City schools eyeing larger CHS renovation

CULLMAN, Apr 19, 2012 (The Cullman Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The proposed Cullman High School renovation will be much larger than expected, thanks to the passage of a countywide half-cent sales tax in March.

With the aging Cullman High School campus in need of repairs and expansion, the board was already planning a large-scale renovation to redesign the office and main classroom buildings. But, with the system expected to received approximately $750,000 annually from the new tax, the board has now increased the scope of the project.

Cullman City Schools Superintendent Dr. Jan Harris said the additional revenue gave the board a way to fund the expected bond debt for the full renovation project, not just the initial phases.

"Now that the sales tax has passed, we're looking to amend the scope of the project," Harris said. "We'll use all of that for capital improvements for our students." The project cost will increase from an estimated $7 million to $14.5 million, and include renovations to the auditorium, cafeteria, the old gymnasium and the J classroom building. The original plans include a new L-shaped building that will become the centerpiece of the campus, and replace the current offices and the A and B classroom buildings.

The plan is expected to drastically increase square footage, razing approximately 53,000-square-feet of usable space and replacing it with 86,000-square feet.

"Previously, without the half-cent tax, we felt we could afford to do approximately $7-$8 million at the high school, and put together alternates," Harris said. "We want to be conservative with our efforts, and because of the half-cent tax, our goal is to do the whole project at the high school and put that revenue toward the project." Though the scope is larger than originally planned, Harris said she believes the full project will put Cullman High School in a great position to remain one of the top schools in the state, and grow into a great feature for downtown.

"We want to go ahead and get all of that wrapped up, so the project is complete at the high school," she said. "When it's all said and done, we'll have a brand new high school for our deserving students, for almost half of what it would've cost to move to a new location and start over. We really wanted to preserve the sanctity of our location in the bosom of the City of Cullman." With work set to begin soon, the board also adopted a reimbursement resolution for the proposed renovations, which would allow the board to use general fund money until bond financing is secured, then pay back the general fund once the bond money is in place.

"That allows us to go back and reimburse the general fund for any qualified expenses we incur up to the point of securing financing," he said.

In other business, the board also: --Recognized: -- Harper Lafon, Cullman City Primary School, Visual Arts 1st Place Award Winner in the 2012 Alabama State Department of Education Superintendent's Visual Art Show.

-- Jillian Spann, Cullman City Primary School, Visual Arts 1st Place Award Winner in the 2012 Alabama State Department of Education Superintendent's Visual Art Show.

-- Jillian Spann, Sarah Flores, Caroline Sandlin and Laney Pettus: USA Gymnastics Alabama State Meet --Viewed a presentation from Brian Barksdale, CPA, Carr Riggs & Ingram, FY 2011 Audit Report.

--VIewed a presentation from Debbie Wright, Student Services Coordinator, Special Education State Monitoring Review.

--Approved March 20, 2012 minutes.

--Approved March 2012 payroll of $1,717,000.54, invoices paid of $245,030.69 and 2012 financial statements.

--Approved agenda.

--Granted permission to surplus/salvage band drum line equipment at Cullman High School.

--Granted permission to surplus/salvage basketball weight and conditioning equipment at Cullman High School.

--Granted permission to surplus/salvage the following items from the Technology Department: seven Dell desktop computers, two ELMO document cameras, five NEC projectors, ten CRT monitors, VOIP SPA942 telephone, 350 used M & A batteries and six boxes of old Dell CD-Roms.

--Granted permission to surplus/salvage eleven stainless steel paper towel/trash bin units which are no longer used.

--Granted permission to salvage a Head Start Savin GX3050N printer in disrepair.

--Approved the Head Start March 2012 Expenditures/Downloads -- $75,725.34.

--Approved the Head Start Health/Nutrition/Disabilities/Enrollment Report for March 2012.

--Approved revised Board Policy IHAAG/JFEDC Sequential English Requirement. This item was sent to the Policy Review Committee.

--Ratified bid #01-17-12-01 with Paper & Chemical Supply Company as the lowest, responsible bidder meeting specifications for system-wide janitorial supplies for the 2012-2013 school year --Approved the contract for HVAC architectural services from F & O Architects, LLC for the original and new gymnasiums at Cullman Middle School --Granted permission to open a new depository account at Traditions Bank to be used by the Child Nutrition Program.

--Granted permission to offer the option of one day leave per United Way drawing or honorarium equal to the cost of a substitute to the following United Way winners: David Benefield, Lucas McCollum, Amy Emmert, Sue Bouldin, Amanda Hicks, Dale Moody and Sharon Windham.

--Approved the four-day summer work schedule beginning June 4, 2012 through July 27, 2012.

