told the board about the positive influence the coach has on the wrestlers, and how much potential the sport has in Hoover. He appealed to the board to hire Coach Campbell as a physical education teacher so that he may continue the work he has begun with the program. Mr. Bond said that wrestling deserves a teacher position, rather than a football or soccer coach who also coaches wrestling.
There was a presentation by the Provost of UAB and the head of the Accounting Department. UAB is entering into a dual enrollment program with Hoover High School. In the 2008-2009 school year, Principals of Accounting and Business Law will be offered to Hoover seniors in the Finance Academy. This will be taught at HHS by UAB professors for high school and college credit. In the spring of that year, Principals of Microeconomics and Quantitative Methods will be offered. UAB is very excited about the opportunity to participate with Hoover in this program. It is a good opportunity to identify talented students early.
The following personnel actions were approved by the board:
New Hires (certified):
8th grade language arts teacher Bumpus (new position)
8th grade language arts teacher Simmons (replacement)
4th grade teacher SSCES (replacement)
7th grade language arts teacher Berry (one year replacement)
Science teacher SPHS (replacement)
3rd grade teacher BPES (new position)
1st grade teacher RES (one year replacement) Science teacher HHS (replacement)
Science teacher SPHS (new position)
4th grade teacher SSCES (replacement)
Kindergarten teacher RES (replacement)
Art teacher DVES/SSCES (new position)
English teacher HHS (replacement)
Science teacher SPHS (replacement)
5th grade teacher RRES (new position)
Math teacher SPHS (new position)
Intensive supervision HHS (replacement)
7th grade math teacher Simmons (replacement)
8th grade science teacher Berry (replacement)
Kindergarten teacher SMES (replacement)
7th grade Social Studies teacher Berry (replacement)
Kindergarten teacher GVES (new position)
2nd grade teacher GVES (replacement)
3rd grade teacher RES (returning from leave)
Kindergarten teacher SSCES (replacement)
Business Ed. teacher HHS (replacement)
Instructional support teacher SSCES (returning from leave)
Social Studies teacher SPHS (new position)
3rd grade teacher RRES (replacement)
3rd grade teacher SSCES (replacement)
5th grade teacher RES (reappointment)
English teacher SPHS (new position)
Math teacher SPHS (replacement)
3rd grade teacher RRES (new position)
Social Studies teacher HHS (replacement)
Science teacher SPHS (new position)
Counselor SPHS (new position)
Instructional support teacher TCES (replacement)
Transfers:
There are many transfers of teacher moving from grade to grade within the same school, and a few moving to different schools. I won't list them all here.
Kathy Paiml, former 2nd grade teacher at Trace Crossings Elementary, will transfer to Assistant Principal at Green Valley Elementary, replacing Jonathan Ellis.
Resignations:
Social Studies teacher HHS
Art teacher Consultant
Counselor Bumpus (retirement)
Family and Consumer Science teacher HHS
Math teacher SPHS
Media Specialist SPHS (retirement)
3rd grade teacher RES (retirement)
Assistant Principal GVES
Media Specialist Bumpus
3rd grade teacher RES (retirement)
Speech Pathologist TCES
3rd grade teacher RES
1st grade teacher SMES
Science teacher SPHS
Reading Coach TCES
Science teacher Berry
Nurse RRES (retirement)
Nurse SSCES
Librarian TCES (retirement)
English teacher HHS (retirement)
7th grade math teacher Bumpus
4th grade teacher RRES
Science teacher SPHS
Language Arts teacher Bumpus (retirement)
Business Actions:
The board approved the financial statements for March, the cash disbursements for April in the amount of $3,247,614.65, and payroll for April in the amount of $5,801,654.53.
The Board approved a memorandum of understanding between the Hoover Police Department and the Hoover City Schools to name Mo Canady Security Director for Hoover City Schools.
The board approved an engagement letter for auditors to audit the books of the PTO/PTA groups associated with Hoover City Schools.
Bids:
Bids were approved for Weight training equipment at the Freshman Center in the amount of $95,280.60, painting at SSCES, BPES, Greystone, and SPHS, and graphing calculators for 7th and 8th grade math at Bumpus and Berry in the amount of $31,292.95. (I did not write down the amount of the painting bid, but it was the lowest by a large amount.)
The Board approved funding for the National Academy Foundation Agreement for the new Technology Academy at Hoover High.
The recommendations of the ad hoc textbook committee were approved.
The proposed policy regarding random drug testing of students holding parking permits at the two high schools was tabled until the next board meeting.
A contract for occupational therapy services for certain special education students was approved.
Under new business, Mrs. Baker raised the issue of heat buildup on the new artificial turf football fields. She stated that the students on the field at Spain Park last Friday experienced extreme heat. She asked about the water cannons that will be used to wet the fields down prior to use to control the heat. Mr. McBay said that the water lines are connected, but that some work still needs to be done to make the water cannons fully operable.
Mr. Craig reported to the board that 706 Hoover City School students will be attending a clinic presented by Dennis Walters at the Regions tournament on Tuesday.
The board members were given a legislative tracking report that summarized proposed legislation affecting education.
The board's attorney, Mr. Sweeney, gave the board a draft copy of a property contribution agreement dealing with a piece of land in Ross Bridge. This land was set aside by the developer in an agreement with the city of Hoover when the land was annexed into the city. The school system will have the opportunity to use this land for a new elementary school. The land in on Ross Bridge Parkway, just past the information center, about 2.5 miles from Deer Valley Elementary. The agreement includes a reversion provision that will allow the property to revert to the developer after a certain time (possibly ten years) if the school system does not build a school there.
The board asked about enrollment at Deer Valley. Mr. McBay stated that there are approximately 780 students there, with a capacity of 900. At the current time, new development in Ross Bridge is producing 1 child for every 8 houses built. That is not producing enough students right now to justify building an elementary school, but the ration could go down in the future.
The school board elected officers for the coming year. They are: Donna Frazier, President, Suzy Baker, Vice-President, and Andy Craig, Secretary. Mr. Veitch passed the gavel to Mrs. Frazier and she presided over the rest of the meeting.
There will be a called board meeting on Monday, May 21 at 5:00 p.m. The next regular board meeting will be the work session on June 7, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. and meeting on June 11, at 5:30 p.m.
Any thoughts as to why they are holding a called board meeting on the 21st - just one week after this one???
Seems strange.
Posted by: BP | May 18, 2007 at 01:47 PM
I think mainly it is because there is so much hiring going on at this time of the year.
There also may be something happening about the proposed changes to the discipline policy, and the proposed drug testing of students with parking permits, but I'm not sure. The agenda is not out yet.
Posted by: LizW | May 18, 2007 at 07:27 PM