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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Chilton County Board of Education chose board member Pam Price to serve as board president during its meeting on Nov. 17.

Board member Jacqueline Sullivan was selected as vice president.

Each had been serving in these roles following votes made after Angie Sanderson stepped down as board president.

During the meeting, the board approved communication radios for the school buses that will work with the countywide emergency communications system that is being completed.

The Board also approved a request to rent the Maplesville High School Auditorium to a group holding a Christmas pageant. Board members Lori Patterson, Brad Carter, Keith Moore and Chris Smith voted in favor. Sullivan, Price and board member Angie Sanderson voted against.

Sullivan, Price and Sanderson expressed concerns as to whether this was out of line with the Board’s current stance on large indoor gatherings amidst COVID-19 concerns. Superintendent Jason Griffin said the Christmas pageant was organized by an outside group and would not be held within the school day. He said the auditorium would be cleaned by the custodians following the guidelines the schools are following for COVID-19.

The group has said it will follow all CDC guidelines.

Price asked if anyone was being allowed into the schools. Griffin said “visitors and vendors” were being permitted, and other groups were being allowed to use the school buildings.

Later, the board also approved requests from the YMCA to use the Clanton Middle School gym and for Cornerstone Fitness and Wellness to use the Chilton County High School gym.

Also during the meeting, the Board approved:

• A meeting calendar for 2021. Work sessions will be held at 5:30 p.m. prior to the meeting. Dates and locations for each of the meetings will be available at chilton.k12.al.us under the “Board of Education” link in the far left column.
• Resignation/retirements, new hires, 23 leave requests, four substitute teachers, a contract position for Isabella for K-3 and a contract English Language Learner personnel position.
• Holding Saturday School for students to catch up on work. Price asked if the school system could charge for this, since it charges for summer school. Griffin said he would check with the state department on this and bring an answer back to the board.
• Rosalyn Dixon as a sick bank committee member.
• Purchasing two ovens for Clanton Intermediate.
• A request from for the Child Nutrition Program to provide meals at Chilton Christian Academy. Chilton County Schools will receive reimbursement for the meals from the USDA, just as it does for its summer and after-school meal programs.