By Trent Moore
The Cullman Times
CULLMAN — With funds at a critical low, Cullman County Board of Education Superintendent Hank Allen said he is doing everything possible to cut costs — even becoming a car salesman.
The school board approved plans to sell eight surplus vehicles next month at a public aution, essentially eliminating the central office’s car pool surplus.
“We found we would be able to save a little money on upkeep and insurance for the vehicles,” Allen said. “It will help some in the long run.”
Six Ford Taurus cars, a GMC van and a 15-passenger Ford van will all be up for auction. The auction is tentatively set for Saturday, March 27, at the transportation shop on Old Hanceville Highway.
Central office employees are now being encouraged to use their own vehicles and file for a mileage reimbursement, which is set at approximately 30 cents per mile.
The move is estimated to save approximately $3,000 in the short term.
“We’re trying to cut everything we can to keep from cutting in the classroom,” he said.
Since the state education budget was prorated last year, the school board has trimmed transportation funds, the maintenance budget and personell in an effort to reduce spending to meet the decreased allocations.
With the economy still floundering, more cuts are likely as the year goes on.
The school board has scheduled a work shop for 6 p.m., Feb. 22, at the central office. Finances will likely be among the topics discussed.
Meeting dates have also been set for the coming months on March 11, April 20, May 10 and May 24.
Decisions regarding personell and other cuts will likely be made at the two meetings in May, around the time the 2009-2010 school year comes to an end.
It is currently unknown how many teachers will be cut, though current estimates call for at least a dozen — not including potential retirements.
In other business, the board:
Approved maintenance department bids, which will be paid for by insurance, for:
— Dowling Community Center re-roof to repair wind damage, for $5,300, by Bestway Construction.
— Battleground Community Center re-roof to repair wind damage, for $6,800, by Mark Perdue Contractor.
— Holly Pond High School band room re-roof to repair wind damage, for $4,480, by Garry Woods Roofing.
— Holly Pond junior varsity re-roof to repair wind damage, for $5,400, by Garry Woods Roofing.
‰ Recognized Cullman County Schools Jacksonville State Teacher Hall of Fame representatives and Alabama Teacher of the Year representative Rachel Harbison, Jacksonville State Teacher Hall of Fame Elementary Representative,
Garden City Elementary School; Patricia Laney, Jacksonville State Teacher Hall of Fame Secondary Representative and Alabama Teacher of the Year Secondary Representative, Hanceville Middle School.
‰ Recognized Cullman County Spelling Bee winners:
— Ryan Wallace, runner-up, eighth grade, of West Point Middle School
— Kane Smith, winner, fifth grade, of Fairview Elementary School. Kane will represent Cullman County at the State Spelling Bee on March 6th.
‰ Approved Jan. 19, 2010 minutes.
‰ Approved the resignation of Mitch Mechaw, part-time custodian at West Point Intermediate School.
‰ Approved a leave of absence for Marta Dollar, Harmony School teacher.
‰ Approved the temporary, part-time employment of Michael Parrott, ISS Instructor at West Point Middle and High Schools.
‰ Approved the appointment of Michael Hall, part-time custodian at West Point Intermediate School.
‰ Approved after school program substitute Bree Harbison, student aide.
‰ Approved a contract change for Angela Breann Baker, upgrade to Master’s degree.
‰ Approved a contract change for Donald Lynn, upgrade to Master’s degree.
‰ Approved a contract change for Nathan Ayers, add varsity football coach at Holly Pond High School, to replace Steve Miller.
‰ Approved a contract change for Brittany Sams, upgrade to Master’s degree.
‰ Approved an out-of-state field trip request from Parkside School for a Math & Science Day at Six Flags in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 30, 2010.
‰ Approved an out-of-state field trip request from Parkside School for a seventh grade group to travel to Atlanta, Georgia to tour the Aquarium, World of Coke & CNN on May 21, 2010.
‰ Approved November and December 2009 bills, salaries and financial statements.
‰ Approved a request from Fairview High School principal Stanley Burden for permission to pay Benny Guthrie, assistant principal, to facilitate the credit recovery program.
‰ Approved a course substitution of family wellness for health, schools may schedule either option. The State Department has approved Family Wellness as a substitute for the Health Credit.
‰ Approved board policy member training.
‰ Approved textbook committee members: Lynn Bradford, Teresa Young, Trina Walker, Terry Michael, Teresa Presto, Margaret Guthrie, Suzy Roberts, Cantrice Voce, Pam Couch, Janice Adams, Connie Hilton, Pat Laney, Derrick Waddell, Kim Wood, Kim Harbison, Charlene White, Keri Briscoe, Deborah Penn, Shane Barnette, Vickie Skelley, Vickie Alldredge, Sharon Weinman, Vicki Johnson, Betsy McLeroy and Melba Wiegand.
‰ Approved the math, health, career technology, technology, physical education textbook adoption.
‰ Approved the entire list of 2009-2010 state-adopted textbooks list for Math, Health, Career Technology Education, Technology Education & Physical Education textbooks as recommended by the local schools textbook committee.
‰ Approved a proclimation for career and technical education month.
‰ Approved the voluntary transfer of Susan Gay from bus driver and station head at Vinemont Schools to Writing to Read aide at Vinemont Elementary School. This item was approved at a previous meeting and accidentally omitted.
Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.
