By Trent Moore

trentm@cullmantimes.com

Good Hope High School softball players should have some new facilities by the time spring softball gets started.

The Cullman County Board of Education approved maintenance department bids for plumbing, lighting, irrigation and sod at the new Good Hope High School softball field.

“We have the dugouts finished,” board member Jerry Schuman said. “We’re cutting up the ground to lay the ball field, and we’re starting on the concession stand.”

The board approved a $10,980 bid with Best Plumbing, LLC, for the Good Hope High School girls’ softball field plumbing; field lights for $38,000 with Musco Sports Lighting; lighting installation with Benton Georgia, Inc. for $25,000; and $34,904 for an irrigation system, sod and over seeding from Hand Landscaping Co.

“We’re hoping to have it finished by November,” Schuman said.

The board also:

‰ Recognized Jamie Akin, Carolyn Ashley, Harold Ashley, Jean Baker, Jeremy Barber, Jerry Bartlett, Greg Brown, Keith Brown, Robert Burgess, Michael Campbell, Lonnie Collier, Janet Davis, Tim Entrekin, Tim Eskew, Randall Etheredge, Nena Evans, Mike Floyd, Roland Gay, Susan Gay, Steve Hogland, Gaylon Johnson, Vol Jones, Tommy King, Fred Kugler, Doris Long, Dual Mayfield, Mary Mayfield, Rex Motes, Sibby Myers, Cindy Myrex, Randall Pearson, Debbie Reed, Joyce Rutledge, Okley Shelton, Joan Thomason, Bruce Whitlock and Paul Yarbrough for going “Above & Beyond the Call of Duty” during Hurricane Gustav.

‰ Held the second public budget hearing and approved the 2008-2009 system budget.

‰ Approved the minutes from the Aug. 19, 2008 meeting.

‰ Approved the resignations of: Chan Fowler, BBSST chairperson at Good Hope Middle School; Marty Hardman, golf coach at Fairview High School; Elaine Wren, boys basketball coach at Harmony School; Daniel A. McHan, head football coach at Fairview Middle School; Daniel A. McHan, social studies teacher at Fairview Middle School; Gordon D. Pigg, maintenance foreman at the bus shop; Robin Stanley, custodian at Good Hope High School.

‰ Approved the voluntary transfers of: Debbie Boyd, from ELL Teacher at Good Hope School and West Point School to ELL Teacher at West Point School; Deborah Peake, from assistant principal at C.A.R.E. to alternative program manager at C.A.R.E.; Betty Hauk, from counselor and 504 facilitator at the Child Development Center to counselor and facilitator at the Child Development/ Center and systemwide; Shelly Elrod, from special ed aide and LPN at Harmony to full-time LPN at Harmony School.

‰ Approved the appointments of William Dowdy, middle school science teacher at Harmony School; Jodi Leverett, sixth grade history teacher at Fairview Middle School; Julie Berry, ELL teacher at Good Hope School; Cody Isbell, yard worker at Cold Springs High School; Kelly Harbison, kindergarten teacher at Hanceville Elementary School; Kyle Seymore and Amy Speegle, night school administrator and night school teacher at the Career Center;

‰ Approved Parent Project employees, from Title IV (federal funds): Sandra Waters, coordinator; Deborah Peake, facilitator; Diane Barnett, facilitator; Faith Whitlock, facilitator; Robert Whitlock, facilitator; Amanda Knappenberger, teen facilitator; Karen Rowell, teen facilitator; Jennifer Mead, teacher and tutor; Gary Reid, teacher and tutor aide.