--Granted permission to purchase system-wide hand soap, paper towels and bathroom tissue from the State Bid list.

--Approved the 2012-2013 Head Start calendar.

--Granted permission for the Cullman High School Textbook Committee to adopt the entire State Approved Textbook list for Mathematics Education.

--Granted permission for Cullman High School to conduct Summer School June 4-28, 2012 and July 9-August 2, 2012.

--Granted permission to bid #04-17-12-01 and accept the lowest responsible bidder meeting specifications for the 2012-2013 Child Nutrition Program Ice Cream services .

--Granted permission to contract with Fran Brown for ten days during the summer to prepare for the 2012-2013 Head Start school year (Funded by Head Start).

--Granted permission to contract with Judy Bentley for four days during the summer to prepare for the 2012-2013 Head Start school year (Funded by Head Start).

--Granted permission to contract with Branch Hill to provide lawn care services at the AMSTI house and the old technology house adjacent to Cullman Middle School beginning March 15, 2012 -- September 30, 2012.

--Granted permission to contract with Annette Barnett to provide Student Services clerical assistance beginning May 25, 2012 -- August 14, 2012 (Funded from Special Education).

--Granted permission to contract with Lori Andrews to provide Special Education summer services (Funded from IDEA).

--Granted permission to contract with Susan Evans to provide Special Education summer services (Funded from IDEA).

--Granted permission to contract with Cassity Campbell to provide Special Education summer services (Funded from IDEA).

--Granted permission to contract with Pam Parks to provide Special Education summer services (Funded from IDEA).

--Granted permission to contract with Kathryn Brandon to provide Special Education summer services (Funded from IDEA).

--Granted permission to contract with Sandi Dunlap to provide Special Education summer services (Funded from IDEA).

--Approved the resignation of Janet Benefield, temporary (to fill a leave of absence) teacher at Cullman Middle School, effective March 23, 2012.

--Approved retirements: -- Malinda Yarbrough, teacher at Cullman City Primary School, effective April 30, 2012.

-- Martha Sue Freeman, teacher at Cullman Middle School, effective June 1, 2012.

-- Nancy Spurgeon, teacher at Cullman Middle School, effective May 25, 2012.

-- Verna Hale, counselor at Cullman Middle School, effective June 1, 2012.

-- Karen (Shelly) Perry, teacher at Cullman High School, effective June 1, 2012.

-- Marie Apel, teacher at East Elementary School, effective June 1, 2012.

-- Rick Connell, teacher at Cullman High School, effective June 1, 2012.

-- Brenda Connell, teacher at Cullman City Primary School, effective June 1, 2012.

--Approved transfers: -- Kristen Gragg, voluntary transfer from science teacher to counselor at Cullman Middle School, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year (JV 12-017) --Approved leaves of absence: -- Sharon Kugler, Child Nutrition Program worker at West Elementary School, requests an unpaid leave of absence beginning April 3, 2012 through May 25, 2012.

-- Deborah Cummings, teacher at West Elementary School, requests unpaid leave on March 7, 2012, one day on March 8, 2012 and one day on March 9, 2012 -- Melanie Townson, instructional assistant at West Elementary School, requests unpaid leave.

-- Amy Farr, teacher at Cullman City Primary School, requests unpaid leave.

-- Julie Sellers, instructional assistant at Cullman High School, requests catastrophic sick leave.

-- Modifcation of employments: -- Letitia Lockhart, Extended Day at West Elementary School, a decrease in daily hours in Extended Day from 2.5 hours per day to 1.5 hours per day at her current rate of pay retroactive to March 1, 2012 when she was hired as an instructional assistant.

--Approved the termination of Bridget Threadgill, Extended Day at West Elementary School, effective April 17, 2012.

--Approved the employment of: -- Erica Rutherford, kindergarten teacher at Cullman City Primary School, beginning April 30, 2012 to complete the remainder of the 2011-2012 school year (JV 12-013).

-- Courtney Waters, English teacher at Cullman Middle School, beginning August 9, 2012, effective for the 2012-2013 school year (JV 12-016).

-- Kristen Walker, English teacher at Cullman Middle School (pending completion of teacher certification), beginning August 9, 2012, effective for the 2012-2013 school year (JV 12-012).

-- Caley Whittemore, English teacher at Cullman Middle School (pending completion of teacher certification), beginning August 9, 2012, effective for the 2012-2013 school year (JV 12-015).

-- Karen Perry, resignation of Robotics Team, effective June 1, 2012 --Announced the next regularly scheduled board meeting for Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at the Central Office.

--Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.

___ (c)2012 The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.) Visit The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.) at www.cullmantimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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