CULLMAN — With enrollment projected to climb even higher in the next decade, local city and education officials hope to team up soon to consider a revamped traffic plan to accommodate the several hundred parents and students who pack downtown during pick-up and drop-off times.

The Cullman City Schools board and the City of Cullman are exploring options for a joint traffic study to take a closer look at the roadways and patterns surrounding the five city campuses.

Officials on both sides have met with Sain Engineering, and are now waiting to see if a proposal for a full study would be financially feasible.

“We’re waiting on the proposal, and if it comes back reasonable, we all want to see if we can come up with something,” Cullman Mayor Max Townson said. “But first, we need to see what the cost would be for a study.”

Cullman City Schools Superintendent Dr. Jan Harris said the initial focus would be on Cullman Primary, Cullman Middle and Cullman High schools, which are all packed fairly close together in the northeast side of downtown.

“We want to explore our options, with the high school and middle school so close to the primary school,” she said. “But, traffic issues exist at all schools.”

For Townson, the traffic woes have been a concern ever since he was elected in 2008, and he hopes the issue can be resolved soon.

“It’s a problem, but we’ve actually been looking at it up around the high school and the primary school for about three years now,” Townson said. “We’ve talked about cutting a road south of the tennis courts, and coming out on Convent Road; and another option could be to cut a road to come out on Oak. But, you just don’t know. We just want them to look and help us figure out what the best option would be, and if there’s anything we can do.”

Officials hope to have more information about the proposed study in the coming weeks.



In addition to approving plans to explore a traffic study, the city school board also:

‰ Recognized Alabama Association of School Boards:  Cullman City Board of Education received the School Board Member Academy President’s Award 2012 for demonstrating a commitment to excellence in education through boardsmanship training

‰ Recognized Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce 2012 Beautification Award in recognition of your outstanding efforts to make Cullman County a more beautiful community:

— Cullman City Board of Education – Central Office

— Cullman High School

— Cullman Middle School

— East Elementary School

— West Elementary School

— Cullman City Primary School

— Cullman County 2012 Clean Campus Award:  East Elementary School – 3rd Place in Elementary Division

‰ Heard a presentation from Billy Coleman, Superintendent, Cullman County Schools:  Section 16 Land

‰ Heard a presentation from Rodney Steger, AIA, Fuqua & Partners Architects, Cullman City Schools Capital Projects Update.

‰ Approved August 21, 2012 minutes

‰ Approved August 2012 payroll of $1,691,113.91, invoices paid of $331,919.41 and financial statements

‰ Granted permission to surplus/salvage the following items at West Elementary School:  chairs (37), desks (4), tables (5), overhead projectors (6), TV’s (4), metal shelving units (2), and NEC projectors (2)

‰ Granted permission to surplus/salvage one outdated serving line and one cold food bar from the Cullman Middle School lunchroom

‰ Granted permission to surplus/salvage seven desktop computers from Cullman City Head Start

‰ Granted permission for the Cullman High School Family Career & Community Leaders of America to travel to Indianapolis, IN on November 15-18, 2012 to attend the National FCCLA Convention

‰ Granted permission for the East Elementary School sixth grade students and teachers to travel to Huntsville, AL on April 7-12, 2013 to attend Space Camp

‰ Granted permission for the fifth and sixth grade gifted students from West Elementary School and East Elementary School to travel to Atlanta, GA on November 1, 2012 to tour CNN, the Federal Reserve Money Museum which will tie in with their unit on The Stock Market

‰ Approved Head Start August 2012 Expenditures/Downloads - $77,856.35

‰ Approved the revised 2012-2013 Cullman City Head Start calendar

‰ Approved the revised Head Start Policies & Procedures PG07

‰ Approved bid #08-21-12-01 with McPherson Companies as the lowest responsible bidder meeting specifications for diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline for the transportation program

‰ Proposed approval of the Head Coach Job Description.  This item will be sent out to the Policy Review Committee and brought back to the Board for consideration

‰ Proposed approval of the Assistant Coach Job Description.  This item will be sent out to the Policy Review Committee and brought back to the Board for consideration

‰ Granted permission to bid #09-18-12-01 and accept the lowest responsible bidder meeting specifications for the purchase of two maintenance vehicles

‰ Granted permission to bid #09-18-12-02 and accept the lowest responsible bidder meeting specifications for the purchase of one personnel lift for the Maintenance Department

‰ Granted permission to bid #09-18-12-04 and accept the lowest responsible bidder meeting specifications for off-site online data storage 

‰ Granted permission to explore the possibility of a traffic study for all schools at a shared cost with the City of Cullman

‰ Granted permission to clear a cross-country running trail on the Cullman High School campus

‰ Approved Morgan Keegan and Piper Jaffray as Co-Underwriters for proposed capital projects bond issue, at a fee split of 50/50           

‰ Approved the Five Year Capital Plan as of September 5, 2012

‰ Approved drug and alcohol testing agreement between Cullman Physical Medicine, P.C. and the Cullman City Board of Education  

