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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

Brad Carter of Clanton will be filling a vacancy on the Chilton County Board of Education, following an appointment by the board at the June 16 voting session of the board.

The BOE had accepted applications from those interested in filling the remaining portion of Brian Jackson’s term after he announced his resignation effective June 1.

Carter will serve on the board until December 2024.

Carter said he has been involved in serving the community in a number of ways and saw the open board position as “an opportunity in a new role to serve Chilton County.”

On the board, Carter hopes “to see people work together for the faculty, staff, students and community.”

Carter has two children in the school system and many friends that work in education.

In the past, Carter has been involved in parental involvement activities at his children’s schools and served on committees during the school system’s efforts toward systemwide accreditation through AdvancED.

Carter is a graduate of Chilton County High School and attended Thorsby School prior to ninth grade.

Also during the June 16 meeting, the board:

• Approved budget amendment to include anticipated CARES Act federal funds and technology assistance funds that the school system anticipates to be around $1.6 million from the state “rainy day” funds. According to Superintendent Jason Griffin, these “rainy day” funds can be used for “differed maintenance and technology.”
• A motion to post a position to hire a human resource assistant failed 3 to 2. Council members Jackie Sullivan and Lori Patterson as well as Board Vice President Pam Price voted against. Board President Angie Sanderson and Chris Smith voted in favor. Councilman Keith Moore was absent.
• Approved paying invoices for Simbli software, Power School and fuel.
• A motion for paving the rear parking lot at Chilton County High School failed. Sullivan, Smith and Patterson voted in favor. Sanderson and Price voted against. However, a majority of the members of the board not just those present is required for a motion to pass, so it would have needed four votes to pass.
• Approved to hire a math teacher for seventh-12th grades for Verbena High School using local funding.
• Considered a recommendation for the suspension of two certified employees. The motion to approve the suspension failed. Sullivan, Price and Patterson voted against the suspension. Smith and Sanderson voted in favor.
• Approved to post a position for a collaborative teacher for a behavior classroom at Thorsby High School.

The next school board meeting will be held at Chilton County High School in an effort to maintain social distancing recommendations. Video of this meeting will be unavailable. Griffin has stated his plan moving forward is to have meetings where the public can safely attend and will not be streamed or video recorded. The meeting will be held on July 21 with a work session at 5 p.m. a public comment time at 5:30 p.m. and a voting session at 6 p.m.

A special called session to approve personnel matters will be held at 7 a.m. on July 7.