‰ Approved contract with Adam McGee to provide traffic control supervision at the intersection of Rosemont and Third Street at West Elementary School retroactive beginning August 23, 2012  (Funded by EDP)

‰ Approved contract with Insurance and Investment Consultants, Inc. to provide accident insurance to special education students taking part in the school-to-work transition programs at Cullman High School  (Funded by Special Education)

‰ Approvedcontract with Contract Solutions, LLC to provide testing services  (Funded by IDEA)

‰ Approved contract with Encore Rehabilitation, Inc. to provide consultant services in physical, occupational and therapy  (Funded by Special Education)

‰ Approved contract with ENT Associates of Alabama, PC, to provide audiological services  (Funded by Special Education)

‰ Approved contract with Dr. Bryan Boozer, Optometrist, to provide vision evaluation services  (Funded by Special Education)

‰ Approved contract with Brooks’ Place to provide long term Alternative School services

‰ Approved contract with Brooks’ Place to provide system-wide school Social Worker services

‰ Approved contract with Sally Baker to provide Special Education evaluations/assessments  (Funded by Special Education)

‰ Approved contract with Laurie Lou Smith to provide Special Education evaluations/assessments  (Funded by Special Education)

‰ Approved contract with Andrea Burt Hodges to provide Special Education evaluations/assessments  (Funded by Special Education)

‰ Approved contract with Dorothy Falkner to provide Special Education evaluations/assessments  (Funded by Special Education)

‰ Approved contract with Pamela DeBerardinis to provide homebound instruction services

‰ Approved contract with Kristin Nunn to provide homebound instruction services 

‰ Approved contract with Sue Melvin to provide homebound instruction services

‰ Approved contract with Danielle Taylor to provide homebound instruction services

‰ Approved contract with Glenda Harbison to provide homebound instruction services

‰ Approved contract with Mary Yates to provide part-time curriculum assistance

‰ Granted permission to contract with the following Cullman City School teachers to provide supplemental, after hours tutoring on the Alabama High School Graduation Exams during the 2012-2013 school year:  Brandon Dingler, Brittney Miller, Stephanie Barlow, Teresa McGee, Janice Burrows, Kristy White and Danna Putman  (Funded by High Hopes and/or local school funds)

‰ Approved partnership agreement between Cullman City Head Start and Donna Jackson to provide nutrition consultation 

‰ Approved 2012-2013 clinical affiliation agreement between Cullman City Head Start and Wallace State Community College

‰ Approved partnership agreement between Cullman City Head Start and Cullman Housing Authority

‰ Approved Pamela DeBerardinis, Science teacher at Cullman High School, modify verified years of experience from zero to three, retroactive to first work day

‰ Approved Courtney Brand Waters, English teacher at Cullman Middle School, modify degree from Bachelors to Masters, retroactive to first work day

‰ Approved Kyle Matthew Morris, Science teacher at Cullman Middle School, modify degree from Bachelors to Masters, retroactive to first work day

‰ Approved Cassity Campbell, Special Education instructional assistant at Cullman City Primary School, modify work hours from 6.5 hours per day to 7 hours per day, effective immediately

‰ Approved Michael Harbison, Extended Day Program aide at Cullman City Primary School, modify hourly rate from $7.25 per hour to $7.75 per hour, effective immediately  (Funded by Extended Day funds)

‰ Approved Allison Parson, Extended Day Program aide at Cullman City Primary School, modify hourly rate from $7.25 per hour to $7.75 per hour, effective immediately  (Funded by Extended Day funds)

Approved leaves of absence:

— Jackie Joiner, Executive Secretary to the Superintendent, requests Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)

— Debbie Howard, Student Services Secretary/Bookkeeper, requests Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)

— Annette Barnett, Student Services assistant and bus aide, requests Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)

— Johnny Burks, Science teacher at Cullman High School, requests unpaid leave of absence for October 9-12, 2012

‰ Aproved employments:

— Cassie Johnson, Library Media Center instructional assistant at Cullman High School, beginning August 30, 2012, effective for the remainder of the 2012-2013 school year  (JV 12-068)

— Katie Cashen, Special Education instructional assistant at Cullman City Primary School, beginning September 19, 2012, effective for the remainder of the 2012-2013 school year  (JV 12-072)

— Phyllis Patrice Skinner, Child Nutrition Program worker at Cullman High School, beginning August 20, 2012, effective for the remainder of the 2012-2013 school year  (JV 12-069)

— Charlotte Davis, Child Nutrition Program worker at Cullman High School, beginning August 20, 2012, effective for the remainder of the 2012-2013 school year  (JV 12-070)

‰ Approved supplements:

— Aaron Sparks, administrative supplement to serve as Principal Teacher of the Cullman Community Comprehensive School

— Wendy Stephens, administrative supplement to serve as Library Media Coordinator for Cullman City Schools

‰ Tabled the 2012-2013 Supplement Schedule.

‰ The next regularly scheduled Board Meeting:  Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room. Board Work Session will follow the Tuesday, October 16, 2012 board meeting



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